Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Tips & Preview - Hosts to finish the job

Tolu Shotade

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Last updated: 06 May 2025

Tolu Shotade 06 May 2025

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Man Utd lead Bilbao 3-0 from the first leg.
United strong at home with Bruno Fernandes in form.
Bilbao struggling with form and away performance.

Expired

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao

Manchester United are aiming to build on their 3-0 lead when they host Athletic Bilbao in their UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg.

The English Premier League side remain unbeaten in the competition and are often impressive in front of their fans. With a final berth on the line, they should complete the double over the Spaniards, who have looked out of sorts on their travels recent travels.

Manchester United Form

Manchester United appear to have fully given up on their domestic campaign and head into this clash off the back of a 4-3 Premier League defeat at Brentford. That trade-off seems to be paying off as they are still unbeaten in the Europa League and are one step from the final following the 3-0 victory in the first leg.

It has been an impressive Europa League campaign for Manchester United, who have been particularly solid in front of their fans. Ruben Amorim's team have won their last five home matches in the competition, with a 4-1 victory over Spanish side Real Sociedad among their results.

Bruno Fernandes netted a brace in the first leg in Bilbao and has now scored seven times in seven Europa League matches. He is the fulcrum for an attack that has scored first in five of the last seven matches in the competition.

Athletic Bilbao Form

Athletic Bilbao were far from their best in the first leg as they struggled to cope with the quality of Manchester United. Their cause was not helped by a first half red card to Dani Vivian and they seemed to capitulate after that.

The Spaniards appear to have picked the wrong time to suffer a dip in form as they are winless in three of their last four matches across all competitions. Ernesto Valverde’s team are also winless in nine of the last 10 away matches across all competitions and were held to a 0-0 La Liga draw at Real Sociedad last weekend.

That result highlights an attacking problem for Athletic Bilbao, who have failed to score in their last four away matches across all competitions and will be without leading scorer Oihan Sancet through injury. They have also struggled on their travels in the Europa League, with two defeats and a draw in their last three away matches.

Head to Head

Last week's 3-0 victory was Manchester United's first win over Athletic Bilbao. The Spaniards had been unbeaten in the previous four meetings and have experience of winning at Old Trafford, claiming a 3-2 victory during the knockout stage of the Europa League back in 2012.

Verdict

Man Utd v Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao's desperation to overturn the first leg deficit means they could open themselves up to danger on Thursday. The Spaniards already have a poor record on their travels and with Manchester United winning their last five Europa League matches at Old Trafford, a home win is expected and a place in the final.

Manchester United have scored first in five of their last seven Europa League matches and should exploit Bilbao once again. Fernandes should maintain his fine scoring run and is set to grab his eighth goal in the competition.

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