Manchester United vs Athletic Club Review
Manchester United secured a spot in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final against Tottenham after defeating Athletic Club 4-1, resulting in a 7-1 aggregate victory. This win also kept the Red Devils as the only unbeaten team in European competitions this season. Facing a three-goal deficit from a disastrous first leg in Bilbao, Athletic Club needed a strong start at Old Trafford. Early on, Ernesto Valverde’s team appeared more dangerous and missed a golden chance to score when Álex Berenguer shot over from 12 yards. This served as a warning for United, who struggled to take control in the first half-hour and eventually fell behind when Mikel Jauregizar scored a stunning long-range goal into the top corner.
Inspired by a moment of brilliance, the visitors sought another goal before halftime. However, it was Ruben Amorim’s team that nearly changed the score when Patrick Dorgu set up Alejandro Garnacho, whose delicate shot narrowly missed the far post. The early part of the second half mirrored the first, with Athletic taking the initiative. The Lions struggled to create clear chances, as Unai Nuñez sent a powerful header off target.
Eager to maintain their unbeaten record in Europe this season, United intensified their efforts with three substitutions as the match approached the final 20 minutes. An equalizer quickly followed, with substitute Mason Mount skillfully turning in the box and delivering a precise shot past Julen Agirrezabala, igniting excitement among the home fans.
This effectively ended the contest, and just eight minutes later, the Red Devils took the lead when Casemiro headed in a free-kick from Bruno Fernandes. With the visitors’ morale shattered, United added to their score with two more goals in the closing moments. Rasmus Højlund finished off a cutback from Amad Diallo, and then Mount took advantage of a mistake by Agirrezabala, scoring a stunning long-range shot into an empty net. This victory secured United’s spot in their ninth European final, providing them with an opportunity to salvage a largely forgettable season with a trophy and a chance for Champions League qualification.
