Europa League Final | Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United: Italy stars end trophy curse | OneFootball

Italy internationals Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie have won the Europa League trophy with Tottenham, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Final in Bilbao, also qualifying for the Champions League.

Atalanta had won the tournament a year ago with a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and have been followed by Spurs, ending their incredibly long wait for a trophy, which in Europe was back in 1984.

BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 21: Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s first goal past Andre Onana of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

There were two Azzurri in the starting XI for Spurs, as Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie lined up with former Serie A players Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur. The Reds were packed with ex-Italian football stars too, including Andre Onana, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo.

BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 21: Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur reacts towards Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The deadlock was broken just before half-time when Brennan Johnson came sliding in at the near post to meet a Pape Sarr cross, bundled it onto Luke Shaw and the ricochet surprised Onana from point-blank range.

Manchester United thought they had equalised on 68 minutes when Vicario fumbled a free kick after crashing into his own teammate, so ex-Atalanta striker Hojlund nodded it towards an empty net, only to be denied by a spectacular and acrobatic Micky van de Ven goal-line clearance.

BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 21: Leny Yoro of Manchester United stretches to meet a crossed ball with Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Bruno Fernandes turned a free diving header wide, while Vicario got down to push away the Alejandro Garnacho angled drive.

Vicario made a fantastic save deep into stoppages to deny Shaw’s header, palming it off the line to secure the silverware.

Johnson 42 (T)