Athletic Bilbao vs Man Utd LIVE RESULT: Europa League semi-final updates as Fernandes puts United THREE up
MANCHESTER UNITED are THREE up in their thrilling Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao!
Casemiro nodded the visitors in front off the back of some silky skills from Harry Maguire.
And then five minutes later, Vivian pulled Rasmus Hojlund down in the box which led to a red card and a coolly dispatched Bruno Fernandes penalty.
Now, Fernandes has bagged his second in what is turning out to be a rout in Bilbao.
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
Live stream: discovery+
Athletic Bilbao team: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Jauregizar, Galarreta; Williams, Berenguer, Williams Jr; Maroan
Man Utd team: Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund.
Today, 17:48 By Nyle Smith
Blue are ya
It's all change for United on the kit front tonight, who are wearing a colour not seen before this season.
Amorim's men will be in their blue change strip to avoid a clash of colours with the red-and-white stripes of Bilbao.
But the eagle-eyed among you will notice United are wearing shorts that are officially 'clear onyx' in colour, almost white.
Today, 17:32 By Nyle Smith
Past meetings
You have to go back to 2012 for the last time this pair faced off in Europe.
And the history doesn't make good reading for the Red Devils.
Athletic Club KO'd United out of the Europa League on that occasion, winning a two-legged quarter final 5-3 on aggregate.
Today, 17:31 By Nyle Smith
Cup for it
Ruben Amorim has been keen to talk down United's chances of winning the Europa League.
The Portuguese has claimed even lifting the trophy would not "save" United's horror season.
He explained: "'Lifting a trophy won't fix our problems.
"It gets us Champions League cash and games , but we need better decisions, better recruitment and to win the fans back with consistency.
"This is just a shortcut- nothing more."
Today, 17:30 By Nyle Smith
Welcome to SunSport's coverage of Athletic Bilbao vs Man Utd
It's all or nothing for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United.
After one of the most disappointing domestic seasons in living memory, the Red Devils have just the Europa League left to save their season.
United haven't had their hands on European silverware since the 2017 season.
And it seems almost unthinkable that after such a disastrous campaign, they're in with a real shout of lifting the Europa League.
That night against Lyon in the last round will not be forgotten in a hurry - and the stars seem to have aligned for Amorim's men in this competition.
Tonight they face a tough test on the road in Spain, with Athletic Bilbao looking to win their first ever Euro trophy.
The final next month is being held at their stunning Estadio de San Mamés - and United are hoping to spoil the party before it even starts.
Kick-off tonight at 8pm, we've team news imminently.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Reuters
Paris cheers its 'sublime' champions PSG a day after deadly clashes
Paris St Germain held a victory celebration at their packed Parc des Princes stadium on Sunday (June 1) 24 hours after crushing Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title and in the process, become the first French club to clinch the treble.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is left in limbo as Everton offer new deal to two stars but talks with striker break down as his contract expires
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks increasingly likely to leave the club after failing to agree on a new contract. The 28-year old is a free agent and is interested in a move to Italy though will consider all options. Everton revealed on Monday that they had offered new contracts to Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gueye and were continuing 'to liaise with representatives' of both Cavert-Lewin and Michael Keane. But talks with the striker appear to have broken down. Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Calvert-Lewin — who has been with Everton since 2016 — revealed his desire to play in a 'winning environment' to help his Champions League and England ambitions. 'I have to be careful with what I say because I am still contracted to Everton, I have a long history with Everton and a big respect for the club,' he said. 'The main thing for me is I want to win, I want to be in a winning environment. After the last three or four seasons it has been about survival. 'When I started my career I wanted to play in the Premier League, play for England a go to major tournaments with England and play in the Champions League. I have played in a major tournament for England, I have played in the Premier League, but I haven't played in the Champions League. There are still things I would like to achieve before my time is done. 'To have the opportunity to decide potentially where that place will be. If it gives me the best opportunity and environment to win and score goals, then that would be the return of me to the England team and playing in the Champions League. 'That has been my driver to play at the highest level possible. My representation of that is the Champions League, World Cups, Euros and getting into that bracket of elite players.' Calvert-Lewis has earned 11 England caps, scoring four goals for the national team. Despite being a member of the squad to reach the European Championship final in 2021, Calvert-Lewin has not featured for the national team since.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Bukayo Saka speaks out on injury fears in 'horrible' time for Arsenal star
Bukayo Saka has opened up on the concerns he had for his future as a player when he underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in December. The Arsenal forward's season was derailed when he was forced out of the Gunners' 5-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on December 21. It proved to be a nightmare injury for the 23-year-old who would miss 101 days of action and not feature again till April 1. Incredibly he scored just seven minutes into his return, netting in a 2-1 win over Fulham, but he had genuine concerns over how he would be when recovering from injury. 'The first two days were the toughest – that realisation that I've got what I've got and I need an operation. You start to think … am I going to be the same?' Saka said while on England duty. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'Players have come back from this injury and weren't the same. But after two days, the surgery was done and successful and you just look forward. 'I was really positive and put in all the work I needed with my diet, in the gym, on the pitch. I feel I've come back in a good place. 'It is about how much you want it – and I wanted it a lot. I knew the games I was coming back to and wanted to be in the best shape possible which is why I did everything.' The timing of the injury made the difficult situation even more stressful as Saka felt a bit rushed into the decision to go under the knife. 'It was horrible. Normally, you get more time to make a decision,' he said. 'But it was going to be Christmas, the surgeons want to be with their families, so I decided on the spot that we were doing the surgery. 'It was about deciding whether I was going to be there on Christmas Day and, obviously, that was the last thing I wanted. 'So I had to do it at 5am on Christmas Eve. Credit to the surgeon – he got up early to do it. I was out of the hospital at about 3 or 4pm and home. Christmas Day, I went to my cousin's house but I was in a big brace and had crutches.' Saka scored twice more after his return from injury, netting against Real Madrid and PSG in the Champions League. He picked up another injury on the last day of the Premier League campaign, but is fit again and ready to play for England on Tuesday against Senegal in Nottingham. 'After the last game of the season I had a little strain,' Saka said on Monday. 'Fair play to England, they managed me well. The manager left me out (on Saturday against Andorra) and said I will play tomorrow. More Trending 'I love coming to England camps and playing for England. It has been a bit of frustrating year with injuries but I am here now and looking forward to tomorrow.' On the prospect of Saka returning to the England starting XI on Tuesday, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel said: 'Very excited, because I could see that he worked hard to come back from his injury. 'He had this minor discomfort in the last match [of Arsenal's season], which worried me a little bit. Then he just had one full training session and one half training session. 'We decided in the end, to protect myself a little bit, to not let him be in the squad. But he is happy. He will start tomorrow and, of course, is a key player for us.' MORE: Thomas Tuchel names two clubs with 'huge advantage' in next season's Premier League MORE: Why Jude Bellingham missed England training ahead of Senegal friendly MORE: Arsenal struggle for breakthrough in latest Benjamin Sesko talks with RB Leipzig
