UEFA Europa League Semi-Finals: Manchester United and Tottenham Secure First-Leg Wins
In an exhilarating night of UEFA Europa League semi-final action, both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur claimed first-leg victories, putting them in strong positions to advance to the final.
Manchester United 3-0 Athletic Club
At the Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao, Manchester United triumphed over Athletic Club with a resounding 3-0 victory, aided by a brilliant performance from Bruno Fernandes. The match began with Athletic showing promise, as Iñaki Williams missed an early header and Alex Berenguer was thwarted by a crucial block from Victor Lindelöf.
However, United quickly asserted their dominance. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Harry Maguire delivered a precise cross that Manuel Ugarte flicked on for Casemiro to head home.
The match took a turn for the worse for Athletic just five minutes later when Daniel Vivian received a red card for a foul on Rasmus Højlund. Fernandes calmly converted the resulting penalty to double United’s lead. Just before halftime, he struck again, curling a shot into the far corner after a clever back-heeled pass from Ugarte, leaving United firmly in control at 3-0.
In the second half, United maintained their advantage, limiting Athletic to few chances. Casemiro came close to adding a fourth, while Amad Diallo made a welcome return from injury, adding depth to the squad.
United coach Ruben Amorim expressed confidence, stating, “We have an advantage and our fans behind us, but anything can happen in one game.” The second leg is set for Old Trafford on May 8, where United will look to seal their spot in the final.
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Bodø/Glimt
In the other semi-final, Tottenham Hotspur also secured a valuable first-leg win, defeating Bodø/Glimt 3-1 at home. This match marked a historic moment, as Bodø/Glimt became the first Norwegian team to reach the semi-finals of a UEFA senior men’s club competition.
The hosts got off to a sensational start, scoring just 39 seconds into the match with the fastest goal ever recorded in a Europa League semi-final. After a cross from Pedro Porro, Brennan Johnson headed in from close range, putting Spurs ahead early.
Spurs doubled their lead in the 34th minute when James Maddison controlled a long ball from Porro and struck it into the net. Bodø/Glimt’s goalkeeper, Nikita Haikin, showcased his skills with a stunning save to deny Rodrigo Bentancur just before halftime, keeping his team in the contest.
After the break, Tottenham extended their lead when Dominic Solanke converted a penalty following a foul on Cristian Romero, bringing his tally to four goals in the competition.
Bodø/Glimt managed to pull one back late in the game through Ulrik Saltnes, who displayed impressive footwork to navigate through the Tottenham defense and score. Despite this, Tottenham’s 3-1 win gives them a solid advantage heading into the second leg at Aspmyra on May 8.
Looking Ahead
Both Manchester United and Tottenham will take their first-leg leads into the return matches, where they aim to secure their places in the Europa League final set for May 21 at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. As the competition heats up, fans can expect thrilling encounters in the upcoming second legs!
