Sevilla part company with Sampaoli

The Andalusian outfit are just two points clear of the drop zone in La Liga, with Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Getafe being their third reverse in four league games.

Sampaoli, the former Argentina boss who was also in charge at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan during the 2016/17 season, took over from Julen Lopetegui in October, with Sevilla mired in relegation trouble.

He won six of his 19 fixtures in charge, although four of those came in a six-game spell in January and February, as the Rojiblancos briefly lifted themselves into mid-table. They are currently 14th, with 12 matches to play, as they bid to avoid falling into the Segunda Division for the first time since 2000.

Sevilla, who finished fourth in each of their three seasons under Lopetegui, struggled in the Champions League too, as they were eliminated from a group containing Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and FC Copenhagen.

The six-time Europa League winners have fared better since dropping into their familiar competition though, eliminating PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahce to set up another meeting with United, following previous European ties in 2018 and 2020.

Reports in Spain suggest that Jose Luis Mendilibar will replace Sampaoli on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Mendilibar, who left Alaves in April last year, has previously had long spells in charge of Real Valladolid, Osasuna and, most notably, Eibar, who he helped establish in La Liga prior to leaving after their relegation in 2021.

United host Sevilla at Old Trafford on Thursday 13 April, before travelling to southern Spain a week later.

Both legs of the quarter-final tie kick off at 20:00 BST, with the winner facing Juventus or Sporting in the last four.