Man United run rampant in Bilbao to close in on Europe final
Athletic Club vs Man United
In a pulsating encounter at the iconic San Mames Stadium, Manchester United delivered a commanding performance, securing a 3-0 victory over Athletic Club in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday. The Premier League giants, beleaguered by a torrid domestic campaign, showcased their European pedigree with three first-half goals that not only silenced the raucous Bilbao crowd but also placed them firmly on the brink of the Europa League final. The electrifying atmosphere, charged with the hopes of Athletic Club supporters dreaming of a maiden European trophy, provided a formidable backdrop to a match that saw United assert their dominance with clinical precision. Veteran midfielder Casemiro opened the scoring, capitalizing on a well-timed run to the back post, while a red card to Athletic’s Dani Vivian and a subsequent penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes further tilted the tie in United’s favor. Fernandes, the talismanic captain, sealed the first-half rout with a third goal, leaving the hosts shell-shocked and the United faithful in the upper tiers of the stadium in rapturous celebration. This emphatic result, coupled with a clean sheet, has positioned Manchester United as overwhelming favorites to progress, though the job, as their players cautioned, is far from complete.
The match began with Athletic Club feeding off the frenetic energy of their supporters, who filled San Mames with an almost tangible sense of anticipation. The Basque side, sitting fourth in LaLiga and boasting the division’s stingiest defense, approached the game with confidence, buoyed by the prospect of hosting the Europa League final at their own stadium on May 21. Early on, Athletic dictated the tempo, creating several promising opportunities that tested United’s resolve. Iñaki Williams, a constant menace, squandered a golden chance when he failed to convert a close-range header, while Victor Lindelöf’s last-ditch block on the goal line spared United’s blushes. These moments underscored Athletic’s intent to seize control, their high-pressing game and fluid attacking movements threatening to overwhelm a United side that had arrived in Bilbao as the only unbeaten team across all European competitions. However, the tide turned decisively in the 30th minute when Casemiro, the experienced Brazilian midfielder, demonstrated his knack for arriving at the right place at the right time. Latching onto a pinpoint delivery, he steered the ball past Athletic’s goalkeeper, igniting celebrations among the traveling supporters and shifting the momentum squarely in United’s favor. This goal, a testament to United’s ability to capitalize on fleeting opportunities, marked the beginning of a devastating sequence that would leave Athletic reeling.
The game’s complexion changed irrevocably five minutes later when Athletic’s defensive linchpin, Dani Vivian, was sent off for a foul on Rasmus Højlund in the penalty area. Norwegian referee Espen Eskas, after consulting the pitch-side monitor, deemed the challenge a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity, brandishing a red card and awarding United a penalty. The decision sent shockwaves through the stadium, with the home crowd’s vociferous protests doing little to sway the officials. Bruno Fernandes, undeterred by the cacophony of whistles and jeers, stepped up to take the spot kick. His composure was nothing short of remarkable; with the weight of the moment bearing down, he coolly dispatched the penalty, doubling United’s lead and further deflating Athletic’s spirits. The San Mames faithful, known for their unwavering support, were momentarily silenced, their dreams of a historic European triumph beginning to fray at the edges. Fernandes’ penalty was not merely a goal but a statement of intent, underscoring United’s ruthlessness in exploiting their numerical advantage. Barely had the crowd recovered when Fernandes struck again, this time racing onto a deft flick from Manuel Ugarte to slot home a third goal before the interval. The United captain’s brace, executed with surgical precision, effectively put the tie out of reach, leaving Athletic to face an uphill battle in the second half with only ten men.
The second half saw Athletic Club struggle to mount a meaningful response, their depleted ranks unable to cope with United’s disciplined and confident approach. The hosts, who had started the match with such vigor, were reduced to chasing shadows as United controlled possession and managed the game with an air of assurance. The contrast between United’s domestic and continental campaigns was starkly highlighted in Bilbao. While their Premier League form has been nothing short of dismal—on course for their worst-ever points tally—the Europa League has provided a sanctuary where they have thrived. Under the stewardship of Ruben Amorim, who took the reins earlier in the season, United have won more games in the Europa League than in the Premier League, a statistic that speaks volumes about their European resurgence. Their seven Europa League matches in 2025 have yielded more goals than their 15 Premier League outings, a remarkable feat that underscores the competition’s role as a lifeline for a club grappling with inconsistency at home. In Bilbao, this disparity was laid bare, with United’s attacking fluency and defensive solidity standing in sharp contrast to their domestic struggles. Casemiro, who nearly added a fourth goal when his second-half header struck the post, epitomized United’s blend of experience and tenacity, qualities that have propelled them to the cusp of the final.
Harry Maguire, the United defender who has weathered criticism during the club’s turbulent season, was quick to temper expectations despite the resounding victory. Speaking to TNT Sports, he acknowledged the significance of the result—a 3-0 win, a clean sheet, and a commanding lead—but cautioned that the tie was not yet won. “Of course it’s a great start, to get a victory here and score three goals and with a clean sheet,” he said, his words reflecting a pragmatism born of United’s rollercoaster campaign. “All the pressure will be on us, everyone will be expecting us to go through. We need to prepare properly, and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a great chance. One foot in the final, but it’s not done.” Maguire’s comments underscored the delicate balance between confidence and complacency, a sentiment echoed by his teammates as they look ahead to the second leg. The statistics, however, offer United considerable encouragement: of the 133 teams to have won the first leg of a UEFA Cup or Europa League knockout tie by three or more goals away from home, all 133 have advanced. This historical precedent, combined with United’s unbeaten European record and Athletic’s numerical disadvantage, positions them as prohibitive favorites to reach the final.
For Athletic Club, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given the emotional weight of the occasion. The prospect of contesting the Europa League final in their own stadium had galvanized the team and their supporters, making United’s first-half onslaught all the more devastating. The red card to Vivian, a pivotal figure in their resolute defense, proved a turning point, disrupting their game plan and exposing vulnerabilities that United ruthlessly exploited. In the second half, Athletic’s attempts to claw their way back were hampered by fatigue and a lack of cohesion, with United’s tactical discipline ensuring that the hosts’ forays forward were snuffed out. The Bilbao crowd, though subdued, remained defiant to the end, their chants a reminder of the pride and passion that define this storied club. For United, the victory was a rare moment of triumph in a season fraught with challenges, a reminder of their potential when firing on all cylinders. As they return to Manchester, the focus will shift to maintaining their intensity and avoiding complacency in the second leg. The Europa League, a competition that has offered solace amid their domestic woes, now beckons as a chance for redemption and glory. With one foot in the final, Manchester United stand on the precipice of a defining moment, their European dreams tantalizingly within reach.
