Sevilla vs CFR Cluj 28/02/20

28 February 2020

Sevilla welcome CFR Cluj to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for the return leg of their UEFA Europa League (EL) last-32 tie, looking to build on a 1-1 draw from the reverse fixture.

Last weekend’s 3-0 La Liga away win over Getafe has brought Sevilla’s five-game winless run in all competitions to a halt (D3, L2) and saw them keep a clean sheet for the first time since late January. Far more comfortable at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, the Andalusian giants have lost only once in their last 14 competitive games here (W9, D4), with seven of their wins in that period yielding a clean sheet. In turn, Julen Lopetegui’s men have yet to concede a goal at home in Europe this season, with two of their three EL group-stage victories producing a multiple-goal margin. Importantly, the Spanish club have lost just one of their six previous European clashes against the Romanian sides (W4, D1) and have also won four successive EL last-32 ties.

In the meantime, six of Cluj’s seven games in this EL proper featured under 2.5 goals, with just two seeing both teams on the scoresheet. In turn, three of Cluj’s EL away matches this season each saw under 2.5 goals and the winner on the day open the scoring inside the opening 25 minutes of play (W1, L2). Also, three of their four competitive games in 2020 have featured under 1.5 goals, and another ‘low-scoring affair’ is on the cards. Their potential success in this fixture will rest on whether they can shut out Sevilla, as their last victory in which they’ve failed to keep a blank sheet dates back to late September. Yet, the ‘Ceferiștii’ have won two of their last three competitive road matches (D1), keeping a clean sheet in each.