Manchester United vs. Athletic Club Tips and Odds – 08/05/2025

• Fixture: Manchester United vs Athletic Club (Athletic Bilbao)
• Date: Thursday, 8 May 2025
• Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

Match Preview

Manchester United welcome Athletic Club to Old Trafford for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final, holding a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead after an emphatic performance in Bilbao. The first leg saw United take full advantage of Dani Vivian’s early red card, with Bruno Fernandes bagging a brace and Casemiro adding a third, putting the Red Devils firmly in the driver’s seat. Athletic Club now face a daunting task, needing to score at least three times to force extra time-an uphill battle made steeper by injuries and suspensions.

United’s recent form has been a mixed bag. They suffered a thrilling 4-3 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League, which exposed some defensive vulnerabilities but also highlighted their attacking prowess. Prior to that, they drew with Bournemouth and edged out Lyon in a dramatic Europa League quarter-final. Despite a challenging domestic campaign marred by injuries, United have found a way to shine on European nights, often relying on their experienced stars to deliver when it counts.

Athletic Club, meanwhile, have been impressive in La Liga, maintaining a top-four position. Their recent run includes a hard-fought draw against Real Sociedad and a narrow win over Las Palmas, but they stumbled against Real Madrid and, crucially, against United in the first leg. The Basque side’s hopes are dampened by the suspension of Dani Vivian and injuries to key attackers Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet, both of whom are major doubts for this clash. With their attacking firepower diminished, Athletic will need to dig deep and hope for an early breakthrough to have any chance of an upset.

Injury concerns persist for both sides. United are without Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martínez, Joshua Zirkzee, and Toby Collyer, while Noussair Mazraoui remains a doubt. Athletic Club’s absentees are more damaging, with Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, and Dani Vivian all likely to miss out. This leaves Iñaki Williams and Alex Berenguer with the responsibility to lead the charge in what promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity encounter.

Key Players

• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): The creative heartbeat of United’s midfield, Fernandes scored twice in the first leg and is always a threat from open play and set pieces.
• Casemiro (Manchester United): The experienced Brazilian anchors the midfield, breaking up play and providing a goal threat, as seen with his opener in Bilbao.
• Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United): The young winger’s pace and directness make him a constant danger on the counterattack.
• Harry Maguire (Manchester United): United’s defensive leader, Maguire’s aerial ability and organization will be vital in keeping Athletic at bay.
• Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club): Athletic’s main attacking outlet, Williams will be relied upon for goals and driving runs in the absence of his brother Nico.
• Alex Berenguer (Athletic Club): A creative winger with a knack for assists, Berenguer must step up to provide chances and spark Athletic’s attack.
• Yeray Álvarez (Athletic Club): The defensive stalwart will need to marshal a depleted backline and keep United’s forwards quiet.

Prediction

Given Manchester United’s commanding lead, home advantage, and Athletic Club’s injury woes, the Red Devils are strong favorites to progress. Expect Athletic to press early in search of a miracle, but United’s experience and counter-attacking quality should see them through comfortably. A 2-1 win for Manchester United on the night looks likely, confirming their place in the Europa League final.

Betting Markets & Odds

Odds are approximate and subject to change. Always check latest odds before placing a bet.