Manchester United, battered and bruised from a rocky season, are clinging to hope as they eye redemption in the Europa League. Having clawed their way back from the brink against Lyon, their dramatic quarter-final triumph felt almost written in the stars. The 7-6 aggregate victory, sealed by a late flurry of goals from Fernandes, Mainoo, and Maguire, rekindled belief in a team desperate to end their campaign with silverware.
The road to this semifinal wasn’t always so wild. Earlier rounds saw United glide through the league phase with relative ease, averaging two goals per match and swatting aside Real Sociedad in the last 16. That quiet efficiency gave way to chaos in the quarters, yet somehow they emerged stronger, fueled by sheer grit and Fernandes’ talismanic influence.
Under Ruben Amorim, United may be a mess at home, but they’ve been a force in Europe. The Portuguese manager has yet to taste defeat on the continent, and his team leads in both goals scored and attacking touches inside the opposition area – a sign of their hunger to dominate. While the Premier League dream has all but crumbled, Europe still offers salvation and a potential backdoor into next season’s Champions League.
But Athletic Club Bilbao, no strangers to gritty football and passionate home crowds, stand in their path. History isn’t kind to United here – three defeats in four previous meetings, the last of which came under Marcelo Bielsa’s whirlwind leadership in 2012. Athletic won both legs back then and rode that form to the final, ousting United with style and fire.
Now, Ernesto Valverde leads a disciplined and hungry squad. The Basque side, fresh off last year’s Copa del Rey win, is eyeing another shot at continental glory, especially with the Europa League final set to be hosted at their fortress, San Mames. Their journey so far has been impressive, especially at home, where they’ve won all six games, scoring freely and conceding rarely.
Their route here hasn’t been easy. They overcame Roma and Rangers with clutch performances, relying on the likes of Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet to provide the spark. With La Liga top-four ambitions alive and the added luxury of a weekend off, Athletic enter this clash rested, focused, and with the scent of glory thick in the air.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are limping into this first leg. Injuries plague them – Dalot, Zirkzee, and Martinez are sidelined, with hopes fading for De Ligt, Diallo, and Collyer to return in time. Amorim must lean hard on Bruno Fernandes, whose Europa League record is staggering: 29 goal involvements in 31 knockout games, including a perfect record in semifinals.
The clash also pits Fernandes against Nico Williams, who has been electric at San Mames, contributing to a goal in every Europa match played there. Though his brother Inaki stole the spotlight against Las Palmas, Nico will be back in the lineup alongside him. The old guard, including the soon-retiring Oscar De Marcos, may have one last dance in them, but youth and drive define this Athletic squad. Thursday promises fireworks – a battle of wounded giants and rising stars with everything to play for.
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