Tottenham Hotspur is set to clash with Manchester United in the climactic match of the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League season. For both English football giants, this final encounter on Wednesday at San Mames in Bilbao presents the ultimate opportunity to secure qualification for the coveted Champions League.
Spurs are aiming to lift their first European trophy since 1984 and end a lengthy silverware drought that stretches back to the 2008 League Cup. Manchester United, on the other hand, hopes to replicate their 2017 triumph in what marks the second-ever all-English final in the Europa League era. Both sides are navigating significant injury concerns, as highlighted by their respective managers, Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim, ahead of the final.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou commented on the importance of the occasion, stating, “`It is a great prize. You know the significance of Champions League qualification and what comes with it. You get to play against the best on the continent. But the club has been in the Champions League before, they have not won a trophy for a long time – so that is the most important thing.`”
Club captain Heung-Min Son, who recently returned and started over the weekend, is expected to be in the starting lineup against Manchester United. Postecoglou emphasized Son`s vital role: “`He is so important to the group. He is so important as a leader and he is such an important figure at this football club. It would be great to cap his career off with a trophy for him.`”
Regarding team news for Tottenham, midfielder Lucas Bergvall has been ruled out. However, Pape Matar Sarr is fit after recovering from a back issue sustained last Friday. James Maddison has also been declared unavailable. Several players are ineligible for the final, including Antonin Kinsky, Fraser Forster, Timo Werner, and former Manchester United defender Sergio Reguilon. Adding to the injury woes, Dejan Kulusevski joins Radu Dragusin and Dane Scarlett on the sidelines and will miss the Europa League final.
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, May 21 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: San Mames — Bilbao, Spain
- TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Tottenham +188; Draw +223; Man United +143
Manchester United`s manager, Ruben Amorim, expressed surprise at striker Joshua Zirkzee`s swift recovery, noting, “`So they recover quite well. They push, of course, and we have to respect the feeling of the player but we push a little bit, as they wanted to be part of the team. That is a very good sign. Very good for us. Of course, they are limited in the minutes for the game but they can help us win the game`.”
Predicted Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur XI: Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr; Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Heung-Min Son.
Manchester United XI: Andre Onana; Victor Nilsson Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui; Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Patrick Dorgu; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund.
