Good evening and welcome to the Europa League quarter-final clash between Sevilla and Zenit St Petersburg.

Sevilla's defence of their crown is still on after they overcame Villarreal in the last round of the competition with a 5-2 aggregate win over their Spanish rivals. Unai Emery's side now face the challenge of Zenit to continue their quest to win back-to-back tournaments.

As we approach kickoff, here is footage of the Sevilla squad arriving at the Estadio Ramon.

The @SevillaFC coach arrives... #UEL https://t.co/RBXvCIEhLb

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 16, 2015

Emery's men are in excellent form coming into the fixture as they are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Sevilla drew 2-2 with Barcelona last week as they rallied from two goals down to earn a point thanks to second-half goals from Ever Banega and Kevin Gameiro to maintain their strong performance in the league, where they are currently fifth in La Liga.

Zenit are also in good form coming into the match as they have just lost once in their last 11 matches. Andre Villas-Boas's side are currently top of the Russian Premier League and are fresh off a 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan at the weekened as a second-half strike from Hulk earned them a point.

The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.

SEVILLA STATING XI: Rico, Tremoulinas, Kolodziejczak, Pareja, Coke, Krychowiak, Reyes, Iborra, Banega, Aleix Vidal, Gameiro
Subs: Soria, Navarro, Figuerias, Suarez, Vitolo, Mbia, Bacca

ZENIT STARTING XI: Lodygin, Rodic, Neto, Lombaerts, Garay, Anyukov, Javi Garcia, Witsel, Ryazantsev, Shatov, Rondon
Subs: Malafeev, Khodzhaniyazov, Mogilevets, Tymoshchuk, Sheydaev, Arshavin, Kerzhakov

Sevilla defender Daniel Carrico picked up an injury in his side's draw with Barcelona and has not recovered in time for the match so his place at the back has been taken by Timothee Kolodziejczak. Kevin Gameiro and Jose Antonio Reyes lead the line up front for Emery's men as Vitolo and Carlos Bacca drop to the bench.

Igor Smolnikov and Domenico Criscito are both suspended for Villas-Boas's men, while Hulk and Danny miss out due to injury, which is a massive blow for the Russian side. Ezequiel Garay, Milan Rodic, Oleg Shatov and Axel Witsel all come into the starting lineup, while Shatov will lead the line for Zenit in the Estadio Ramon this evening.

Emery has spoken about the challenge that lay before his team in the two legs of the semi-final clash, insisting that it will take everything his players have to beat the Russian side to reach the last four.

He told reporters: "This is an open tie. Playing at home, our goal is to win and not to concede. It will be difficult to decide the tie in the first leg. We have to be mentally ready to compete for 180 minutes. Zenit know how to play at home and away. This is not the same Zenit I faced when I was Spartak Moskva coach."

STAT ATTACK! Sevilla are extremely strong at the Estadio Ramon and have not been beaten at home since March 2014, when they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Real Betis.

© Getty Images

Villas-Boas has admitted that his side will face a great deal of difficulty to earn a positive result tonight due to the absences of several key players, including Hulk.

He told reporters: "We have a host of suspended players and Sevilla are almost unbeatable at home. It will be a very difficult match for us but we want to continue in this competition. We will try to get a good result. I have won four trophies in five years as coach and I want to continue winning silverware."

STAT ATTACK! Zenit have only won two of their 14 matches against Spanish opposition. They have alos tasted defeat in 11 of their last 19 away matches in Europe.

Zenit started the season in the Champions League but missed out on qualification for the knockout stages as they finished in third place in Group C behind Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen. Villas-Boas's men overcame PSV Eindhoven with ease in the round of 32 courtesy of a 4-0 aggregate win before defeating Torino in the last round of the competition, despite losing 1-0 in Italy in the second leg. The Russian side know how to win the tournament as they lifted the trophy back in 2008, but have struggled to match the feat since.

The absence of Hulk could loom large for the Russian side this evening as he has netted two goals in four appearances in the Europa League, and 17 in all competitions this season.

