Sevilla will look to keep their UEFA Champions League ambition alive when they welcome FC Copenhagen to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for the fifth group game of the group stage of the 2022/23 UCL.
Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Sevilla)
Key Statistics
Sevilla have won just one of their last nine games in all competitions (D5, L3).
The hosts have won the second half just twice across all competitions this season (D4, L9).
They have not scored over one goal in their last ten home games.
FC Copenhagen have not scored in the UCL this season. They are the only team yet to score.
They are winless in 13 European games against Spanish opponents (D5, L8).
The visitors are winless in their last eight away games (D3, L6-90 minutes only).
Head to head
The goalless draw in the first leg was the first meeting between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Sevilla: L-D-W-D-D
FC Copenhagen: D-W-D-D-D
Sevilla
Sevilla’s disastrous start to the new season continued last time out as they were beaten 3-1 by Spanish La Liga defending champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
The result was their first loss under Jorge Sampaoli, who replaced Unai Emery. But overall, it was their fifth loss of the league season and kept them in 15th place in the Spanish league table.
In the Champions League, they are yet to win a game and sit in third place, level on points with their visitors. They need to win this game and hope that Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund in the other Group G fixture to stand a chance of qualifying from this group.
However, if the other group’s result does not go in their favour, they will be interested in taking maximum points here to at least give themselves the chance of playing Europa League football next year.
Possible Sevilla starting line-up
Yassine Bounou; Gonzalo Montiel, Nemanja Gudelj Marcao, Marcos Acuna; Oliver Torres, Ivan Rakitic, Alex Telles; Rafael Mir, Isco, Erik Lamela.
Injured: Karim Rekik, Nianzou Kouassi
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
FC Copenhagen
FC Copenhagen produced arguably their biggest UCL display this season last time out when they held European top dogs and tournament favourites, Manchester City to a credible draw.
In a dramatic game at the Parken Stadium Copenhagen, the Danish side had goalkeeper Kamil Grabara to thank as the Polish shot-stopper saved a penalty to keep the scores level. He also made several key saves to deny the Cityzens, who had a man sent off in the first half.
With two points from two draws in this group, Jacob Neestrup’s side can still qualify for the Europa League if they can take four points from their remaining six.
However, their form going into this game does not suggest that they have the ability to do so. Firstly, the visitors have been toothless in attack this season in the UCL and come into this round of games without a goal in the tournament–the only team that has failed to score in the UCL group stage after four games.
They also have one of Denmark’s poorest conversion rates when scoring first in the Superliga (W5, D2, L3) and needed penalties to get past second-tier Hobro in the Landspokal Cup last time out. Combining these factors with their poor record against Spanish opposition (D5, L8) it’s easy to tell why their chances of getting a positive result appear bleak.
Possible FC Copenhagen starting line-up
Kamil Grabara; Kevin Diks, Denis Vavro, Davit Khocholava, Victor Kristiansen; Lukas Lerager, Marko Stamenic, Viktor Claesson; Mohammed Daramy; Mamoudou Karamoko, I. B. Johannesson.
Injured: Mamadou Karamoko, Denis Vavro, Andreas Cornelius, Zeca, Akinkunmi Amoo
Doubtful: Rasmus Falk Jensen
Suspended: None
Prediction
Sevilla 0-0 FC Copenhagen
