Defending champions Sevilla are just 180 minutes away from securing their place in this season's Europa League final.

Standing in their way is Serie A outfit Fiorentina, who will make the trip to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday evening for the opening leg of the semi-final.

Sevilla

Until Saturday evening, the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan had been something of a fortress for Sevilla, who had not tasted defeat in front of their own supporters since March 2014.

However, a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Real Madrid ended that 35-game run at the weekend, leaving Unai Emery's men with an uphill struggle to qualify for next season's Champions League via La Liga.

Yet the Europa League provides Sevilla with a second chance, with this year's winner guaranteed a spot in European football's premier club competition for the 2015-16 campaign.

Their home form in Europe is good, with eight straight wins to their name, including six during this term's Europa League.

They can also take solace from the fact that they have never lost a European semi-final tie, having advanced through on the three occasions that they have reached the last four.

History may also be on the minds of the Sevilla players heading into this encounter because if they are successful in defending the trophy that they won in Turin 12 months ago, they will have won the tournament for a fourth time - a competition record.

They will have to overcome Italian opposition for the first time, though, following two losses and a draw from their previous meetings against clubs from the Southern European nation.

Recent form: WWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WDDWWL

Fiorentina

While Sevilla's recent home form is undeniably impressive, Fiorentina have proved themselves a force to be reckoned with away from home in Europe over recent seasons.

La Viola are unbeaten from their last 12 trips, meaning that they have not lost since a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich in 2010. During that time, they have collected eight wins and four draws.

In fact, their Europa League performances throughout the entire campaign have been impressive, seeing off Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Dynamo Kiev in the knockout rounds to reach this stage of the tournament.

Vincenzo Montella's men are the second flag bearers along with Napoli in the last four for Italy, who are the competition's most successful nation with nine triumphs. However, the last of those wins was Parma back in 1999.

Of their six European semi-finals to date, Fiorentina have won four of them, although they did lose the most recent at the hands of Rangers in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup.

They reached the final for the one and only time back in 1990, where they were defeated by compatriots Juventus 3-1 on aggregate.

Recent form: DWDWDW
Recent form (all competitions): DLWLLW

Team News

Having been taken off early during the weekend's win over Cesena, Chelsea loanee Mohamed Salah will be back to lead the Fiorentina attack.

The Egyptian, who never settled during his time in London, has scored seven goals in 19 outings following his January arrival.

He is expected to be joined up front by German striker Mario Gomez, while former Manchester City player Stefan Savic should feature in the centre of defence.

Spanish winger Joaquin, who played under Emery's management during the pair's time together at Valencia, should also start from the beginning.

Emery made five changes to his team for the Madrid game, but many of those could keep their places for this game.

That would mean a start for former Arsenal attacker Jose Antonio Reyes, who could partner Colombian frontman Carlos Bacca.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Rico; Tremoulinas, Carrico, Kolodziejczak, Figuerias; Mbia, Krychowiak, Banega, Vidal, Reyes; Bacca

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Neto; Rodriguez, Savic, Alonso, Tomovic; Pizarro, Fernandez, Joaquin, Valero; Gomez, Salah

Head To Head

This will be the first ever official meeting between these two sides.

Fiorentina have faced Spanish opposition on 12 occasions, winning just twice, with neither of those being achieved in Spain.

As for hosting Sevilla, they are still awaiting their first victory over an Italian club.

We say: Sevilla 1-0 Fiorentina

The loss to Madrid shouldn't linger too long for Sevilla and providing that it doesn't, they should have enough to just edge this encounter. Fiorentina have struggled for goals this term and that could continue on Thursday.