New Delhi: English clubs reigned the second leg semifinals of the UEFA Europa League as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur secured their spots in the summit final clash with commanding victories in their respective return leg games on Thursday. The two clubs, that compete in the top-tier English football competition, the Premier League, claimed resounding wins in the first leg as well.
At Old Trafford in Manchester, United overcame an early deficit to again defeat Athletic Club Bilbao, this time 4-1, and completed an aggregate triumph of 7-1. In the 31st minute, Mikel Jauregizar of Athletic opened the scoring with a long-range effort, briefly developing chances of a comeback. However, in the final 20 minutes, United rose to the occasion.
Mason Mount, who came off the bench, netted twice – in the 72nd and 91st minute (injury time), while Casemiro (79th minute) and Rasmus Højlund (85th minute) also found the way to the net, sealing a third Europa League final appearance for United, in eight years. Their manager, Rúben Amorim, laid emphasis on the importance of reaching the final and said that only a win would suffice to restore belief and reward the fans after a dismal domestic campaign.
Your 2025 #UEL finalists ✨ pic.twitter.com/8rdPHSKOQT
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 8, 2025
Scenes in Norway
The Spurs were hosted at the Aspmyra Stadion and delivered a composed performance against Bodø/Glimt, winning the game 2-0 to secure an aggregate victory of 5-1. Dominic Solanke broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute, and teammate Pedro Porro followed him by adding a second with a deflected effort in the 69th minute. The Spurs faced challenging conditions being the visitors, and despite a late VAR-overturned penalty, they maintained hold of the match.
Their boss, Ange Postecoglou, praised the team’s resilience and maturity, also highlighting their strong campaign at the European stage, in contrast to domestic struggles.
The final clash is scheduled at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao on May 21, and it indeed promises to be an intriguing one between the two English clubs. The two teams have excelled in the European competition despite below-par performances in the Premier League this year. The winner won’t just lay their hands on the Europa League silverware, but will also ensure a coveted spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur registered emphatic victories in the second leg of Europa League semifinals to fix an all-English final meeting, scheduled for May 21 in Bilbao. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
