Sevilla vs Manchester United - Spanish goalkeepers set for Seville showdown

When Manchester United were drawn with Sevilla for their last-16 match up, the Premier League side couldn’t have hoped for a more accomodating opponent. Whereas Tottenham, PSG and Besiktas all ended up in the rough, facing Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively, United will feel confident they can navigate past Sevilla with consummate ease. 

The Seville side may be a solid outfit at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan – they’ve lost just one of the last 35 competitive matches on home turf – United have the means to overcome their Spanish counterparts. Jose Mourinho is a mastermind when it comes to knockout competition and this season’s Champions League could prove to be no different. 

Of course, Sevilla will be no pushover and United need to guard against complacency, but Wednesday’s game at the Pizjuan pits two goalkeepers pining for the Spain number one spot against one another. David De Gea has claimed the first team berth for his own, and deservedly so with the United shotstopper arguably the best in the world in his position. 

Sergio Rico, who is hoping for a more prominent role in the Spain setup in the foreseeable future, would pounce upon any slip up or downturn in form. The 24-year-old earned his first call up last year and while he has made just one international appearance, his career is in its infancy, though admittedly he has competition for a starting berth from Athletic Club’s Kepa Arrizabalaga. 

Rico needs to up his game is he is to be a serious contender for the number one Spain spot, however. His save success rate in La Liga and the Champions League this season is a disappointing 55.2%, while he’s kept just eight clean sheets from 23 starts in that period. 

Comparatively, De Gea’s save success is a far superior 82.6%, with the United ace returning 18 clean sheets from 31 Premier League and Champions League starts. With 3.2 saves per game to Rico’s 2.1 and 0.6 goals conceded per game to his compatriot’s 1.6, De Gea may be the more tested of the two goalkeepers, yet has the means to withstand extended periods of pressure, which is why he is Spain’s number one and considered one of, if not the, best in the world. 

Sevilla may have the attacking personnel to hurt United, but De Gea is the ideal shotstopper to repel the danger and help the English outfit to a first leg advantage at the expense of their Spanish counterparts.