© Getty Images

Sevilla started the season in the Europa League following their triumph in the competition last season. Emery's men finished second in Group G as they lost one match to Feyenoord and drew with Standard Liege and Rijeka, claiming three victories in the process. They battled past Borussia Mochengladbach in the last 32 with a 4-2 aggregate win, and eased past Villarreal with a 5-2 aggregate triumph in the last round of the competition.

Stephane Mbia and Vitolo are Sevilla's top goalscorers in the Europa League this season with three strikes apiece. Iborra, Denis Suarez, Carlos Bacca and Kevin Gameiro have all notched two strikes, which shows that Emery's side have goals threats all around their team.

Zenit are going through the warm-up routine at the Estadio Ramon as we approach kickoff.

@fczenit_en go through paces in warmup and are out much earlier than @SevillaFC. Will they catch home side cold? #UEL pic.twitter.com/1hC4kYknJr

— Nick Aitken (@UEFAcomNickA) April 16, 2015

PREDICTION: Sevilla are in excellent form and not just in the competition, and it is extremely hard to look past them in this match especially at the Estadio Ramon given Zenit's injury and suspension problems this evening. Our prediction Sevilla 3-1 Zenit.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch so we should be underway shortly.

KICKOFF! We're underway in this Europa League clash.

The hosts win a free kick in a dangerous position as Iborra goes down under the challenge of Neto just outside the box. Reyes looks like he's going to take it with a left-footed strike.

Reyes takes the free kick and his effort sails over the wall, but keeps on climbing to travel well over the bar of Lodygin and out for a goal kick. Not the best attempt from the former Arsenal man.

Scrappy start to the game as Sevilla concede a free kick as Banega brings down Witsel just inside the home side's half of the pitch. Neither side has been able to build a rhythm into their passing game yet.

Banega collects the ball in midfield and is allowed to drive to the edge of the Zenit box as he tries to slide a through ball into the path of Gameiro. However, the Frenchman moves too soon and is flagged offside.

A strong run from Gameiro down the left wins a corner for the home side as he bustles past two players before Garay ends his burst with a good tackle to poke the ball behind.

Sevilla threaten as Banega's delivery is flicked on into the path of Gameiro at the back post, but once again he is offside as he tried to pounce on the loose ball.

Both teams are still searching for their tempo in the match as neither has been able to hold the ball for a considerable period of time. The game will be suiting Zenit's style as a goalless draw will suit them just fine.

CHANCE! The visitors are the first to threaten as Rodic curls the ball to the back post looking for the head of Rondon. Kolodziejczak does enough to divert the ball away from the forward, but it falls only as far as Shatov who fires a low effort at goal, but Rico goes down well to make the stop.

Sevilla go straight up the other end of the pitch to exert pressure on the Zenit goal as they win a corner. Banega's delviery causes problems again as there is a scramble in the six-yard box, but the offside flag denies the home side again as Krychowiak is the guilty party on this occasion.

CHANCE! Zenit spurn an excellent chance to take the lead as Rodic whips a pinpoint cross into the box which flies over the head of Rondon, but Ryazantsev makes contact inside the box, only to see his header fly just wide of the post.

Sevilla try to work the ball forward again and Gameiro raids to the edge of the box and tries to release the run Aleix Vidal beyond the back four of the visitors, but his pass is intercepted by Lombaerts and cleared. Things are not going the way of the Frenchman at the moment.

The home side are struggling to get a grip of the game as the visitors have had the better chances in the opening 24 minutes of the match and look far more at ease when they have had possession. Emery may need to make an adjustment or two to help his team get the match under control.

Aleix Vidal and Coke exchange passes to send the midfielder down the right flank. Vidal tries to cut the ball back to the full-back in the box and succeeds with a low cross to the penalty spot. Coke tries to blast the ball first time, but his effort is blocked by Garcia.

