This Thursday, Manchester United Eyes Europa League Final as Bilbao Faces Uphill Battle

Manchester United are on the verge of a return to European glory as they prepare to host Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final at Old Trafford. With a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg in Spain, the Red Devils look poised to book their place in the 2024-25 Europa League Final.

The match is set for Thursday, May 8 at 8:00 PM (BST) and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, where fans can witness whether United can complete the job or if Bilbao has a shock comeback in store.

Match Overview

Despite enduring a turbulent Premier League campaign, Manchester United have remained formidable in Europe. They are undefeated in the Europa League this season, recording eight wins and five draws in 13 matches. Their dominance was evident in the first leg, where they dismantled Bilbao 3-0 away from home, taking a decisive step toward the final.

Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, entered the tie with aspirations of reaching the final hosted at their iconic San Mamés Stadium. But the Basque club now faces a daunting task, needing to overturn a three-goal deficit on enemy soil. Though they displayed resilience in earlier knockout rounds, battling past Roma and Rangers, United represents a different level of challenge.

Key Stats & Tactical Insight

• Manchester United have won four of their six home Europa League fixtures this season, drawing the remaining two.
• They have not kept a single clean sheet at home under manager Rúben Amorim in the competition, indicating potential for both teams to score.
• Bruno Fernandes has played a central role in United’s European run, having either scored or assisted in four of their six home matches.

From a tactical perspective, United are likely to control possession and look to kill the game off early, while Bilbao must balance urgency with defensive caution to avoid conceding another early blow.

Team News

• Manchester United: Diogo Dalot remains sidelined for this clash but is expected to return before the season ends. Joshua Zirkzee and Lisandro Martínez are confirmed to miss the rest of the campaign.
• Athletic Bilbao: Central defender Dani Vivian is suspended following a red card in the first leg, with Aitor Paredes expected to start in his place. Yuri Berchiche is available despite accumulating three bookings, as yellow cards reset after the quarter-finals.

Head-to-Head History

This fixture marks the sixth meeting between the two clubs. Manchester United have won two of the previous five encounters, with the other three going in Bilbao’s favor. This will only be the second time the Spanish side visits Old Trafford.

Prediction

Given their current form and home advantage, Manchester United are favorites not just to progress, but to win the second leg as well. However, a clean sheet may still elude them due to vulnerabilities at the back.

Predicted Score: Manchester United 2-1 Athletic Bilbao