Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United
Manchester United journey to the Basque Nation for the second time this season. They will anticipate a more durable check within the semi-finals than they’d in opposition to Actual Sociedad within the final 16. United gained that tie 5-2 on combination, Bruno Fernandes scoring a effective hat-trick at Previous Trafford in considered one of their greatest performances of the season. In a season of many lows, the Europa League has given United some solace – and a chance to qualify for Europe subsequent season.
Athletic are fourth in La Liga, so are effectively positioned to qualify for the Champions League by means of their league place, however they’ve the additional motivation of figuring out the Europa League ultimate will probably be performed at San Mamés. The stadium’s file attendance was set in a European ultimate – when 52,282 rugby followers squeezed into the bottom to observe Leinster beat Racing 92 within the Champions Cup ultimate in 2018. That file could be damaged if Athletic attain the ultimate subsequent month.
The Basque facet ought to be effectively rested for the primary leg on Thursday night time, having not performed since their 1-0 win over Las Palmas final week in La Liga. They’re on an excellent run, with three wins of their final 4, however Oihan Sancet suffered a hamstring damage in opposition to Las Palmas, which means Unai Gómez might deputise within the No 10 position. Fortuitously for the supervisor, Ernesto Valverde, Nico Williams returned from damage within the win in opposition to Las Palmas. Having been granted loads of time to get better, the Spain worldwide is ready to begin on the left. He has scored 5 objectives within the competitors this season (the identical as his brother Iñaki) so his return is a giant increase.
Williams can anticipate to come back up in opposition to Noussair Mazraoui, who ought to function at proper wing-back with Diogo Dalot absent owing to a calf subject. Dalot is considered one of numerous United gamers lacking, however Ruben Amorim is anticipated to have Matthijs de Ligt and Amad Diallo obtainable for the second leg at Previous Trafford, with the latter making a faster restoration than anticipated.
With Lisandro Martínez and Ayden Heaven lacking, Luke Shaw will in all probability proceed on the left of a again three, having began there in United’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Sunday. Rasmus Højlund scored a late equaliser on the south coast on the weekend and is more likely to lead the road within the absence of Joshua Zirkzee, who’s out for the remainder of the season.
United haven’t misplaced any of their 12 video games within the Europa League this season – actually, they’re the one unbeaten facet left in any of Uefa’s three competitions – however they’ve drawn 4 of their six away video games in Europe. Their unbeaten file will probably be put to the check in opposition to an Athletic facet who’re unbeaten in 10 matches at San Mamés. They’ve gained all six of their residence matched within the Europa League this season, with an combination scoreline of 14-2. United will must be at their perfect – a rarity this season – to undergo. Prediction: Athletic Bilbao to progress
Tottenham v Bodø/Glimt
Tottenham’s eggs are firmly within the Europa League basket, with their solely win of their final 5 matching coming within the competitors. Ange Postecoglou made sweeping modifications for the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, however he’s set to revert to his strongest XI on Thursday night time. Meaning returns for Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro and Lucas Bergvall as Spurs eye their first main silverware since they gained the League Cup in 2008 beneath Juande Ramos.
Like United, they’ve been abysmal within the Premier League this season and are on target to complete nearer to the underside of the desk than the highest. However a significant trophy – and a route again into the Champions League – is inside their grasp. The semi-final draw has been comparatively type to Spurs; the inhabitants of Bodø (42,831) is significantly smaller than the capability on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850). That is the furthest that Bodø – or any Norwegian membership – have ever gone in Europe.
That stated, Spurs could also be with out Son Heung-min on Thursday night time. The Spurs captain has missed their final 4 matches with a foot damage he sustained within the first leg of their quarter-final in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt final month. Radu Dragusin is the one different absentee, which is uncommon for Spurs given their injury-hit marketing campaign.
The identical can’t be stated of their opponents Bodø/Glimt. The Norwegian champions secured their place within the semi-finals by beating Lazio on penalties within the final eight however that victory got here at a value for the supervisor, Kjetil Knutsen, who takes his staff to London with Håkon Evjen and the captain Patrick Berg suspended. Each would usually begin in the course of midfield, with Sondre Fet and Sondre Auklend probably deputising.
Bodø even have issues in defence. Villads Nielsen is more likely to fill in at centre-back after Odin Bjørtuft suffered a groin damage of their 3-0 win over KFUM on Sunday. Isak Määttä will in all probability deputise for the injured ahead Ole Didrik Blomberg.
Bodø have made all of it the best way to the semi-finals regardless of some iffy kind on the highway. They’ve misplaced 4 of their final 5 away matches within the competitors, together with defeats at Twente, Olympiakos and Lazio within the knockout rounds. If they will preserve the tie alive after the primary leg, they are going to be assured of beating Spurs when the perimeters meet in Norway for the return leg subsequent week. The duty for Spurs is to select up a giant end result on Thursday night time and put this tie to mattress. Prediction: Tottenham to progress
