Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in an all-English Europa League final on May 21 after both clubs secured semifinal victories on Thursday. United defeated Athletic Club 4-1 (7-1 aggregate), while Spurs dispatched Bodo/Glimt 2-0 (5-1 aggregate) to advance.
The final will be played at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, where United previously secured a crucial 3-0 first-leg win against Athletic Club. This marks the third all-English final in Europa League/UEFA Cup history.
Both Premier League sides, currently struggling in the domestic league table, now have an opportunity to salvage their seasons. The winner will secure automatic qualification for next season\'s Champions League.
United showed resilience by overcoming an early deficit against Athletic Club. Mason Mount came off the bench to score twice, with Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund also finding the net.
English Clubs Continue European Success
Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro scored for Tottenham to eliminate Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt comfortably. Spurs have dominated the head-to-head matchups with United this season, winning all three previous encounters.
\"It was too long [waiting for a night like that],\" Mount said after his match-winning performance. \"I carried on going, working hard in training every day and tried to stay positive and when I had an opportunity to try to make an impact.\"
United manager Ruben Amorim emphasized the importance of the final, stating: \"We need to win it. If we don\'t win it, it means nothing for us.\"
Tottenham\'s Ange Postecoglou was equally focused on the opportunity ahead: \"We\'ve given [the fans] some hope, something to dream about, and [an] exciting trip coming up. We\'ll just keep doing what we\'re doing.\"
According to data analysts Opta, United hold a slight edge heading into the final with a 50.7 percent chance of lifting the trophy compared to Tottenham\'s 49.3 percent.
Via ESPN