May 8, 2025
Athletic Bilbao face a mammoth test as the Spanish side travel to Old Trafford, hoping to stage a massive comeback to reach the Europa League final.
Bilbao suffered a 3-0 loss at San Mames in the first leg of the semi-final tie to Manchester United. They would therefore need to overturn the scoreline in the return fixture.
However, Ernesto Valverde’s side are pegged as Inaki Williams and Nico Williams have joined Oihan Sancet on the sidelines.
The loss of their top three scorers means Athletic’s hopes of reaching the Europa League final at their home stadium, San Mames have now suffered a major blow.
Sancet, who has 17 goals this season, missed the first-leg through injury and has not recovered to travel to Manchester.
Nico played 79 minutes in the first leg but has been dealing with a groin issue. The Spaniard missed their goalless draw with rivals Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday.
He has therefore not been named in Athletic’s 24-man squad for the second-leg. His brother Inaki, is also left out after suffering from a hamstring issue.
Both Williams brothers have been instrumental for Bilbao, scoring 11 goals apiece in all competitions this season, with Nico adding nine assists and Inaki recording seven.
Meanwhile, in all major European competitions, only one side has ever progressed, having lost at home by three or more goals in the first leg.
Olympiakos are the only team to achieve such feat, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 6-1 away from home in the second-leg. The Greek side had lost 4-1 to the Israeli at home ground, in the 2023-24 Europa Conference League last 16.
However, for Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao to replicate Olympiakos feat, despite their star players loss, they would need to be at their very best against Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.
Man United, are although having a bad season in the English Premier League, but are high-flying in the Europa.
They are the only side in the Europa this season, who has not lost a single game. They have won eight games and drew five out of 13 games played.
Meanwhile, United already knocked out a Spanish side, Real Sociedad in the competition en route to the final. They are on the verge of doing the same, after enjoying a 3-0 win at Bilbao last week.
The winner on aggregate after the second leg, will be facing either of Tottenham or Bodo Glimt in May 21
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