Manchester United vs Athletic Club Prediction, Preview, Predicted Lineups and Team News | Europa League

Manchester United vs Athlétic Club

• Competition: UEFA Europa League
• Date: Friday, 8 May
• Kick-Off Time: 07:00 PM GMT
• Venue: Old Trafford

The Manchester United vs Athletic Club match will be played on Friday, 9 May at the iconic Old Trafford Stadium. This will be the second leg of this fixture in the Semi-Finals of the UEFA Europa League.

Not many people expected United to trash Athletic Club by 3-0 at their home, but surely the controversial red card helped them to win the first leg in style. Ruben Amorim's men will get a lot of confidence from this first-leg win, as they are not having a good season in the Premier League. Injuries have made things very difficult for Amorim and his staff, and surely they will look to win this prestigious competition for the second time. Man United will be enjoying the home advantage, but surely they can't relax as Athletic Club have the quality to turnaround the situation. The Red Devils will have to be at their best to book their spot in the Final of the UEFA Europa League.

Ernesto Valverde and his men were not happy with the referee's decision to give Dani Vivian the Red Card as United got a man advantage from the first half only. They were not happy with this decision, and surely now they will be hungry to make a statement away from home. Athletic Club have been quite inconsistent in their last few games, and it will be a big concern for Valverde as his team will have to be at their best to bounce back from the first leg defeat.

Playing against United at Old Trafford will not be an easy task for sure, and Bilbao will have to give thier all to make a big comeback in the second leg. This will be a mouthwatering clash for sure.

Manchester United Team News

The Red Devils have suffered from an injury crisis throughout this season, and once again, they will miss several players due to injuries. Joshua Zirkzee, Diego Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez, de Ligt and Toby Collyer are all injured for the home side. The rest of the players are fit to play on Friday.

Athletic Club Team News

Dani Vivian will be the only absentee for the second leg as he got a red card in the first leg in the first half. The rest of the squad are fit to play as there are no injury concerns for the away team.

Manchester United vs Athletic Club Predicted Lineups

Manchester United Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1):

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana

Defenders: Lindelof, Maguire, Leny Yoro

Midfielders: Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu

Forwards: Garnacho, Fernandes, Hojlund

Athletic Club Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper: Agirrezabala

Defenders: de Marcos, Gorosabel, Alvarez, Berchiche

Midfielders: Galarreta, Jauregizar

Forwards: Williams, Berenguer, Nico Williams, Sannadi

Manchester United vs Athletic Club Head-to-Head Record

Both teams have faced each other five times, in which United won two games, and Athletic Club won three games.

Key Players to Watch in Manchester United vs Athletic Club

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

There are several key attributes of his game that make the Portuguese magnifico regarded as one of the top playmakers in Europe. Among his strengths are his ability to provide key passes, through balls, long balls, crosses, and overall, goalscoring chances, as well as taking long shots towards goal. Fernandes is a leader of his team who leads the team by example.

During these difficult times as well, he has performed well for the Red Devils. Despite having a high standard and performance, he faces a lot of unnecessary criticism from fans and pundits. Still, he loves the club a lot and always gives his best on the pitch. This season, he has played, 48 games, in which he scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists.

Nico Williams (Athletic Club)

His playing style is built on pace, technical ability, and explosive dribbling. His ability to beat defenders 1v1 situations is among the best in Europe, making him a rare profile in the modern game where direct wingers are becoming less common. One of the more surprising aspects of his game is his defensive work rate. Many wingers on his profile tend to shy away from off-the-ball duties, but Williams is not like them.

While he is not a defensive powerhouse, his work ethic ensures he would not become a liability when Bilbao is out of possession. He will have to be at his best to help his team turn around the situation. He has played 42 matches so far, in which he has scored 10 goals and seven assists.

Manchester United vs Athletic Club Prediction

The red card was the main reason United trashed Athletic Club, but in the second leg, it will definitely be a fifty-fifty match. Despite being the away team, the team from Bilbao will be confident going into this fixture. This will be a closely and tightly contested fixture for sure. But, most probably, the away team will narrowly win this leg, and United, by aggregate score, will enter the semi-finals.

Manchester United 1-2 Athletic Club

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