2025 Europa League Semi-final 2nd Leg Preview - Man Utd vs. Athletic Bilbao: Can Los Leones claw their way to victory against the Red Devils? May 8, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

The second leg of the Europa League semi-finals, one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season, will see Manchester United battle Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8:00 PM BST. Following a dominant 3-0 first-leg victory at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, the Red Devils return home with a strong aggregate lead as they aim to secure a spot in the final.

Manchester United's emphatic performance in the first leg was marked by clinical finishing and early control. Bruno Fernandes scored twice, while Casemiro opened the scoring, all within the first half. Athletic Bilbao's hopes were dashed early on after center-back Dani Vivian received a red card, leaving them with ten men for much of the match. Vivian is suspended for the return leg, further weakening a squad already missing attacking stars Iñaki and Nico Williams, as well as Oihan Sancet due to injury.

Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao Sports Bet Odds

The Red Devils are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• Handicap Result has the Red Devils at -1 with 4.0 odds, Tie (Athletic Bilbao +1) is at 3.75 and Los Leones at +1 with 1.90 odds.
• Full Time Result odds are 1.90 for the Red Devils, 3.75 for Draw and 3.90 for Los Leones.
• Total Goals is set at 2.5 with both the Over and Under odds at 1.90.

Despite Manchester United's clear advantage, manager Ruben Amorim has urged his squad to remain focused. The Portuguese coach, who has overseen a season of highs and lows — including a current 15th-place standing in the Premier League and a six-game winless run — sees the Europa League as a vital path to silverware and next season's Champions League. He has emphasized the importance of approaching this fixture as a final, knowing how quickly fortunes can change in football.

United will be without several key defenders, including Matthijs de Ligt, Diogo Dalot, and Lisandro Martínez, while forward Joshua Zirkzee is also unavailable. However, the recent rest given to Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Rasmus Højlund should prove beneficial. The return of Amad Diallo, who has found goal-scoring form post-injury, adds firepower to the home side's attack.

Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, face an uphill battle. With their squad significantly weakened and their chances of advancing slim, coach Ernesto Valverde remains defiant. He and his players have expressed confidence in the possibility of staging a historic comeback, fueled by pride and the added motivation of potentially reaching a final to be played at their home ground later this month.

Old Trafford - affectionately known as the "Theatre of Dreams" - is expected to provide a raucous and supportive atmosphere, as fans hope to witness their club reach a Europa League final for the first time since 2021. With both teams rich in European pedigree, the stage is set for another memorable night under the lights.

Although Manchester United are favorites to advance, the unpredictable nature of European knockout football means anything is possible. Analysts lean toward a competitive draw on the night, ensuring United's progression on aggregate, but few are counting out a spirited showing from the visitors.

Ultimately, this semi-final second leg represents a pivotal moment in the 2024–25 European season - a clash fueled by tactical intensity, unyielding ambition, and the pursuit of glory on one of football's grandest stages.