The first European final of the 2024/25 season is here, and it’s getting some unfair stick. Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United at San Mamés in the UEFA Europa League final, with both teams looking to salvage their terrible domestic seasons by getting into next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Arsène Wenger has been one of the critics of the rule that gives the Europa League winner a spot in the following season’s Champions League. But this rule has been in place for 10 years without controversy until this season, so the outrage seems misplaced.
On the pitch, Tottenham Hotspur made it to the final by thrashing Bodø/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Earlier rounds saw narrow wins against AZ Alkmaar and Eintracht Frankfurt after finishing 4th in the group stage. Manchester United cruised to a 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Club in the semi-finals, denying the Basque side a home final. United beat Lyon in the quarter-finals and Real Sociedad in the round of 16. They finished 3rd in their group and are the only team unbeaten in European competition this season.
Both Manchester United and Tottenham have been terrible domestically, 16th and 17th in the Premier League respectively. Neither have won a league game in over 2 months, so the Europa League final is a must win for both.
Tottenham and Manchester United have met 3 times this season and Tottenham have won all 3. This season’s dominance over United is notable as the only team Tottenham have beaten 4 times in a season was Manchester City in 1992/93 and the only team to beat United 4 times in a season were Everton in 1985/86.
Team News & Tactics
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou has no new injuries but will be without 5 first team players, including key creative players Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison (both knee injuries), Radu Drăgușin, Lucas Bergvall and Timo Werner.
Guglielmo Vicario will start in goal, with a back four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie. The midfield three will be Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pape Matar Sarr. Dominic Solanke will lead the attack, with Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson on the wings.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Bentancur; Johnson, Solanke, Son.
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has good news, only Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Matthijs de Ligt (close to return) are out. Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee are back in training and with the team, but only Yoro will start.
Andre Onana will be in goal behind a back three of Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro. Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu will be the wing-backs, with Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw on the bench.
The midfield double pivot will be Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro, with Rasmus Hojlund leading the line. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo will provide the creativity, while Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, and Alejandro Garnacho are the bench options.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Amad, Bruno Fernandes; Hojlund.
Key Stats
- Tottenham and Manchester United have only met once before in European competition, in the 1963/64 Cup Winners’ Cup round of 16, with United winning 4-3 on aggregate under Sir Matt Busby.
- Tottenham have won all three games against United this season in all competitions.
- Manchester United are winless in their last six games against Tottenham (2 draws, 4 losses), and have never gone seven games without a win against them or lost four in a row.
- United are the only team unbeaten in major European competition this season, with 9 wins and 5 draws in 14 Europa League games. They want to be the 4th team to win the Europa League unbeaten after Chelsea (2018/19), Villarreal (2020/21), and Eintracht Frankfurt (2021/22).
- Tottenham have won 9 of their 14 Europa League games this season, their most ever in a major European campaign.
- Manchester United have scored 35 goals in this Europa League campaign; only Borussia Mönchengladbach (1972/73), FC Porto (2010/11), and Chelsea (2018/19) have scored more in a single UEFA Cup/Europa League season.* Both teams are in the top 5 for shots from high turnovers and direct attacks in the competition.
- Dominic Solanke has scored in his last 4 games against Manchester United (5 goals in total). Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, only Mohamed Salah has scored in 5+ games in a row against United.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Amad Diallo, Son Heung-min, and Dominic Solanke were considered,d but Bruno Fernandes is the man for Manchester United in the final.
Fernandes has been involved in 11 Europa League goals this season (7 goals, 4 assists), second only to Rayan Cherki (12). The only English player with more goal involvements in a single Europa League campaign was Olivier Giroud for Chelsea in 2018/19 (15).
Fernandes and Solanke are both close to achieving the rare feat of 5+ goals and 5+ assists in a single Europa League season, something only Kevin De Bruyne (2014/15) and Giuliano (2016/17) have done.
Fernandes leads the competition with 35 line-breaking passes and 24 passes into the opposition penalty area. He’ll be the key for United’s attack as they go for the win.
Tottenham vs Manchester United Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester United
United’s European unbeaten run and creative midfield give them the edge in a tight final. They’ll win it by a hair’s breadth.
Tottenham vs Manchester United Live Stream
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