Tottenham, Manchester United in Europa League showdown
Tottenham and Manchester United will battle for a spot in next seasonís Champions League when they face each other in the Europa League final today.
After a challenging Premier League campaign, United is now on the verge of redeeming their season with European silverware at San MamÈs Stadium. Building on their 2016/17 Europa League triumph, Unitedís latest run has been fuelled by a renewed sense of purpose and perfectly timed momentum.
Since Ruben Amorimís arrival in November, optimism has spread through the club. His 3-4-3 system sparked widespread debate early on, but while players needed time to adjust, itís found its most tremendous success in Europe.
The Red Devils arrived in their semi-final second leg unbeaten in 13 Europa League games this season, holding a 3-0 first-leg advantage. That cushion was reassuring, but with a season thatís already seen them suffer multiple 3-0 defeats at home to Liverpool, Tottenham, and Bournemouth there was no room for complacency.
In the end, it was emphatically done. A late double from Mason Mount, plus goals from Casemiro and Rasmus Hjlund sealed Unitedís place in the final, offering a shot at their first European trophy in eight years and a route back into the UEFA Champions League. Fans are already battling to buy their Europa League tickets for the final as they hope to end a disastrous campaign on a high note.
Set for a return to San MamÈs on May 21 , United will now meet Tottenham in the first all-English European final since 2023 (Chelsea vs Man City in the Champions League) and the first in the Europa League since 2019 (Chelsea vs Arsenal). Victory would hand United a 45th major title putting them just two behind Liverpoolís tally of 47.
Tottenhamís Europa League journey has brought them to the brink of a long-awaited triumph. After flying out of the blocks in the league phase, injuries soon disrupted their rhythm, but crucial January wins kept them in contention for a top-eight spot.
With their last trophy dating back 17 years, Spurs are desperate to end the drought. Theyíll arrive in Bilbao with belief, having already beaten Manchester United three times this season 3-0 away, 1-0 at home in the Premier League, and a 4-3 victory in the League Cup-football-talk.
Against United this season, Spurs have earned three wins from three: a 3-0 league victory at Old Trafford, then a 4-3 success in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, before a 1-0 home win in February.
While Spurs are seeking a first continental title since 1984, United hope to repeat their 2017 Europa League triumph, when they defeated a young Ajax side featuring current squad members Andre Onana and Matthijs de Ligt.
Four years later, they took part in an eighth European final only Liverpool (15) have reached more among English clubs but losing on penalties to Villarreal means they have failed to win three of the last four.
—SportsMole
