Manchester United’s miserable season could still end on a very happy note after Ruben Amorim’s side beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday (7-1 on aggregate) to reach the Europa League final.
MORE — Bodo/Glimt 0-2 (1-5 agg.) Spurs: Video highlights & recap
It was 3-0 after Man United made easy work of 10-man Bilbao away from home last week, but things got a bit nervy midway through the first half when Mikel Jauregizar hammered the ball into the top corner from 30 yards out to make it 3-1 in the tie. That was the scoreline for 40 more minutes until the Red Devils erupted for four goals in 19 minutes, beginning with a sensational strike by Mason Mount in the 72nd minute. That made it 4-1 on aggregate and all but ended the tie, but Casemiro headed home from a free kick in the 80th and Rasmus Hojlund tapped in Amad Diallo’s cross in the 85th.
Then, Mount nearly brought Old Trafford down to the ground in stoppage time. Goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala’s clearance went straight to his feet and Mount wasted no time before stroking the ball in an empty net from near the halfway line.
It’ll be Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur in an all-Premier League final — 15th vs 16th at the moment — in Bilbao, Spain on May 21, with a place in next season’s Champions League on the line.
Player ratings - Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao
What’s next?
- Manchester United vs West Ham — Sunday, 9:15 am ET
- Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves — Sunday, 12:30 pm ET
Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao live updates - by Andy Edwards
Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao final score: 4-1 (7-1 agg.)
Goalscorers: Mikel Jauregizar (31'), Mason Mount (72', 90'+1), Casemiro (80'), Rasmus Hojlund (85')
GOAL! Man United 4-1 (7-1 agg.) Bilbao: Mount scores from near the halfway line (90'+1)
Mason Mount from the parking lot ⚡😳 pic.twitter.com/m2x9QjglrS
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2025
GOAL! Man United 3-1 (6-1 agg.) Bilbao: Hojlund turns home another one (85')
GOAL! Man United 2-1 (5-1 agg.) Bilbao: Casemiro flicks a header home to leave no doubt (80')
GOAL! Man United 1-1 (4-1 agg.) Bilbao: Mount turns and curls a beauty to clinch it (72')
MASON MOUNT WITH A SPECIAL STRIKE 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/kvjmACp5Zv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2025
GOAL! Man United 0-1 (3-1 agg.) Bilbao: Jauregizar sticks one top corner after a bad giveaway (31')
WHAT A HIT FROM MIKEL JAUREGIZAR 💥
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2025
Game on 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/l6ZKpyr0Ae
Manchester United starting lineup
Onana - Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro - Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu - Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Athletic Bilbao starting lineup
Agirrezabala - Gorosabel, Alvarez, Nunez, Berchiche - de Galarreta, Jauregizar, Gomez - Djalo, Berenguer, Sannadi
How to watch Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday (May 8)
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
You’d like to think so but Ruben Amorim and United’s fans will be taking nothing for granted. United were ruthless in the first half in Bilbao, making the most of a red card to Bilbao’s Dani Vivian which resulted in a penalty kick that Bruno Fernandes scored to set them on their way to an astonishing, and unexpected, victory. All they have to do is avoid a four-goal defeat and they will play against either Bodo/Glimt or Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final at Bilbao’s San Mames stadium on May 21. Winning the Europa League would save United’s season and return them to the Champions League even though they’re languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table. They may not admit it publicly, but plenty of United fans will have already booked their tickets to Bilbao for the final.
Although Ernesto Valverde’s Bilbao know an epic comeback is unlikely, they created enough chances against United in the first leg to suggest they can make a game of this. Nico Williams and Inaki Williams are a real threat in attack, while Bilbao know that if they score first then the home fans inside Old Trafford will start to get nervous. Bilbao, who look set to qualify for the Champions League by finishing in the top four of La Liga, have absolutely nothing to lose and the carrot of playing in their home stadium in the final is still dangling. Just.
Manchester United team news, focus
This is a massive game for Amorim’s future as he knows that given their current form United will be the favorites to win the Europa League if they can finish off Bilbao in the second leg. The final, when if they get there, will still be tough as they narrowly beat Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the league phase of the Europa League and they’ve lost three times against Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions already this season too. Still, United’s experienced players have stepped up in a huge way during this Europa League campaign with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire sensational in the semifinal first leg win at Bilbao. They have lost Matthijs de Ligt to injury once again so Yoro, Maguire and Lindelof will likely line up at center back. The fact that Amad Diallo is also back from injury and scored at Brentford on Sunday is a huge bonus, while Alejandro Garnacho is also getting back to his best. United will look to hit Bilbao on the counter and will try and keep it simple.
OUT: Diogo Dalot (calf), Joshua Zirkzee (thigh - MORE), Ayden Heaven (leg - MORE), Lisandro Martinez (torn ACL - MORE), Matthijs de Ligt (knee), Toby Collyer (leg)
Athletic Bilbao team news, focus
Central defender Dani Vivian is suspended after his red card for hauling back Rasmus Hojlund in the penalty box in the first leg. Top goalscorer Oihan Sancet missed the first leg through injury and he remains out. Star winger Nico Williams and his brother Inaki are also out injured in a huge blow to Bilbao’s hopes. Valverde knows Bilbao need to start sharp and score early to crank up the nerves inside Old Trafford but Bilbao aren’t a high-scoring team (they are the lowest scorers in La Liga’s top six) so it seems unlikely they will pull off the miracle comeback they need.
OUT: Dani Vivian (suspension), Inaki Williams, Nico Williams (groin), Oihan Sancet (hamstring)
Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao prediction
This could get a bit nervous at times for United but they will get the job done. Manchester United 1-2 Athletic Bilbao (Man United 4-2 Athletic Bilbao on aggregate).
