'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With domestic football done and dusted, it's time to shift our focus back to Europe. The Europa League returns with Sevilla's Round of 16 game tomorrow against AS Roma the pick of the bunch.
Both teams are coming off the back of strong finishes to their respective league seasons, and given the array of talents in both camps, this clash should be an interesting tactical battle.
Sevilla, the most successful side in the Europa League with five titles, are the dark horses despite having had a good two weeks off to prepare for this tie. Meanwhile the Giallorossi just wrapped up the Serie A season on Saturday, so fatigue could play a huge factor in the game against Sevilla, as also their vulnerable backline.
Ahead of the highly anticipated Europa League tie betwee Sevilla and AS Roma, let's have a look at the best combined XI of both teams.
A combined XI of Sevilla and AS Roma:
Goalkeeper: Pau Lopez (AS Roma)
While his record in the Serie A this season wasn't the most stellar, keeping just five clean sheets from 32 games and conceding 45 times, Pau Lopez, nonetheless, remains the number one choice in goal for the Giallorossi.
He made several remarkable saves in AS Roma's Round of 32 win against Gent and will be crucial in stopping Sevilla's in-form duo of Lucas Ocampos and Munir El Haddadi.
Right-back: Jesus Navas (Sevilla)
Age is no bar for some players who continue to perform at an elite level even in the twilight of their careers.
Jesus Navas is one such player, who even though turns 35 this year, has had an impeccable season with Sevilla. The skipper played all 38 La Liga games, starting in all but one of them. He created plenty of chances and provided seven assists, all while playing as a makeshift right-back.
Centre-back: Gianluca Mancini (AS Roma)
Chris Smalling returning to Manchester United this week is obviously a massive blow for Paulo Fonseca's men as he had been one of the most consistent players for AS Roma all season.
Filling his boots would be no mean feat, though. So there's going to be an added pressure on the Roma backline. Gianluca Mancini, a regular in the side's three-man defence, will have to step up and play the anchor role.
Centre-back: Diego Carlos (Sevilla)
One of the signings of the season, Diego Carlos was named in Marca's team of the 2019-20 La Liga campaign, which is a testament to the impact he's had since arriving from Nantes last summer.
An excellent tackler of the ball with great positional awareness and aerial prowess, the Brazilian is sure to give AS Roma's Edin Dzeko a hefty run for his money.
Left-back: Aleksandar Kolarov (AS Roma)
Aleksandar Kolarov is an excellent centre-back, but his best performances this season came from his natural position on the left.
The Serb was involved in 11 top-flight goals this season, scoring seven - the most by a defender - and assisting four. But with Fonseca likely to revert to a three-man defence after Smalling's departure, Kolarov may have to operate from a more withdrawn role. Nevertheless, he remains a huge threat from set pieces.
Central midfielder: Amadou Diawara (AS Roma)
Fonseca's tactics and regular game-time has helped bring the best out of Amadou Diawara, who was becoming somewhat of an estranged figure at Napoli.
Despite missing plenty of games through injuries, he went from strength to strength and provided an excellent cover to the Roma backline. He averaged an 89% pass success this season and put in a tremendous work rate.
Right-winger: Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)
After unsuccessful loan spells in Italy with Genoa and AC Milan, Lucas Ocampos signed permanently for Sevilla last summer. After a morale-boosting return to form, he must be content at his choice of destination.
Sevilla's exciting attacking brand of football as well as the quality in the side brought the best out of the Argentine once again, who'll be looking to open his account in the Europa League against AS Roma on Thursday.
Attacking midfielder: Nicolo Zaniolo (AS Roma)
Italy's most sought-after youngster right now, Nicolo Zaniolo took the top-flight by storm with his stupendous qualities, making Serie A look like Primavera, where he played as recently as in 2018.
Nicolo Zaniolo's versatility to play in numerous positions has already made him a key player for Roma, while his passes and precocious ability to dribble have bolstered the team's attack manyfold.
Left-winger: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (AS Roma)
Injury concerns largely marred Henrikh Mkhitaryan's first half of the campaign, but he has since bounced back strongly.
In the games post the lockdown, the Armenian ace has been sensational, turning in 'Man-of-the-Match' performances with his intelligent passing, brilliant creativity and spectacular vision.
Striker: Munir El Haddadi (Sevilla)
Luuk De Jong might be Julen Lopetegui's first-choice striker in the La Liga. The Dutch targetman could well feature in the Sevilla lineup ahead of Munir El Haddadi.
But it is Haddadi with his bullish strength and deadly finishing skills who's got the Nervionenses so far. With five goals, the ex-Barcelona star has been in rampant form in Europe and could be a handful against AS Roma.
Striker: Edin Dzeko (AS Roma)
AS Roma's chief attacking threat, Edin Dzeko is coming off the back of a stellar campaign that saw him add another feather to his cap.
The Bosnian's exploits made him the joint fourth-highest scorer in the club's history. He could well guide the Giallorossi to their first-ever European glory and etch his name in the history books, having already scored and assisted thrice goals apiece in the Europa League so far.
