Athletic Bilbao meet Manchester United in the first leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Athletic Bilbao saw off Rangers to secure their place within this semi-final, whilst Man Utd mounted a dramatic extra-time fightback to stun Lyon in a Quarter-Final classic.
Team News
Oihan Sancet is a major doubt for Athletic Bilbao after he suffered a muscle injury during their La Liga victory at Las Palmas last weekend.
Gorka Guruzeta, Mikel Jauregizar, Dani Vivian and Yeray are doubts due to unspecified injury issues.
Man Utd will be without Altay Bayindir after he missed their 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in the Premier League, due to a muscle injury.
Tobias Collyer (leg), Diogo Dalot (calf), Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Matthijs De Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Amad Diallo (all ankle) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Athletic Bilbao host Man Utd at San Mames on Thursday 1 May at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Athletic Bilbao are yet to lose to Man Utd in the Europa League (W2), having beaten the Red Devils 5-3 on aggregate in the Round of 16 phase in 2011-12 edition.
- Man Utd lost 2-1 in their only previous away trip to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League in March 2012.
- Bilbao have scored in three of their four previous meetings against Utd in all UEFA competitions (W3, L1), except for a 3-0 away loss in the second leg of their Quarter-Final tie in 1956-57 European Cup.
- Nico Williams has scored four goals in Bilbao’s last three home games in this competition (W3).
- Zirkzee scored in Utd’s last two away games in this competition but is absent for this match due to injury.
Prediction
Currently on course for a top-five La Liga finish with five games left and having lost just six games in all competitions since mid-October, Athletic Bilbao certainly are the team in better form with a fantastic depth in term of goalscoring ability and a cracking home record this season with just two defeats.
Man Utd meanwhile can’t afford to be as wasteful as they were at Bournemouth because their passing play could of easily been their downfall on numerous occasions, yet they benefitted from a harsh red card and extensive injury-time to snatch something but I want to see them show similar fight here as they did against Lyon.
Either way, Utd really need to cut out their own defensively-made errors because Bilbao will have the confidence to punish them heavily if not careful, especially with the hosts motivated by a potential home final but Utd really should be good for a gritty draw if actually dig in to get the tie back to Old Trafford in the balance.
Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Man Utd
Result: Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Man Utd
Leave a Reply