Athletic Bilbao vs Man Utd prediction, stats, tips & team news | OneFootball

Athletic Bilbao host Man Utd in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, May 1st, at 8pm (UK time).

Over 2.5 goals

Matches involving Athletic Bilbao and Manchester United in this season’s Europa League have averaged over 2.5 goals per game. Furthermore, at San Mamés, there have been 2.67 goals scored per game.

Bruno Fernandes anytime goalscorer

Only Kasper Høgh (six) has scored more Europa League goals in 2025 than Bruno Fernandes (five), with four of those coming in his last three competition appearances.

How both teams go into Athletic Bilbao vs Man Utd

After finishing third in the inaugural Europa League group phase with a record of five wins and three draws, the only side to finish undefeated, Man Utd were drawn against Real Sociedad—who had to come through the playoffs—in the Round of 16, eventually triumphing 5-2 on aggregate: drawing 1-1 in Spain before winning 4-1 at Old Trafford. Lyon were next in the quarter-finals; again, the opening leg ended in a stalemate (2-2), which set the stage for an incredible second leg in Manchester. The game ended 2-2, with the visiting French team leading 4-2 in extra time. In the final six minutes, Ruben Amorim’s men staged a remarkable comeback, netting three unanswered goals, with Harry Maguire sealing victory in the 121st minute.

Athletic Bilbao were one of two clubs that boasted a better league phase record than United (six wins, one draw, and one loss), meaning they also started the knockout phase in the Round of 16. This saw them face Roma, who claimed success in the opening leg at home (2–1), before this season’s final host reversed the scoreline at San Mamés, leading to a 4–3 aggregate success. They would meet Rangers in the quarter-finals, with the tie hanging in the balance after nothing could separate the clubs in Glasgow as they played out a goalless draw. Things would be different back in Spain, as Ernesto Valverde’s men ran out 2–0 winners, subsequently keeping their hopes of winning Europe’s second major competition on home soil alive.

Athletic Bilbao team news

Yuri Berchiche, who is dealing with a calf injury, should return in time for the Europa League semi-final.

Man Utd team news

Lisandro Martínez and Joshua Zirkzee have been ruled out for Manchester United until next season, while Amad Diallo, who is hoping to return before the 2024/25 season concludes, is expected to miss this game. Ayden Heaven, Matthijs de Ligt and Jonny Evans could be available for the Red Devils.

Athletic Bilbao vs Man Utd head-to-head

This will be the fifth competitive meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Man Utd, with the Red Devils triumphing 6-5 on aggregate in the 1956/57 European Cup. Before the Basque side gained a semblance of revenge 55 years later when a Marcelo Bielsa-led team claimed a 5-3 aggregate success en route to the final, where they were stopped by La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.