Sevilla have made a strong start to their La Liga campaign. However, on Thursday evening the Andalusians turn their attention to the Europa League, as they visit Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in their first group game of the season.
Qarabag have become a familiar name in European competitions in recent campaigns, having played continental football for the last nine straight seasons. The home side has now made it to the group stages of either the Champions League or the Europa League in the last six seasons.
They kicked off their European season in the Champions League qualifiers, but exited the competition at the third qualifying stage, suffering a 3-1 aggregate defeat against APOEL. However, they booked their place in the Europa League by beating Linfield on away goals after the tie finished 4-4.
The Azerbaijani side will be hoping to give a better account of themselves than last season in the competition, when they suffered five defeats from their six group games, winning just once against Vorskla Poltava.
Sevilla have won this competition on five previous occasions. However, last season despite playing 16 games in the competition, the Spanish team suffered a last 16 exit extra-time defeat against Slavia Prague.
⚽ Take a look at who is in the #SevillaFC squad for the group phase of the @EuropaLeague, with 23 players in List A. #vamosmiSevilla #UEL #WeareSevilla— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) September 18, 2019
⚽ Take a look at who is in the #SevillaFC squad for the group phase of the @EuropaLeague, with 23 players in List A. #vamosmiSevilla #UEL #WeareSevilla
The Andalusians have never failed to get out of the group stages of the Europa League. However, they have only won their group on two occasions.
The visitors have an inconsistent record on their travels in the group stages of this competition, winning five, drawing four and losing three of their away matches.
Sevilla have been prolific in the Europa League and need just two more goals in the competition for a century, which Villarreal, Salzburg, Lazio and Athletic Club are the only teams have so far achieved in the competition.
Forebet predicts that Sevilla will reach 100 goals in the competition by recording a victory in a low-scoring encounter.