13 April 2023 , 20:53
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Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez had to be carried off the Old Trafford pitch after sustaining what looked a serious injury in the Europa League.
The Argentinean went down clutching the back of his leg shortly after Sevilla had pulled a goal back to make the score 2-1 to United in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
No player was around him at the time, and there were immediate fears that he had suffered a potentially painful blow.
Martinez's World Cup winning Argentina international teammates Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna were both in the Sevilla team, and they carried him off the pitch to warm applause from the home crowd.
Martinez was then put onto a stretcher and carried down the Old Trafford tunnel.
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United boss Erik ten Hag confirmed that the injury could be a bad one after the match.
"We have seen that Licha Martinez drops out after a moment, and there was no opponent involved, so it doesn't look that great," he said.
"We have to wait, but I can't say in this moment."
United threw away a commanding lead in the tie as late Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire own goals saw the first leg end in a chaotic 2-2 draw.
Having won their play-off against Barcelona and beaten Real Betis in the last-16, Erik ten Hag’s side appeared on course to knock out a third Spanish side.
Martinez was helped off the pitch after his injury (AP)Marcel Sabitzer’s quick-fire first-half brace put United in control of the Europa League tie, with Antony hitting the woodwork as they pushed for a deserved third.
David De Gea had denied Tanguy Nianzou in first-half stoppage-time but the six-time champions had offered precious little until a manic conclusion.
First Malacia was caught napping and ended up turning in former Manchester City man Jesus Navas’ hopeful cross, before Martinez pulled up in agony.
He was taken to the tunnel on a stretcher (Getty Images)Fellow centre-back Raphael Varane had already been withdrawn at the break and United ended the match with 10 men having already made their allotted five changes.
Sevilla smelt blood and equalised in stoppage time as substitute Youssef En-Nesyri’s header ricocheted in off Maguire.
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If that late sucker punch and United’s growing injury list was not enough, they also head to Spain for the reverse fixture without suspended Bruno Fernandes.