Zenit take the lead and you cannot say it was not deserved as they have bossed the opening 29 minutes of the match. Ryazantsev is played down the left and has all sorts of space to raid into the box. He blasts a right-footed strike at goal, which is well saved by Rico. However, Ryazantsev races to the ball for the rebound and hammers it into the roof of the net.

Sevilla look a bit shell shocked by the opening goal from Zenit, but truth be told they have been below-par since kickoff and haven't looked a threat in the final third. Emery has to do something to get his side into the gear.

CHANCE! Gameiro almost unlocks the Zenit defence as he exchanges as neat one-two with Krychowiak on the edge of the box and takes the ball in stride on his right foot. The Frenchman goes for power, but only blazes his effort over the bar. Better intent from the home side, but the quality has been lacking in abundance.

Tremoulinas powers a long ball forward looking for the run of Coke, but Lombaerts does well to head the ball away from the full-back. However, the clearing header lands at the feet of Iborra who shoots first time, but Garay is there to make the covering block.

Sevilla are upping the ante to increase the pressure on the Zenit goal, but the Russian side are holding firm at the moment. Garay, Lombaerts and Neto have been very solid so far and have shielded Lodygin, who has yet to make a save.

The offside trap has been Sevilla's worst enemy in the first half as Banega tries to slide the ball beyond Rodic for the run of Coke. The pass is perfect for the full-back, who looks to cross for Gameiro in the middle, but the whistle stops him in his tracks.

There will be one minute of added time.

Sevilla crank up the pressure as they win two corners in succession as we approach the half-time whistle.

Banega's deliveries from the left come to nothing and that is it for the first half.

Zenit take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Aleksandr Ryazantsev's strike in the 29th minute. The visitors were the more threatening side in the first half as Oleg Shatov and Ryazantsev went close before the 28-year-old fired Villas-Boas's men ahead. The Portuguese will be delighted with what he has seen from his team so far at the Estadio Ramon, given the players they are without this evening.

Sevilla lacked quality in the final third of the pitch and were unable to break the offside trap with Gameiro especially guilty of failing to keep in line on the last man. Emery's men have failed to move the ball at speed and as a result the Zenit backline has been able to deal with the passes and crosses into the box from the flanks. They need to find penetration from someone from midfield to support Gameiro in the second half to get back into the game.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Iborra has been replaced by the home side at the break for Stephane Mbia, while Coke has made way for Suarez.

RESTART! We're back underway in this Europa League quarter-final clash.

Good start to the second half for Sevilla as they press forward immediately and Vidal finds space down the right and loses Rodic to fire a cross to the near post, but Lodygin reads the danger well and claims the ball.

Garay makes a crucial tackle to stop a run from Reyes in its tracks as the Spaniard tried to break into the box. The Argetnine bailed out his teammate Lombaerts whose mistake as he tried to volley the ball clear presented the opportunity to the former Arsenal man.

Sevilla's delivery from set pieces has been poor this evening as Banega's corner from the left is once again cleared with ease by the Zenit defence. The home side might want to try to use someone else for their set pieces.

Vidal almost unlocks the Sevilla defence as he raids down the right and fires a low ball across the face of goal, but Lombaerts is there to take the ball away from Mbia as the midfielder looked set to blast the ball towards goal on the edge of the six-yard box.

Sevilla put the pressure on the Zenit defence in the first 10 minutes of the half, but the Russian side managed to hold firm at the back as Garay and Lombaerts have continued to be a solid presence.

Rondon does well for the visitors as he holds the ball well in the final third of the pitch and wins a corner off Kolodziejczak to alleviate the pressure on the Zenit goal.

CHANCE! From the resulting corner Lombaerts' first effort is turned behind by Banega, but from the second cross Sevilla fail to clear their lines as Ryazantsev lines up a strike from the edge of the area. The 28-year-old's effort is hit with power, but sails just over the bar.

