Shakhtar v Sevilla: Sevilla looking to reach third successive Europa League final

Shakhtar face Europa League champions Sevilla as they try to stop them from reaching their third consecutive final.

Sevilla make the 2,750km trip to Lviv, where Shakhtar currently play their European games, knowing that progress through the semi-finals could see them win their third Europa League title in a row having won it in 2014 and 2015.

But Shakhtar are currently second in the Ukrainian league and seven points behind league leaders Dynamo Kiev, meaning the Europa League looks to be their most likely route to silverware.

Sevilla, managed by Unai Emery, beat rivals Athletic Bilbao 5-4 on penalties in the quarter-finals after drawing 3-3 on aggregate. Domestically, Los Rojiblancos are seventh in La Liga and three points off the Europa League places.

The last time these two sides met was in 2007, Juande Ramos's Sevilla overcame Shakhtar in dramatic fashion in the round of 16 en route to winning the 2006/07 UEFA Cup.

Team news

Sevilla coach Unai Emery has taken 22 players with him to Ukraine. Former Arsenal striker Jose Antonio Reyes is not of them as he has just had on operation to remove his appendix.

Nico Pareja has not recovered from the injury picked up against Zenit St Petersburg. Fazio and Diogo have been dropped whilst Beto is ineligible for the Europa League.

Opta stats

Shakhtar have gone four matches without a win over Spanish opposition (D1 L3); failing to score at all in three of those games.

Sevilla have faced Ukrainian opposition five times previously; they have never lost (W4 D1).

Sevilla have reached the semi-final stage of the Europa League for the third successive season; they went on to lift the trophy in the previous two campaigns.

Shakhtar have made it to the semi-final of a major European competition for only the second time; they won the UEFA Cup in 2008/09.

Shakhtar Donetsk have won five consecutive matches in Europe; they've never been on a longer winning streak (including qualifiers).

Although Sevilla have won 11 of their last 12 home matches in the Europa League, they have failed to score in two of their last three on the road in this competition.

Kevin Gameiro has been involved in four goals across his last three Europa League appearances (three scored and one assist).