Europa League: Man United vs. Athletic Club Odds, Preview, and Picks (May 8)
Man United holds the clear advantage in their Europa League semi-final clash with Athletic Club. The Red Devils were in electrifying form in the first leg last week, as they recorded a staggering 3-0 win in Spain. Bruno Fernandes was the star man for United, as the Portuguese midfielder netted a first-half brace. But, can the Spanish side get back into the tie at Old Trafford?
How To Watch
- When: Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET
- Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
- How To Watch: Paramount+
Odds
| Match Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Man United | +105 |
| Draw | +270 |
| Athletic Club | +240 |
Event Preview
Man United saved their best performance of the season for their biggest match of the campaign last week. The Red Devils were at their dominant best in Spain, recording a 3-0 away win against one of the best defensive teams in Europe. Casemiro opened the scoring, before a red card was issued to Dani Vivian, altering the game. Bruno Fernandes netted twice before the interval to give the Red Devils a dominant advantage.
It was the first time since 1965-66 that the Red Devils had scored three goals in an away knockout stage match. It was also their biggest first-half lead in any match since an FA Cup clash with Tranmere Rovers in January 2020.
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The trends bode well for the Red Devils this week. A total of 133 previous teams have taken a three-goal advantage into a Europa League second leg, and all teams have successfully progressed through to the next stage of the competition.
This will be the sixth meeting between United and Bilbao, with an average of 4.4 goals being scored across the last five clashes. Bilbao’s record on the road in England should be assessed this week, as they have lost seven of their last nine. However, their only win was a 3-2 success against Man United in March 2012.
But, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their 13 Europa League matches this season. They could become just the seventh team in competition history to reach the final without losing a match.
Man United vs. Athletic Club Picks
Man United took full advantage of a Bilbao red card last week, but the Red Devils were nervy in the opening stages against a vibrant Athletic Club forward line. It could be an uncomfortable evening at Old Trafford this week, and we could foresee the Spanish side landing victory in 90 minutes.
Free Pick:
- Athletic Club
