FOOTBALL – THREE first-half goals helped Manchester United put themselves on the cusp of the Europa League final last night, with the Premier League side earning a 3-0 semi-final first leg win away at Athletic Bilbao.
In a raucous San Memes atmosphere, with supporters dreaming of a first-ever European trophy, veteran midfielder Casemiro arrived at the back post to give the visitors the lead 30 minutes in.
United, who are having a miserable season domestically, were given another boost five minutes later as Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian was sent off for fouling Rasmus Hojlund in the penalty area and Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting spot kick.
The United fans high in the top tier were in dreamland moments later as captain Fernandes raced through to put the seal on a victory, and perhaps even the tie, before the interval.
Bilbao, who have the added incentive that the final will be hosted at their own stadium on May 21, could not muster a response in the second half with depleted numbers, leaving United to coast to the most unlikely first-leg success.
The Europa League has been somewhat of a safe haven for United this term, where they can forget the fact they are on course for their worst-ever Premier League points haul this term.
United travelled to Bilbao as the only unbeaten team in any European competition, but were up against their toughest challenge yet, with Bilbao sitting fourth in LaLiga, possessing the meanest defence in the division.
The Bilbao players fed off the crowd’s energy early on, creating the better of the initial chances. Inaki Williams should have scored from a close range header, while Victor Lindelof came to United’s rescue with a timely block on the line.
Casemiro, however, arrived right on cue to swing the momentum in United’s favour, Norwegian referee Espen Eskas, after consulting the pitch-side monitor, adjudged Vivian had denied Hojlund a clear goalscoring opportunity and thus branded a red card and pointed to the spot.
The composure showed by Bruno Fernandes as he calmly stroked home the penalty, despite the ear-splitting whistles from the cantankerous crowd, was astounding. The whistles had barely died down when the United skipper raced onto Manuel Ugarte’s flick to add a game-clinching third.
To highlight the contrast between United’s domestic and continental campaigns, they have now scored more goals in their seven Europa League games in 2025 than they have in their 15 Premier League games this calendar year.
They have also won more games in the Europa League since Ruben Amorim over as coach, than they have in the Premier League.
Casemiro could have even added a fourth, but saw his second-half header come out off the post.
The job, however, was done. United’s success means 133 teams have won the first leg of a Uefa Cup or Europa League knockout stage tie by three or more goals away from home and all 133 have won the tie.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur put aside their woeful domestic season with a 3-1 home victory against Norway’s Bodo/Glimt leaving them within sight of the final.
Brennan Johnson’s headed goal inside the opening minute paved the way for Ange Postecoglou’s Premier League strugglers and James Maddison doubled their lead with a smart finish in the 34th minute after controlling a long pass.
Dominic Solanke’s cooly-taken 61st minute penalty, given for a foul by Fredrik Sjovold on Cristian Romero, put the hosts completely in control of the semi-final.
Bodo/Glimt, the first Norwegian club to reach a European semi-final, did not manage a shot on target for the first 83 minutes but there was a late twist as captain Ulrik Saltnes’s deflected effort gave them hope for next week’s second leg on their artificial pitch inside the Arctic Circle.
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