Manchester United have a terrible record playing in Spain

There’s no question that Manchester United could have received a far tougher assignment in the last 16 of the Champions League than Sevilla.

But United’s record in Spain during their long and illustrious European history doesn’t make for an encouraging omen ahead of Wednesday night’s first leg.

They have won just three of 23 visits to Spain over a span of some 51 years and have tumbled to some chastening defeats during that time.

Marcus Rashford is congratulated by Antonio Valencia after scoring against Celta Vigo in the away leg of United’s Europa League semi-final last season – a rare victory in Spain

So while Jose Mourinho’s side will arrive at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as favourites in the tie, there remains a decent probability they will come unstuck.

The good news is that United were victorious on their last visit to Spain just last year, when Marcus Rashford’s brilliant free-kick gave United control of their Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo.

United would ultimately progress 2-1 on aggregate and would beat Ajax in the final to seal their return to Champions League football for this season.

In September 2010, a late goal by Javier Hernandez earned a 1-0 win over Valencia in the Mestalla during a Champions League group fixture.

And back in April 2002, goals from David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy on Spanish soil handed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a healthy advantage in the first leg of their quarter-final against Deportivo La Coruna.

Javier Hernandez fires home a late winner for United away to Valencia in the 2010-11 season

The Mexican striker runs away in celebration after securing victory for United at the Mestalla

Ruud van Nistelrooy (right) celebrates with Roy Keane after scoring against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League quarter-final of 2002

But those three visits have been rare high points in a tale of pain in Spain for United ever since Matt Busby’s team were defeated 5-3 by Athletic Bilbao in the European Cup in their maiden European season in 1956-57.

Perhaps the most chastening occasion was their 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the 1994-95 Champions League group stage when Romario and Hristo Stoichkov inspired a rout.

They were also given the runaround by a Barcelona side inspired by Diego Maradona back in the 1983-84 European Cup Winners’ Cup, losing 2-0 in the Nou Camp only to turn it around with a 3-0 success at Old Trafford.

Romario scores for Barcelona in their 4-0 Nou Camp thrashing of United back in 1994

Hristo Stoichkov celebrates his goal on a chastening night for Alex Ferguson’s United in 1994

Real Madrid have been a familiar foe down the years, with United more often than not ending up on the losing side.

Busby’s United went down 3-1 in the Bernabeu back in the 1956-57 European Cup semi-final, while Real’s Galacticos outplayed United in a 3-1 victory in the 2002-03 Champions League quarter-final.

Even when United have managed to get a draw against the 12-time European champions, such as in 2000 and 2013, Real have come to Old Trafford and inflicted defeat.

Raul celebrates scoring during Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over United in April 2003

Roy Keane tries to slide tackle Zinedine Zidane during United’s 3-1 Bernabeu loss in 2003

Athletic Bilbao celebrate Fernando Llorente’s goal during their 2012 Europa League meeting

The exception was 1967-68, when United came back from 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw away to Real and advance to the final 4-3 on aggregate. There, they would defeat Benfica 4-1 to win the first of their three European Cups.

Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid have also proved stubborn Spanish opponents down the years, though United have never played Sevilla in a competitive fixture.

They will only hope their record of pain in Spain doesn’t continue on Wednesday night.