WATCH: De Gea Sensational, Pogba Enters Off Bench in Man United's UCL Draw vs. Sevilla
Manchester United's matchday began with a spotlight on Paul Pogba, but it wound up with a focus on the magical David De Gea.
The goalkeeper was sensational in Sevilla, making eight saves, including a pair of reaction stops just before halftime, to lead United in a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 series. Sevilla out-shot Man United 25-6 but ultimately couldn't find the breakthrough.
Man United won its Champions League group but has fallen on uneven times recently, underscored by the apparent behind-the-scenes rift developing between manager Jose Mourinho and star midfielder Pogba. The Frenchman was left out of United's lineup, which added more fuel to the fire.
Sevilla was the more threatening side from the start, with Luis Muriel testing De Gea from distance in the fourth minute and the Spanish goalkeeper getting down to make the save.
Jesus Navas came close to testing De Gea from distance in the 15th minute, striking a low, right-footed drive from 20 yards but putting it by the far post.
The calculus changed for Manchester United moments after, when Ander Herrera went down with a hamstring injury after combining with Antonio Valencia for a near chance in the Sevilla box. The injury forced Mourinho's hand, with Pogba coming on at the 17-minute mark.
De Gea made his second save in the 28th minute after stopping Joaquin Correa, who cut centrally but didn't have enough space to get full power on a close-range chance between Valencia and Chris Smalling, with the forward driving his chance into De Gea's waiting arms.
Manchester United started to make headway in the attack as the half continued, and Scott McTominay tested Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico for the first time with a drive, albeit one hit directly at him for an easy save.
De Gea, under pressure throughout the first half to the tune of nine corner kicks, was at it again just before halftime with two sensational, nearly identical saves. Both came from point-blank range, the latter a bullet header from Muriel, as he managed to swat both over the bar.
The second half unfolded as much of the same. Sevilla controlled the opportunities, and De Gea thwarted them. The best chance De Gea didn't have to get to, when Muriel found Pablo Sarabia by the far post for a header that he fired over the crossbar.
Manchester United nearly nicked an away goal, and a go-ahead goal, in the 83rd minute through Romelu Lukaku, but he was judged to have handled the ball first before beating Rico from close range. Replays showed he settled the cross with his bicep before taking it down.
Here were the starting lineups for the two teams:
The series shifts to Old Trafford for the second leg, which will be held on March 13.
