Tonight at 21:00 EAT, Manchester United host Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final clash.
United hold a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg in Bilbao, setting themselves up nicely for a spot in the final.
A Brief History: Head-to-Head Encounters
Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao have competed against each other four times in competitive games. An analysis of their past meetings is as follows:
- March 8, 2012 (Europa League Round of 16, First Leg): Manchester United 2–3 Athletic Bilbao
- March 15, 2012 (Europa League Round of 16, Second Leg): Athletic Bilbao 2–1 Manchester United
- August 6, 2023 (Club Friendly): Manchester United 1–1 Athletic Bilbao
- May 1, 2025 (Europa League Semi-Final, First Leg): Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Manchester United
Athletic Bilbao have won two of these games, Manchester United none, and one was drawn. Bilbao have scored a total of eight goals to United's five.
First Leg Recap: United's Dominant Display
Manchester United dominated the first leg at San Mamés, beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0. Casemiro opened the scoring, with Bruno Fernandes slotting home a penalty after Dani Vivian was red-carded for bringing down Rasmus Højlund. Fernandes netted again before halftime, all but sealing the tie.
Despite Bilbao's attacking start, United's counter-attacking prowess and two-man advantage counted in the end. This victory places United in the driving seat to reach the Europa League final, with the potential of a return to San Mamés in three weeks' time.
(Source: The Guardian)
Match Preview: Second Leg Expectations
Leading 3-0, Manchester United are strong favourites to qualify for the final. However, Athletic Bilbao have been resilient in their past European adventures and will be hoping to turn the tie around. United will aim to continue from where they left off and seal their place in the final.
Conclusion
Tonight's match promises to be a thrilling encounter as Manchester United aim to consolidate their first-leg lead, and Athletic Bilbao try to mount a dramatic comeback. The victor will advance to the Europa League final at San Mamés.
