An all-English UEFA Europa League final awaits football fans as Tottenham Hotspur take on Manchester United at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.
The decisive clash is scheduled for Wednesday night, kicking off at 8 p.m.
Tottenham booked their place in the final after overcoming Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, while Manchester United edged out Athletic Bilbao to advance to the title decider.
Both clubs head into the encounter following disappointing results in the Premier League.
Spurs suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, and United were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Chelsea last Friday.
Despite their struggles on the domestic front, both teams have excelled in Europe and are eager to lift the trophy.
Winning the Europa League would not only add silverware to their cabinets but also secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Premier League table paints a grim picture for the two English giants. With just one league match remaining, Tottenham sit precariously in 17th position, one spot below United who are in 16th.
Nonetheless, the Europa League final offers a much-needed lifeline.
This season has already seen these teams face off three times, twice in the league and once in the Carabao Cup quarter-final and on each occasion, Spurs emerged victorious.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou remains upbeat about his team’s chances of delivering a historic win for the club and its fans.
“We have given them [Spurs’ supporters] some real hope and something to dream about that we can do something special this year [by winning the Europa League],” Postecoglou said during his pre-match media briefing.
A key selection issue for Postecoglou lies on the left flank of his attack. Son Heung-min has only recently returned from a foot injury, raising the likelihood that Richarlison or Mathys Tel could be preferred to start against United.
In midfield, Dejan Kulusevski is out with an injury, and Pape Sarr could feature if he recovers from a back problem.
On the other side, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is also backing his squad to rise to the occasion, despite a season of inconsistency.
“We are living a season that is really strange because we are doing so well in Europe but, in the Premier League, we struggle. So I am really confident.
“But we will be prepared for the final. It is a different context and a different game. The most important thing is the change in mentality in my team. They compete and that is the most important thing for me,” Amorim said in his press conference.
Amorim faces his own injury concerns, particularly in defense where both Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt are doubtful but could yet recover in time.
The manager’s biggest dilemma may lie in attack, as Mason Mount and Amad Diallo impressed during the semi-final win over Athletic Club and are in contention for starting roles.
This will be the first time since 2019 that two English clubs contest the Europa League final. That year, Chelsea triumphed over Arsenal in a memorable 4-1 win, with Olivier Giroud, Pedro Rodríguez, and a brace from Eden Hazard securing the title. Alex Iwobi scored the Gunners’ only goal.
Meanwhile, Atalanta are the reigning champions of the competition, having dethroned Bayer Leverkusen with a commanding 3-0 victory in the 2024 final.
All eyes now turn to Bilbao, where two struggling English sides hope to end their seasons on a high, with glory, redemption, and a Champions League spot at stake.
