Manchester United face a date with destiny on Wednesday when they face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
While UEFA’s second-tier club competition lacks the Champions League’s gravitas, winning it could be a game-changer for either club.
The fixture will spark a betting frenzy worldwide, and bookmakers rate the Red Devils as the favourites to emerge victorious at the San Mames Stadium.
However, as highlighted by the odds on the reputable 1xbet Malaysia platform, there is little to choose between United and Spurs in the outright market.
Read on as we look at how both teams reached the final, before assessing which one of them is most likely to get their hands on the trophy.
The Road to the Europa League Final
Manchester United
League Phase
- FC Twente (H) – D1-1
- Porto (A) – D3-3
- Fenerbahce (A) – D1-1
- PAOK (H) – W2-0
- Bodo/Glimt (H) – W3-2
- Victoria Plzen (A) – W2-1
- Rangers (H) – W2-1
- FCSB (A) – W2-0
Knockout Stage
- Round of 16 – Real Sociedad – W5-2 aggregate
- Quarter-Final – Lyon – W7-6 aggregate
- Semi-Final – Athletic Club – W7-1 aggregate
Tottenham Hotspur
League Phase
- Qarabag (H) – W3-0
- Ferencvaros (A) – W2-1
- AZ Alkmaar (H) – W1-0
- Galatasaray (A) – L3-2
- Roma (H) – D2-2
- Rangers (A) – D1-1
- Hoffenheim (A) – W3-2
- Elfsborg (H) – W3-0
Knockout Stage
- Round of 16 – AZ Alkmaar – W3-2 aggregate
- Quarter-Final – Eintracht Frankfurt – W2-1 aggregate
- Semi-Final – Bodo/Glimt – W5-1 aggregate
Defeat not an Option for Man United
The Europa League has provided United fans with a modicum of positivity during a largely underwhelming campaign for the club.
The 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on Friday left United 16th in the Premier League. For a club of their stature, that is not good enough.
The Red Devils have won just six of their 26 league games since Ruben Amorim was appointed to replace Erik ten Hag in November.
Amorim effectively ditched the club’s league campaign in favour of their European exploits and the wisdom of that decision will be determined in Bilbao.
While United have overcome a few hiccups to book their place in the final, they have ultimately earned the right to face Tottenham on Wednesday.
Amorim has several injury concerns to contend with ahead of the game. Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Jonny Evans are all doubtful.
Lisandro Martinez is a long-term absentee, but Joshua Zirkzee could be in contention after making a surprisingly speedy return from injury.
Spurs are sweating on the fitness of Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Mate Sarr, but James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Radu Dragusin will miss the game after being ruled out for the season.
Regardless of their absentees, Tottenham will head into the final in a confident mood having recorded three victories over United this season.
While their recent record against Spurs may give the Red Devils cause for concern, they are undoubtedly capable of beating them in the final.
Playmaker Bruno Fernandes will be crucial to their chances of success having stepped up his form since being criticised by Roy Keane earlier this year.
The former United star recently aimed another dig at Fernandes, claiming he is partially to blame for the questionable ‘culture’ at the club.
“The way United and Spurs have handled their league campaigns and European football is nothing but a disgrace,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“The culture – what are the senior players doing at Manchester United? That’s why I point the finger at Bruno Fernandes and the senior players. The senior players run the show.
“It’s not just this season. This team just doesn’t know how to compete. This is the bit I don’t get. Turning up week in week out is the sign of greatness. And these players? Every week they don’t know how to compete.”
Fernandes and his teammates have a golden opportunity to show Keane that they are capable of winning silverware by defeating Tottenham on Wednesday.
While lifting the trophy would not excuse the club’s dismal domestic campaign, it would be a sign they could make progress under Amorim.
