Manchester United have secured their place in the Europa League final, sealing a commanding 4-1 victory on the night and a dominant 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Club.
Although United arrived at Old Trafford with a solid 3-0 cushion, the visitors showed their intent early on Thursday evening, grabbing the opener with a superb long-range effort that briefly threatened to turn the tie.
Struggling for much of the match, it was Mason Mount who sparked United into life with a sensational individual display.
The midfielder netted twice, including an audacious 40-yard lob, orchestrating a sudden turnaround that overwhelmed the visitors in the final stages.
Athletic Club, having brought a three-goal lead into Old Trafford, began with intensity and control.
Their efforts were rewarded after 30 minutes when Alvaro Djalo’s deflected strike landed kindly for Mikel Jauregizar, who calmly curled the ball past Andre Onana.
It was a deserved lead for the visitors as the momentum stayed firmly in their grasp heading into the second half.
Despite their dominance, the Spanish side failed to add to their advantage. Though their movement and build-up play remained sharp, they struggled to convert final-third pressure into clear chances, and Onana had little to do.
Manchester United, meanwhile, looked increasingly disjointed. With just 20 minutes remaining, the home side had yet to register a shot on target.
Frustration showed in their reckless challenges and misfiring attacks. Yet Athletic Club couldn’t press home their superiority—and it proved costly.
Ruben Amorim’s substitutions flipped the script. Mason Mount ignited the fightback with a sharp finish on the turn that flew past Agirrezabala.
He dealt a punishing blow, receiving the ball on the half turn before drilling a finish past a helpless Agirrezabala to put the tie to bed.
Athletic’s belief in a famous remontada slowly unraveled. The absence of key forwards Nico and Inaki Williams, along with the clinical Oihan Sancet, was deeply felt. Their attacking threat faded just as United found their edge.
With their tails up, United poured forward. Casemiro rose to meet Bruno Fernandes’ pinpoint cross, while Rasmus Hojlund capped the surge with a simple tap-in, effectively sealing the outcome.
Then came Mount’s crowning moment,a perfectly judged lob from distance that sent the Old Trafford crowd into a frenzy. Mount then offered the cherry on top, spotting the keeper off his line and delivering a coolly taken effort to send Old Trafford into rapture.
United’s comeback sealed their place in the final showdown in Bilbao, where they’ll meet fellow Premier League side Tottenham in what promises to be a thrilling all-English clash.
