Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao | Europa League | Semi-Finals | 2nd Leg | Pre Match
Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao
Manchester United’s 2024-25 season has been a paradox of staggering proportions, a campaign defined by domestic despair and European defiance. Languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, the Red Devils are on course to shatter their ignominious club record for the lowest-ever finish in the English top flight, a statistic that paints a grim picture of their struggles under the weight of expectation at Old Trafford. Yet, in the face of this dismal Premier League showing, United have somehow emerged as an unstoppable force in the UEFA Europa League, standing on the precipice of reaching the final without suffering a single defeat across their 13 matches in the competition. This extraordinary run, comprising eight wins and five draws, has positioned them as one of the most formidable sides in the tournament, and a 3-0 first-leg victory against Athletic Club in Bilbao has given them a commanding lead heading into the second leg at Old Trafford. For a club steeped in European pedigree, this unlikely surge offers a glimmer of salvation—a chance to not only secure a trophy but also to clinch a coveted UEFA Champions League berth for the following season. Under the stewardship of Ruben Amorim, who is poised to emulate Thomas Tuchel’s feat of guiding an English club to a major European final in his debut season, United’s Europa League campaign has become a beacon of hope amid the storm, a testament to their resilience and a reminder of their enduring quality on the continental stage.
The first leg against Athletic Club was a masterclass in opportunism, as United dismantled one of La Liga’s most robust defenses with a clinical 3-0 victory that few had anticipated. Athletic, under the meticulous guidance of Ernesto Valverde, have been a revelation in Spain, conceding a mere 26 goals in 34 La Liga matches—a joint-record low for the club at this stage of a season, matching their defensive solidity of 1984-85. With only Atlético Madrid boasting a lower expected goals against figure in La Liga, Athletic’s backline has been the bedrock of their success, making United’s demolition in Bilbao all the more remarkable. The turning point came when Athletic were reduced to 10 men, a moment that tilted the tie decisively in United’s favor. Casemiro, the veteran midfielder whose experience has been a stabilizing force, opened the scoring, while Bruno Fernandes, United’s talismanic captain, struck twice to put the Red Devils in firm control. Fernandes’ brace underscored his pivotal role in United’s European campaign, his ability to deliver in high-stakes moments a constant thorn in the side of opponents. The result sent shockwaves through European football, as United, a side floundering domestically, had not only defeated but thoroughly outclassed a team that has been a model of consistency in Spain. For Athletic, the defeat was a rare blemish, and they now face a Herculean task at Old Trafford, needing to overturn a three-goal deficit in a stadium where United have lost just once in their last 30 Europa League home games—a 1-0 group-stage defeat to Real Sociedad in September 2022. The odds are stacked heavily against the Basque side, who must achieve something unprecedented in United’s European history: a three-goal victory on their opponents’ turf.
United’s unbeaten run in the Europa League this season places them in elite company, with only six other teams—Benfica (2013-14), Chelsea (2018-19), Internazionale (2019-20), Villarreal (2020-21), Eintracht Frankfurt (2021-22), and Bayer Leverkusen (2023-24)—having reached the competition’s final without a loss. This statistic is a remarkable testament to Amorim’s ability to galvanize a squad that has been erratic in the Premier League, where their performances have often been characterized by profligacy and defensive frailty. In Europe, however, United have been a different beast, their attacking output unrivaled in the Europa League with 31 goals, including one own goal, a tally surpassed only in their 2002-03 and 2020-21 European campaigns. Fernandes has been the orchestrator of this offensive juggernaut, his 145 chance creations in all competitions this season a staggering figure that highlights his creative genius. With 19 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, Fernandes trails only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah among Premier League players in goal involvements, and his 27 Europa League goals place him level with Romelu Lukaku, behind only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Radamel Falcao in the competition’s history. His 18 assists, a record he shares with Dries Mertens, further cement his status as one of the Europa League’s all-time greats. For United, Fernandes’ form has been a lifeline, his ability to unlock defenses and deliver in clutch moments providing the spark that has kept their European dream alive.
Athletic Club, meanwhile, face a daunting challenge, compounded by a crippling injury crisis that has decimated their attacking options. The absence of Iñaki Williams, Nico Williams, and leading scorer Oihan Sancet—who has netted 15 La Liga goals this season, a feat achieved by only four other Athletic players since 2000-01—leaves Valverde’s side severely depleted. The Williams brothers, sidelined by hamstring and groin injuries respectively, are integral to Athletic’s high-octane style, their pace and directness a constant threat. Sancet’s absence, following a muscle tear that ruled him out of the first leg, further hampers Athletic’s hopes of staging a comeback. Without their three most potent attackers, Athletic’s prospects of scoring the three goals needed to force extra time—or four to win outright—appear remote. Historically, Athletic have struggled in away games against English sides, losing seven of their nine such encounters in European competition, though their 3-2 Europa League victory over United in March 2012 offers a sliver of hope. That result, however, feels like a distant memory, and the current United side, despite their domestic woes, are a far cry from the team that faltered 13 years ago. The statistics paint a grim picture for Athletic: no team in United’s European history has overturned a three-goal deficit at Old Trafford, and only once in major European competitions has a side won the first leg of a two-legged knockout tie away from home by three or more goals and failed to progress—Maccabi Tel Aviv’s collapse against Olympiakos in the 2023-24 UEFA Conference League. Athletic’s task is not just difficult; it borders on the impossible.
The historical context of United’s clashes with Athletic adds another layer of intrigue to this tie. Across their five previous meetings, the two sides have produced a staggering 22 goals, an average of 4.4 per game, with United scoring 12 and conceding 10. Every encounter has seen at least three goals, a trend that suggests the second leg could be another high-scoring affair, particularly given United’s attacking prowess and Athletic’s need to chase the game. For Amorim, the opportunity to etch his name into United’s storied history is tantalizing. José Mourinho, the only United manager to reach a European final in his debut season, delivered the Europa League title in 2016-17, and Amorim is now one step away from emulating that feat. His tactical acumen, evident in the way United dismantled Athletic in the first leg, has breathed new life into a squad that has struggled for identity in the Premier League. Amorim’s decision to lean on experienced heads like Casemiro and Fernandes, while integrating younger talents, has struck a delicate balance, allowing United to navigate the complexities of European competition with a composure that has eluded them domestically.
As Old Trafford prepares to host the second leg, the atmosphere promises to be electric, with United fans sensing a rare opportunity to celebrate in a season of discontent. For Athletic, the San Mamés Stadium, set to host the Europa League final on May 21, represents a dream destination, but their path to that showpiece now resembles a nightmare. A miraculous turnaround would require not only a monumental performance but also a collapse from United, who have shown no signs of fragility in Europe. The Red Devils’ home record, their attacking firepower, and Fernandes’ relentless brilliance make them overwhelming favorites to advance. For United, the Europa League has become more than a competition; it is a lifeline, a chance to salvage pride, secure silverware, and restore their place among Europe’s elite. As the final beckons, Amorim’s men stand on the cusp of history, their unbeaten run a symbol of their defiance and a beacon of hope for a club desperate to rediscover its former glory.
