Sevilla aim to shut out under-strength Zenit

Madrid: Sevilla continue their quest for a fourth Europa League title in 10 years when they welcome Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg to the fortress Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday.

The Andalusians fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Barcelona last weekend to preserve their 32-game unbeaten run at home stretching back 13 months.

That point maintained their challenge for a return to Champions League football despite slipping three points behind Valencia in the race for a top four finish in La Liga.

However, the Europa League may offer their best route straight into the group stages of next season`s Champions League, particularly with Zenit travelling to Spain without five key players.

Defenders Domenico Criscito and Igor Smolnikov, skipper Miguel Danny and star Brazilian striker Hulk miss out through suspension, while Russian international midfielder Viktor Faizulin is still on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery.

"They are coming here with a lot of good players out," Sevilla winger Vitolo said on Tuesday.

"We are going to try to do what we have in previous ties. The priority is to not concede and try to win at home and then play on the counter-attack away which we feel very comfortable doing.

"That is what we have done in the previous two rounds and, all being well, what we will do again."

Zenit boss Andre Villas-Boas described his side`s pairing with the holders as "the hardest draw we could get".

Zenit`s 1-1 draw with Rubin Kazan on Sunday moved them eight points clear of FC Karasnodar in the fight for the Russian title.

And the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss has tried to play down expectations of winning the trophy they claimed in 2008.

"Our goal, first and foremost, is to win the Premier League and to do that as quickly as possible," added Villas-Boas.

"Of course if we do well in the Europa League that will be nice, but the main task is to win the title.

"We have to think hard (about our line-up) since we have four players that are suspended and we have to think about the objective (for this game)."

The Portuguese manager will, however, be able to call on Argentine international Ezequiel Garay and midfielder Oleg Shatov as they made their return from injury as second-half substitutes at the weekend.

Sevilla, by contrast, are at full strength other than the absence of long-term injury casualty Beto, so Sergio Rico will continue in goal.