Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Manchester United will believe they are already through to the final of the UEFA Europa League following their shock demolition of Athletic Club in Bilbao in the first-leg last week.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 8th May, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Man Utd Preview: First-half efficiency

Manchester United started brightly from the off at San Mames with a disallowed Alejandro Garnacho goal before then running riot and racing into a 3-0 lead before the break thanks to a Bruno Fernandes brace as well as a header scored by veteran midfielder Casemiro.

Ruben Amorim’s tenure has been a shocking one in the Premier League thus far but it could well be that his first two third of a season in charge at Old Trafford ends in them winning silverware and thus qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Athletic Bilbao Preview: The collapse in Bilbao

Whatever the reason, whether it be tactical or the pressure and hype put on this tie and this competition by both players and supporters of Athletic, the Basque giants collapsed at home last week with none of their industry or technical talent on show at San Mames.

The final is to be held in Bilbao in a couple of weeks’ time and players have spoken of staying at the club this season in order to reach that final and make history, even seemingly celebrating the fact they missed out on a top four finish and UEFA Champions League football last year.

Man Utd Team News: Players returning

Amorim is being blessed with the well-timed return of some key attackers as well as centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, who has joined the likes of Mason Mount and Amad Diallo, as well as Luke Shaw, in being back available of late. There is no reason for them to change last week’s eleven.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Garnacho, Fernandes; Hojlund

Unavailable: Martinez (Injured), Heaven (Injured), Dalot (Injured), Zirkzee (Injured)

Questionable: De Ligt (Injured), Collyer (Injured)

Athletic Bilbao Team News: Key absentees

The chance of a turnaround is small but it is even smaller now with Athletic set to be without both Inaki Williams and Nico Williams, missing the trip to Manchester due to injury alongside the still injured key man Oihan Sancet. Centre-back Dani Vivian is also missing through suspension following his red card last week.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Paredes, Yeray, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Berenguer, Gomez, Djalo; Sannadi

Unavailable: Vivian (Suspended), Sancet (Injured), N. Williams (Injured), I. Williams (Injured)

Questionable:

Key Stats

Man. United are aiming to reach their third UEFA Europa League final. Following their appearances in 2016/17 (W 2-0 vs Ajax) and 2020/21 (L 10-11 on pens vs Villarreal).
Man. United have lost only one of their last 30 matches at Old Trafford in the UEFA Europa League (W23 D6).
Man. United have won their last five UEFA Europa League home matches.
Man. United have lost only one of their last ten UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams (W6 D3).
Man. United have won 14 of their last 15 UEFA Europa League two-legged ties.
Man. United are unbeaten in their previous 13 UEFA Europa League matches this season (W8 D5).
Man. United have lost only one of their last 24 UEFA Europa League matches (W16 D7).
Man. United have lost only two of their last 12 matches in UEFA competition semi-finals (W8 D2).
Only one of Man United’s last 64 UEFA competition matches finished without a goal being scored.
Bruno Fernandes has scored six goals in Man. United’s last four UEFA Europa League matches.
Athletic Club are aiming to reach their third UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League final. Following their appearances in 1976/77 (L on away goals vs Juventus) and 2011/12 (L 0-3 vs Atlético).
Athletic Club have won only three of their last 11 UEFA competition matches against English teams (D3 L5).
Athletic Club have won nine of their last 12 UEFA competition two-legged ties.
No team has ever recovered from losing the first leg by a margin of three or more goals to win a UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League semi-final tie.

Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction

Since the first-leg, Manchester United have shown their fragility once again with a 4-3 loss to Brentford at the weekend, whilst Athletic shared a predictable goalless draw with Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. United were home and hosed against Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals before ten-man Lyon fought back from 2-0 down on the night to go 4-2 up in extra-time before they also succumbed to a collapse at Old Trafford. That will give Athletic hope but, frankly, Ernesto Valverde will be without his two best players in attack in the absence of Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams so United should really book their spot back in Bilbao for the final.

Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao Tip: Man Utd to win