Manchester United will aim to inch closer to a place in the UEFA Europa League final when they take on Athletic Club at San Mames in the semi-final first leg on Thursday.
The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League has reached its penultimate stage, with four games remaining until we have our finalists. Thursday’s semi-finals will kick off simultaneously, including Athletic Club vs Manchester United at San Mames.
Athletic Club qualified for the UEFA Europa League semi-finals after clinching hard-fought wins over AS Roma and Rangers in the previous rounds. The Basque outfit finished second in the standings in the opening phase, with Lazio ahead on goal difference. Meanwhile, Ernesto Valverde’s men have blown hot and cold in the last few weeks, winning only three of their seven most recent clashes in all competitions.
On the other hand, Manchester United reached the UEFA Europa League by clinching comeback wins over Real Sociedad and Lyon in the previous rounds. The victory over Lyon, in particular, was one for the ages, as the Red Devils scripted an unbelievable recovery after being two goals down with less than ten minutes to go in extra time.
However, the results beyond the Europa League have been dreadful, with Ruben Amorim’s men failing to win their last five Premier League games. With all the focus on UEFA Champions League qualification, the final position in the Premier League standings is irrelevant to Manchester United amid a horrendous top-flight campaign.
The most recent clash between Athletic Club and Manchester United at San Mames ended in a 2-1 win for the home side in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League round of 16. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Athletic Club
Ernesto Valverde has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Athletic Club manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players vs Manchester United on Thursday.
Oihan Sancet is the most notable absentee, considering he is the top scorer for Athletic Club this season. The Spanish international is recovering from a hamstring injury, and he accompanies Unai Gomez (match fitness) on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Nico Williams is fit and available to take on Manchester United.
Unai Simon will take his spot between the sticks, with Athletic Club lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Thursday. The backline should feature Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Yeray Alvarez, and Yuri Berchiche.
As for the midfield unit, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta should line up alongside Mikel Jauregizar in the double pivot. Alex Berenguer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Inaki Williams and Nico Williams being the two wide attackers. Finally, Gorka Guruzeta should lead the line for Athletic Club against Manchester United on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Alvarez, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Inaki Williams, Berenguer, Nico Williams; Guruzeta
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Athletic Club dugout, Ruben Amorim has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to San Mames. The Manchester United manager will be without five first-team players on Thursday.
Matthijs de Ligt (foot) and Amad Diallo (ankle) have recovered from their injuries and resumed training. The duo is a part of the travelling squad to take on Athletic Club. So, that leaves Lisandro Martinez (knee), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Diogo Dalot (calf), Toby Collyer (knock), and Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Thursday. The central defensive unit should feature Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw.
As for the midfield unit, Casemiro should pair up with Manuel Ugarte in the double pivot, with Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu being the two wing-backs. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will spearhead the Manchester United attack against Athletic Club, with Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho providing creative support.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Thursday’s match will be the first European meeting between Athletic Club and Manchester United since the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League round of 16. Athletic won both legs (3-2 away, 2-1 home) and eventually reached that season’s final. Meanwhile, Manchester United have lost three out of four European matches vs Athletic Club, with their only win coming back in February 1957 in the second leg of that campaign’s European Cup quarter-final, a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, which took them into the semi-final 6-5 on aggregate.
- Manchester United are the only side still unbeaten in this season’s UEFA Europa League (W7 D5). The Red Devils’ 12 games without defeat are their longest in major European competition since going 15 unbeaten between November 2016 and October 2017.
- Athletic Club have won all six of their home UEFA Europa League matches this season at San Mames. The last side to win seven home games in one campaign was Ajax in 2016/17.
- Manchester United have scored 28 UEFA Europa League goals this season, their most since scoring 34 goals in 2020/21, a club record in a major European season. They have had the most shots (222) and touches in the opposition box (458) of any side in this season’s competition.
- Nico Williams has had a hand in at least one goal in all six home UEFA Europa League appearances this season (G5 A2). Only three players – Giuseppe Rossi (2010 – 2015), Guillaume Hoarau (2011 – 2017) and Ciro Immobile (2017 – 2019) have scored or assisted in seven successive home games in the competition.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
While Casemiro, Nico Williams, and Inaki Williams were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as our Player to Watch for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg between Athletic Club and Manchester United.
The Portuguese international has been involved in 29 goals in 31 Europa League appearances in the knockout stages (G17 A12), a record. The Manchester United captain has three goals and three assists in his three games at the semi-final stage, with only Radamel Falcao, Alexandre Lacazette and Kevin Gameiro (all seven) having a hand in more in the semi-finals. Expect Bruno Fernandes to step up again to deliver the goods for Manchester United this week.
Prediction
Athletic Club 1-1 Manchester United
Getting anything from San Mames this season in the UEFA Europa League seems impossible. The hosts have a 100 per cent record at home, and they barely concede any goals. However, Ruben Amorim remains unbeaten in the Europa League since taking over at Manchester United, not losing the eight games he has overseen (W6 D2), the longest unbeaten start in major European competition with the Red Devils since Sir Alex Ferguson (first 11 games unbeaten).
So, one record will end on Thursday, and it is not straightforward to predict which will be defunct. However, Manchester United might have enough quality coming off the bench if Amad Diallo is ready to return. That will lead to a come-from-behind 1-1 draw for Manchester United vs Athletic Club at San Mames.