Manchester United vs Athletic Club

The Red Devils have placed themselves in a perfect position to make a return to the San Mames Stadium which will be the venue of this year’s final match after they had recorded a 3-0 victory in the first leg match at the Basque Country.

The Spanish side had fifteen straight victories in the Europa League at their home ground, San Mames, and had not tasted defeat on their home soil in eight months of all competitions before the United side smashed into town and spanked them 3-0 with first half goals from Fernandes (2) and Casemiro secured.

Manchester United has won five of the last six away matches in the Europa League (W5 D1) and has the chance to become the second English club in history to reach the final of this tournament without defeat, but the head coach, Ruben Amorim, added that all is not over yet as “this is football and it is still one game.”

Since their 6-2 triumph over Borrusia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Europa League, giants Man United lost to Brentford in the English Premier League last weekend, which exposed head coach Amorim who fielded the youngest starting formation of all the premier league teams.

Man United currently have their lowest points finish in the Premier League this season being seated at the 15th position having lost 16 of their 35 matches this season and they will not be able to go beyond 12th place hence have to rely on the Europa League for qualification to the next season’s Champions League 2025-26.

Manchester United can take comfort from history as they prepare for Thursday’s Europa League second leg. No team in the competition’s history—133 in total—has ever failed to progress after winning the first leg of a knockout tie by three or more goals away from home. Additionally, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 11 Europa League matches at Old Trafford, with their last defeat coming against Real Sociedad (1-0) in September 2022.

For Athletic Bilbao, the challenge is monumental. They haven’t reached a European final since the 2011-12 season, and overturning such a deficit at Old Trafford seems a daunting task—especially with this season’s final set to be held at their own stadium, San Mamés. Their domestic form hasn’t inspired confidence either, as their grip on a top-four La Liga finish is far from secure.

With just five wins in their last 14 league games, Athletic have allowed Villarreal (fifth) to close the gap to just three points. Ernesto Valverde’s side struggled in their most recent outing, managing just one shot on target in a 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad. With four games left, their Champions League hopes hang in the balance—adding further pressure ahead of their trip to Manchester.

Athletic Bilbao have struggled for goals lately, failing to score in six of their last nine matches across all competitions—including two of their past three Europa League outings.

Now, the Spanish side must rediscover their finishing touch as they aim to make history on Thursday. Only one team in major European competition—Olympiakos in the 2023-24 Conference League—has ever overturned a three-goal first-leg home defeat to advance (losing 4-1 before a stunning 6-1 second-leg victory). Athletic are hoping to become the second.

They’re also looking to avoid an unwanted record: losing both legs of a European knockout tie for only the third time in their history (previously in the 1967-68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup quarter-final and the 2017-18 Europa League last 16). Their record against English clubs away from home is concerning—just one win in nine attempts (D1 L7)—but their last visit to Old Trafford brought a memorable 3-2 Europa League victory in March 2012 under Marcelo Bielsa. A repeat performance could keep their European dreams alive.