Molde v Sevilla background

Sevilla FC are well set for a place in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 as they defend a 3-0 lead against Molde FK in the second leg of their last-32 tie.

Previous meetings
• The sides met for the first time on 18 February in what was Sevilla's first encounter with Norwegian opponents. Two goals from Fernando Llorente were supplemented by Kevin Gameiro's strike as the holders ran out 3-0 victors in Andalusia.

• Molde have yet to win in seven games against Spanish teams: W0 D3 L4 (W0 D1 L2 at home). They have not scored at home against a Spanish club.

Form guide
• Prior to a 2-0 loss to Fenerbahçe in their last European home game of 2015, Molde were unbeaten in their five UEFA fixtures in Norway this season (W3 D2).

• Sevilla have lost all three of their away games in Europe this term but were unbeaten on the road in the knockout stages (W3 D1) last season as they went on to retain the trophy.

• Sevilla equalled a competition record with their 3-0 first-leg victory. It was their tenth successive home win in the UEFA Europa League, matching the feat previously achieved by Club Atlético de Madrid and SL Benfica. It was also Sevilla's 11th consecutive match in the competition without defeat – four behind Atlético's all-time high

• This is Molde's first springtime UEFA tie and the 14th game of their longest European campaign to date. Molde and FC Midtjylland have had the longest campaigns of any sides in this season's round of 32, both having started out in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.

• Sevilla won the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League for a record fourth time last term. No team has won three consecutive editions of a UEFA competition since FC Bayern München's third straight European Champion Clubs' Cup triumph in 1975/76.

Trivia and links
• The journey from Seville to Molde is around 2,950km.

• Molde forward Mattias Moström (33) and midfielder Amidou Diop (24) both have birthdays on the day of the match.

• Sevilla forward Llorente turns 31 on the day after the game.

• Molde left-back Knut Olav Rindarøy spent the 2010/11 season on loan in Spain with RC Deportivo La Coruña.

• Molde are one of five sides in the round of 32 who qualified for Europe this season as domestic champions along with FC Basel 1893 (Switzerland), Galatasaray AŞ (Turkey), FC Midtjylland (Denmark) and Olympiacos FC (Greece), though Molde have since lost their title to Rosenborg BK.

• Molde's Daniel Hestad became the oldest scorer in UEFA Europa League history at 40 years and 98 days with the winner at Celtic FC on matchday four.

• This is Molde's 50th UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League game and takes place the day before Molde coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær's 43rd birthday.

• Sevilla's Daniel Carriço has played in a record 56 matches in the UEFA Europa League (including qualifying) since the advent of the competition in 2009/10.

The coaches
• Solskjær succeeded caretaker boss Erling Moe on the eve of matchday three. The former Manchester United FC forward scored 31 goals in 38 outings for Molde before moving to Old Trafford and coached the club from 2011–14, winning two league titles and a national cup.

• Unai Emery oversaw Sevilla's successes in the last two editions of the UEFA Europa League, having assumed control in January 2013. The one-time midfielder made his name in a four-year spell in charge of Valencia CF and briefly coached FC Spartak Moskva in 2012.

Penalty shoot-outs
• Molde have yet to feature in a UEFA penalty shoot-out.

• Sevilla have won four of their five UEFA penalty shoot-outs (L1 at home – W2 away – W2 at neutral venues):
W 4-3 A v PAOK FC (1990/91 UEFA Cup first round)
W 3-1 N v RCD Espanyol (2006/07 UEFA Cup final)
L 3-2 H v Fenerbahçe SK (2007/08 UEFA Champions League round of 16)
W 4-3 A v Real Betis Balompié (2013/14 UEFA Cup round of 16)
W 4-2 N v SL Benfica (2013/14 UEFA Cup final)