Europa League | Semi-Finals | 2nd Leg

May 8, 2025 at 8pm UK

Old Trafford

Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao

(agg: 3-0)

Match preview

Athletic Bilbao had won all six of their Europa League games at San Mames and had not lost on home soil in any competition for more than eight months before Man United came to town and, with 10 men on the pitch, ran out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to first-half goals from Bruno Fernandes (2) and Casemiro.

The Red Devils remain unbeaten in this season's Europa League (W8 D5) and could become only the seventh team - and only the second English side after Chelsea (2018-19) - to reach the Europa League final without losing on the way, but head coach Ruben Amorim has insisted that the game is not yet over as "anything can happen in a game".

Since celebrating their biggest away win in the semi-finals of a major European competition, Man United were brought back down to earth in the Premier League by Brentford, who beat them 4-3 in an action-packed clash at the Gtech Community Stadium last weekend, with Amorim fielding the youngest PL starting line-up in the club's history.

Sitting in 15th place in the Premier League table and having lost 16 of their 35 games this season, Man United are guaranteed to finish with their lowest points tally in the PL era (currently 39) and cannot finish higher than 12th, meaning success in the Europa League is essential to secure qualification for the 2025-26 Champions League.

One reassuring statistic for Man United ahead of Thursday's return leg is that 133 teams have won the first leg of a Europa League/UEFA Cup knockout tie by three goals or more away from home, and all 133 have gone through to the next round. The Red Devils are also unbeaten in their last 11 Europa League games at Old Trafford since losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad in September 2022.

Athletic Bilbao have not reached a European final since 2011-12 and have a mountain to climb at Old Trafford if they are to reach this season's showpiece on their own turf, while their domestic campaign could also end in disappointment with a top-four finish in La Liga not a foregone conclusion.

Indeed, Athletic's five wins in 14 top-flight games has allowed fifth-placed Villarreal to move to within three points of fourth-placed Basque side with four games remaining. Ernesto Valverde's side were last held to a goalless stalemate away at Real Sociedad last weekend, managing just one of their three shots on target over the full 90 minutes.

Goals have been hard to come by for Athletic, who have failed to find the net in six of their last nine games in all competitions, including two of their last three in the Europa League, and Valverde has admitted that "competing at this level while juggling other commitments is a challenge".

The Spanish side will need to rediscover their clinical touch in front of goal on Thursday if they are to become only the second team in the history of a major European competition to progress from a knockout tie after losing the first leg at home by three goals or more, following Olympiakos in the 2023-24 Conference League (they lost the first leg 4-1 before winning the second 6-1).

Athletic are looking to avoid losing both home and away legs of a major European knockout tie for only the third time in their history (after the 1967-68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup quarter-finals and the 2017-18 Europa League last-16). They also head to Old Trafford having lost seven of their previous nine away meetings with English clubs in all European competitions (W1 D1), although their most recent trip was a successful one, with a 3-2 Europa League win at Man United in March 2012 under former boss Marcelo Bielsa.

Recent Performance

Manchester United Europa League form:WDWDWW

Manchester United form (all competitions):LWLDWL

Athletic Bilbao Europa League form:WLWDWL

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):WWLWLD

Team News

Man United are sweating over the fitness of Matthijs de Ligt, who was forced off against Brentford with a muscle problem. The Dutchman and Toby Collyer (leg) will be assessed before kick-off, while Lisandro Martinez (knee), Joshua Zirkzee (thigh), Diogo Dalot (calf) and Ayden Heaven (ankle) remain sidelined.

Chido Obi-Martin (17 years, 156 days) became the youngest player in Man United history to start a Premier League game last weekend, but he is ineligible for the Europa League, so Rasmus Hojlund will return up front, with captain Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho providing support in attack.

Amorim will consider giving Victor Lindelof a start at centre-back. Noussair Mazraoui could also start at right-back if Amorim opts to hand a start to Amad Diallo, who has impressed in recent substitute appearances since recovering from injury.

As for Athletic Bilbao, key defender Dani Vivian is suspended after being sent off in last week's first leg, so Aitor Paredes is expected to deputise at centre-back alongside Yeray Alvarez.

Valverde has revealed that in-demand attacker Nico Williams, experienced full-back Oscar De Marcos and top scorer Oihan Sancet, who missed the first leg with a hamstring injury, will all be assessed before kick-off.

The possible absences of both Sancet and Nico Williams could see his brother Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer operate out wide, while Unai Gomez could take over at number 10 behind either Maroan Sannadi or Gorka Guruzeta. Andoni Gorosabel, meanwhile, could start at right-back if De Marcos is unable to play.

Possible starting lineup

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Paredes, Alvarez, Berchiche; De Galarreta, Jauregizar; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Sannadi