Athletic Club are targeting a Europa League final in their own stadium while Manchester United are looking to salvage their season.
By Graham Ruthven
Home comforts
If all goes to plan for Athletic Club, they will have one more home match in this season’s Europa League. With the final at San Mamés, the Basque outfit are determined to win a continental trophy for the first time in their 126-year history.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have won all six of their Europa League matches at home this season, overcoming AZ Alkmaar, Sparta Prague, Elfsborg, Viktoria Plzeň, Roma and Rangers on their way to the final four.
Manchester United more than earned their place in the Europa League semi-finals by staging a remarkable comeback against Lyon in the last round, scoring three goals in the final seven minutes of extra time.
With the Old Trafford club suffering their worst-ever Premier League campaign, Ruben Amorim and his players have pinned everything on winning the Europa League. This is their only route to redemption.
Key players
Nico Williams has peaked at the right time of the season, scoring in each of his last two starting appearances for Athletic Club including in the Europa League quarter-final win over Rangers.
Iñaki Williams will also pose a threat with the two brothers expected to line up on either side of the Athletic Club forward line. They could expose the space in behind the Manchester United backline.
Oihan Sancet has been exceptional for the Basques this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, but the attacking midfielder will be sidelined for the first leg through injury. Unai Gómez is in line to start in his place.
Bruno Fernandes will be the player Manchester United look to for some magic on Thursday night. For all that the Reds Devils have floundered badly this season, the Portuguese remains a reliable difference-maker, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.
Rasmus Højlund will lead the line for the visitors to San Mamés and might have more confidence after scoring a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. The Dane needs to show greater cutting edge on a more consistent basis.
Luke Shaw could be in line to feature after starting his first game of the season at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday with Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire likely to make up the rest of the back three.
Meanwhile, there will be a spotlight on André Onana after the Cameroonian goalkeeper’s mistakes against Lyon. Manchester United need him to be stronger in the semi-final.
Team news
Sancet is sidelined for Athletic Club, leaving a sizeable hope in the number 10 position. Besides the 25-year-old, however, Valverde has a fully fit and available squad.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have a long injury list. Indeed, Amorim will be without as many as five starting players with Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee, Diogo Dalot and Ayden Heaven missing.
Matthijs de Ligt is also an injury doubt for the trip to the Basque Country while Chido Obi will play no part in the match.
Prediction
Form and that famous football notion of romance dictates a home win for Athletic Club to continue their fairytale run to the final. But with United’s season depending on this two legged tie, perhaps tonight’s result with leave things open for next week’s return game at Old Trafford: Athletic Club 2-1 Manchester United.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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