Manchester United face Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Europa League semi-final.
With a 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, Man Utd simply need to avoid defeat or lose by a two-goal margin at maximum to secure their spot in the final.
Athletic Bilbao simply need to win by a four-goal margin to secure a home final but if they manage to win by a three-goal margin then the tie will go to extra time and potentially a penalty shootout.
Team News
Matthijs De Ligt is ruled out for Man Utd after he suffered a knee injury during their 4-3 loss at Brentford in the Premier League.
Tobias Collyer (leg), Diogo Dalot (calf), Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring), Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Ayden Heaven (ankle) are still sidelined.
Athletic Bilbao will again be without Oihan Sancet after he failed to recover from a muscle injury which forced him to miss the first leg.
Inaki Williams and Nico Williams are also ruled out due to respective hamstring and groin injuries.
Dani Vivian is suspended following his red card in the first leg.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford on Thursday 8 May at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have won one of three previous Europa League meetings against Athletic Bilbao (W1, L2).
- Athletic Bilbao won 3-2 in their only previous visit to Man Utd, which came in this competition in March 2012.
- Four of Utd’s nine goals at home in the knockout phase were scored by Bruno Fernandes.
- Athletic Bilbao have avoided defeat in four of their six away games in this season’s competition (W2, D2, L2).
Prediction
With a 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, you would think that Man Utd can relax a bit but the home game against Lyon and league defeat to Brentford showed how vulnerable their defence is if face an aggressive attack-minded team which will give Bilbao some belief.
It is therefore imperative that Bilbao start on the front foot and score first if want any chance of a second-leg comeback, but they will need to be more defensively solid than they were in the first leg otherwise this will be a long road back if they concede first.
Utd though did rest Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund in West London so with that trip back, I can see the hosts having enough to win this such has been their home form in this season’s competition.
Prediction: Man Utd 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Result: Man Utd 4-1 Athletic Bilbao (Man Utd win 7-1 on aggregate)
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