David gives

DAVID DE GEA came to the rescue for Manchester United with some worldclass goalkeeping in the Ramon Sanchez Stadium last night.

De Gea was on stunning form on his return to his homeland for this Champions League last-16 first-leg tie.

The United keeper denied Steven N’Zonzi and Joaquin Correa before producing an even better effort to somehow keep out Luis Muriel’s header on the stroke of half-time.

De Gea’s brilliance took the spotlight off Paul Pogba, who was left on the bench at the start before being sent on to replace Ander Herrera inside the opening quarter of an hour.

This was United’s first knockout match in the Champions League since 2014 against a side with a strong record in this stadium. Only Real Madrid and Barcelona Luke Shaw and Michael Carrick. But the absence of Pogba was all people were talking about before kick-off and it was a big call from Mourinho, who sent out a midfield that looked industrious but lacking creative quality.

Sevilla, who had never got past this stage, included former Manchester City player Jesus Navas along with former Stoke and Blackburn star N’Zonzi.

These rivals are the last two winners of the Europa League, but this was the next level up in what was the first competitive meeting between the clubs.

It was the home side that threatened first, with De Gea diving down to his right to keep out a raking drive from Muriel. United seemed happy to let Sevilla dominate the ball in the hope of hitting them on the break.

The visitors did just that after 12 minutes when Herrera’s pass sent Alexis Sanchez racing