Lifting the UEFA Europa League (UEL) trophy has remained a beacon of hope in an otherwise tumultuous season for Manchester United. Now, with a commanding 3-0 away win in the first leg of their semi-final clash against Athletic Club, the Red Devils are within touching distance of a return to the final—one that will be held at none other than San Mamés, the same ground where they delivered their emphatic victory.
Despite their strong position, Manchester United fans know better than to expect a smooth ride. Rubin Amorim’s men have developed a habit of drama in Europe, staying unbeaten this season with eight wins and five draws, but often taking the hard road to success. Their defensive frailties were once again exposed in a chaotic 4-3 loss to Brentford over the weekend, and with all five previous meetings with Athletic producing three or more goals, a quiet evening at Old Trafford seems unlikely.
Yet history is firmly on United’s side. On all 20 prior occasions in UEFA competitions where they won the first leg away, they went on to progress. The return to their home turf should offer further comfort, even as they look to tighten up at the back.
Athletic Club, meanwhile, have it all to do. A subdued performance in front of a passionate San Mamés crowd last Thursday left them with a mountain to climb. That task grew steeper after a goalless draw against local rivals Real Sociedad on Sunday. To compound their problems, key attacking players Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, and top scorer Oihan Sancet are all ruled out through injury.
Their recent away form in the UEL is uninspiring, with no wins in their last three (D1, L2), and their record in England is even more daunting—just one win in nine visits. Ironically, that one win came at Old Trafford in 2012, when they went on to reach the final. Replicating that result seems a tall order, especially given that only one team in European history has overturned a 3+ goal home-leg deficit to advance.
Players to Watch:
Rested over the weekend, Bruno Fernandes is expected to lead United’s charge, having already notched six goals and an assist in the UEL knockout stages this season. For Athletic, Gorka Guruzeta—now their top available scorer with seven goals—will hope to end a 13-match goal drought.
Hot Stat:
Eight of Manchester United’s last nine UEL home matches have seen both teams find the net, including each of their four most recent games against Spanish clubs.
