Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United: Europa League Semi-Final Preview

Both sides arrive in Bilbao with a shared goal but contrasting paths. Athletic, under the experienced guidance of Ernesto Valverde, have quietly built a formidable European campaign and now stand one step from their first continental final since 2012. United, meanwhile, come into the clash as survivors of one of the most remarkable comebacks in Europa League history, hoping to rescue a season that has underwhelmed on the domestic front.

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Athletic Club were granted a rare weekend off following their Copa del Rey triumph and return to action refreshed and focused. They come into the semi-final unbeaten at home in this season’s Europa League, having won all six of their fixtures at San Mamés, scoring 14 and conceding only two in the process. Their knockout journey has included comeback wins over Roma and a solid quarter-final performance against Rangers, capped by a 2-0 second-leg victory.

Manchester United’s dramatic 7-6 aggregate win over Lyon in the previous round was the stuff of folklore. Ruben Amorim's side looked destined for a humiliating exit before scoring three times in the final six minutes of extra time to turn the tide. That result extended their unbeaten run in Europe this season to 12 matches (W7, D5), the only team left in the competition yet to taste defeat.

Head-to-Head History

The sides last met in the 2011–12 Europa League round of 16, when Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic ran out 5-3 winners on aggregate, including a memorable 2-1 triumph at Old Trafford and a 2-1 win in Bilbao. Overall, the Basque club lead the head-to-head with three wins from four meetings, United’s sole victory coming way back in 1957.

This is just the third European semi-final in Athletic’s history. Though they progressed both times previously (1977, 2012), they lost in the final on each occasion. United, by contrast, are playing in their 18th European semi-final, having progressed to the final in eight of their previous 17.

Key Players & Stats

Athletic’s danger man Nico Williams has been directly involved in seven goals at San Mamés during this European run (five goals, two assists), contributing to his team’s flawless home record. His brother Iñaki Williams—rested over the weekend—will also return, potentially forming a dynamic front three alongside Gorka Guruzeta or Maroan Sannadi.

The visitors will look to Bruno Fernandes for inspiration. The Portuguese captain holds the record for the most goal involvements in Europa League knockout history (29 in 31 appearances) and has three goals and three assists from three previous semi-final appearances in the competition. Rasmus Højlund, who struck again at the weekend, has scored three of his nine goals this season in away Europa League matches.

Team News

Athletic will be without midfielder Oihan Sancet due to a thigh injury, while veteran full-back Oscar De Marcos—who scored in both legs against United in 2012—may be used from the bench. Otherwise, Valverde has a fully fit squad to choose from, with key starters rested in their recent league win over Las Palmas.

Manchester United’s injury list remains lengthy. Lisandro Martínez, Joshua Zirkzee, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, and Toby Collyer are sidelined, while Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt have recently returned to training but are unlikely to feature from the start. 

With the final set to take place at San Mamés, Athletic have added motivation to reach the Europa League showpiece for the first time in over a decade. However, Manchester United’s European pedigree, unbeaten record this season, and remarkable resilience mean they will pose a significant challenge in what promises to be a finely poised semi-final battle.