Manchester United edged closer to the UEFA Europa League final with a 3-0 win over ten-man Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final first leg on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Manchester United
Date: 01 May 2025
Venue: San Mames
Red Devils coach Ruben Amorim made two changes from the draw with Bournemouth, as Victor Lindelöf and Manuel Ugarte came in for Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo, who dropped to the bench.
United had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes when Alejandro Garnacho fired home after being sent through on goal by Ugarte, but the celebrations were cut short due to the offside flag.
Bilbao carved out a couple big chances thereafter as Inaki Williams headed over the crossbar from six yards out, while Lindelöf made a big block on the goal-line to deny
The visitors got their reward on 30 minutes when Harry Maguire's cross found Ugarte, who flicked the ball onto the far post where Casemiro was on hand to head home his first goal in the tournament.
Things got worse for Bilbao five minutes later when the referee checked the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor and awarded United a penalty after Rasmus Hojlund was fouled by Dani Vivian, who also subsequently sent off. Bruno Fernandes stepped up and calmly slotted home to double the lead.
There was enough time for United to get a third goal just before the halftime break as Ugarte turned provider again to play in Fernandes with a back-heel, before the latter placed his effort into the far corner.
United carried that momentum into the second half and pushed for more goals, but they were unlucky not to have added a fourth on goal on the hour mark when Casemiro's header at the near post crashed the against the upright.
Amorim rang the changes for the final 20 minutes as Mason Mount and the returning Matthijs de Ligt were introduced in place of Ugarte and Harry Maguire, while Luke Shaw replaced Noussair Mazraoui soon after.
United had suffered lapses in the previous rounds, but they were able to see out the closing stages with relative ease will take a three-goal advantage to next week's second leg.