CHANCE! The visitors hit Sevilla on the counter following a promising move from the hosts. The ball is cut back into the path of Rondon on the edge of the box, who drills a low strike towards the bottom corner, but Rico gets down to make the save.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Gameiro makes way for Carlos Bacca in Sevilla's final sub of the night. It has been a frustrating night for the Frenchman. Meanwhile, Mogilevets replaces Rodic for the visitors.

CHANCE! Garay keeps Zenit ahead as he makes an excellent stop on the line to deny Suarez firing the home side level. The midfielder had collected a pass from Banega and had weaved his way past two defenders before firing a low shot towards the bottom corner, which beat Lodygin, but not the Argentine at the back post.

CHANCE! Sevilla come close again as Banega raids down the right flank and fires a cross towards the near post where Kolodziejczak has made a good run across his man. The defender guides a header towards the far corner, but the ball drifts away from goal and goes out for a goal kick. What a chance to draw level for Emery's men.

CHANCE! Agony for the Sevilla as Banega creates an opening out of nothing as he whips another dangerous cross into the box for the run of Bacca. The forward misses the ball but it looks like falling for the foot of Mbia at the back post, but the ball just evades his outstretched boot.

Zenit hit the home side on the counter as Rondon collects the ball outside the box, and he launches an effort which sails well over the crossbar. The forward should have done a lot better from that position.

Sevilla finally get their goal and it is greatly deserved for the amount of pressure they have put on the Zenit goal in the second half. A cross from the left was not cleared by the visitors and allowed Vidal to gather down the right flank. He lifted the ball back towards the back post where Bacca rose highest to head past Lodygin.

PENALTY SHOUT! The home side go up for a penalty as Suarez tries to take the ball past Ryazantsev, and the ball appears to hit the hand of the 28-year-old as he stops it from advancing. However, the referee waves the appeals away.

YELLOW CARD! Suarez goes into the book for dissent, and he joins Javi Garcia to be carded this evening.

It's all Sevilla at the moment as the white shirts are flooding forward in numbers. Zenit look quite happy to settle for a draw here as they already hold a crucial away goal.

YELLOW CARDS! Garay and Ryazantsev are booked in the space of a minute as tempers begin to flare at the Estadio Ramon.

SUBSTITUTION: The yellow card is Ryazantsev's last action of the day as he is brought off for the defensive-minded Tymoshchuk.

Suarez creates an opening for himself as he raids to the edge of the box and unleashes a drive towards the bottom corner, but Tymoshchuk makes an impact as he blocks the ball behind for a corner.

Sevilla take the lead in the 88th minute as a cross is whipped into the box from the right. A group of Zenit defenders rush to clear the ball, but the clearance is poor as it lands only as far as Suarez on the edge of the box. The midfielder meets the bal first time on the volley and his strike sails past Lodygin and into the bottom corner. A great strike from Suarez!

CHANCE! Sevilla almost notch a third goal as Bacca breaks behind the Zenit defence and bears down on Lodygin. He manages to lift the ball over the keeper and the ball trickles towards the net, but Neto gets there just in time to clear the ball behind for a corner. How crucial will stop come to be?

There will be four minutes of added time.

Sevilla are still searching for a third goal as the pressure on the Zenit goal has not abated for a minute in the second half.

SHOT! Suarez lines up an effort from 30 yards to push for a third goal, and although his strike has plenty of power it sails well wide of the target.

Sevilla perform a second-half comeback to take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the quarter-final clash. Unai Emery's side were second best throughout the first period, but he made inspired substitions to put Denis Suarez and Carlos Bacca on the pitch and he was rewarded as both players got on the scoresheet to turn the match on its head. However, the reigning champions still have a lot of work to do to ensure they keep their defence of their crown alive.

Zenit folded under the pressure of the Sevilla onslaught in the second half, which will disappoint Andre Villas-Boas. However, his side do take a valuable away goal back to Russia for the second leg so there is more than enough for them to build to keep their hopes in the competition alive thanks to Aleksandr Ryazantsev's strike.

Thanks for joining our commenatary this evening. Be sure to stick around with Sports Mole for all the reaction from tonight's matches. But from me, it's goodbye.