The prospect of an all-Premier League final in the Europa League, set to be held in Bilbao, has become significantly more likely after Tottenham and Manchester United both emerged victorious in the first legs of their semifinal ties. Both English clubs displayed strong intent, establishing commanding leads before halftime and effectively managing the games to seal their wins. Manchester United secured a convincing 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao, highlighted by contributions from Harry Maguire and Casemiro, while Tottenham defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-1, with James Maddison playing a key role.
For both Manchester United and Tottenham, success in this competition offers a potential route to salvaging domestic seasons where they currently find themselves struggling in the Premier League (14th and 16th place respectively). While Manchester United`s wait for a trophy isn`t as long as the 17-year drought Ange Postecoglou aims to end at Spurs, winning the Europa League under their current manager, Ruben Amorim, could be a strong indicator of progress. Since moving on from Erik ten Hag, United have sought stability under Amorim, and while their league form has been inconsistent, European performance could provide crucial positive momentum.
Europa League First Leg Results
- Tottenham 3, Bodo/Glimt 1
- Athletic Club 0, Manchester United 3
Manchester United`s Dominant Performance
Manchester United responded quickly after seeing Alejandro Garnacho`s early goal disallowed by VAR in the opening ten minutes, taking the lead from an unexpected source. Harry Maguire advanced forward with skill, evading Athletic Club defenders before delivering a dangerous cross into the box. Manuel Ugarte headed it on to Casemiro, who finished to open the scoring and break the deadlock. Athletic Club faced a further setback just five minutes later when defender Dani Vivian was shown a red card for a challenge on Rasmus Hojlund. Bruno Fernandes calmly converted the subsequent penalty and then added another goal from open play just before the half-time whistle. Reduced to ten men for most of the match, Athletic offered little threat, leaving them with a significant challenge for the return leg at Old Trafford.
Tottenham`s Comfortable Home Victory
Manager Ange Postecoglou made several changes to the starting lineup, notably bringing in Richarlison on the left wing in the absence of Heung-min Son, and these tactical adjustments paid immediate dividends. The Brazilian forward assisted Brennan Johnson`s goal within the first minute of play, energizing the crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pedro Porro also provided an assist with a deep pass finding James Maddison as Tottenham controlled the majority of the match. Bodo/Glimt did manage to pull a goal back late in the game through Ulrik Saltnes, a goal that carries significance with the second leg being held in Norway. An important third goal for Tottenham [ref original error] secured a crucial two-goal advantage. While traveling away from home with a two-goal cushion is preferable, Tottenham`s defense has shown vulnerabilities at times this season, meaning they won`t take qualification for granted. Spurs are aiming for their first European final appearance since the 2019 defeat to Liverpool – a final that also took place in Spain against English opposition. More work remains to make this symmetry a reality.
Looking Ahead
Tottenham will travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt for the second leg on May 8th. Bodo/Glimt will need an exceptional performance at their home ground, Aspyra stadium, potentially in challenging conditions, to overturn the two-goal deficit. Meanwhile, Manchester United returns to Old Trafford for the second leg, where their supporters will anticipate celebrating qualification for the Europa League final after the full 90 minutes are played out. The matches will be available to watch on Paramount+.
