By Ebenezer Mabinuola
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will meet in an all-English Europa League final on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after both clubs secured emphatic semi-final victories to book their places in Bilbao.
United advanced in commanding fashion, dispatching Athletic Bilbao 4–1 at Old Trafford to complete a dominant 7–1 aggregate victory. The result marks a significant milestone for manager Rúben Amorim, who has guided the club to its first European final in seven years as United aim to capture a second Europa League title since 2017.
Tottenham Hotspur, under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou, eased past Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt with a 5–1 aggregate win, sealing a return to a European final for the first time since their 2019 Champions League appearance. The North London club is seeking to end a 41-year wait for continental silverware.
Despite disappointing Premier League campaigns — United and Spurs currently sit 15th and 16th respectively — both clubs view the Europa League final as a chance to salvage their seasons and secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.
“This club knows how to win trophies,” said former United midfielder Paul Scholes, expressing confidence in his former side. “Tottenham don’t.”
Postecoglou remained defiant when questioned about his team’s domestic form. “We’ve earned the right to be in the final,” he said. “I don’t care who’s struggling — this is about delivering on the big stage.”
Tottenham may hold a psychological edge heading into the final, having beaten United three times this season — including a 3–0 win at Old Trafford, a 1–0 victory in North London, and a 4–3 triumph in the League Cup. However, former Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle warned, “Beating a Premier League team four times in one season is incredibly tough.”
The final will mark the sixth all-English final in a major European competition and the first since 2021. According to data analysts Opta, Manchester United are marginal favourites with a 50.7% chance of victory, compared to 49.3% for Spurs.
Remarkably, should both sides finish the domestic season in their current league positions, the winner would become the lowest-ranked club to lift the Europa League since its rebranding in 2009.
The final will kick off at 20:00 local time at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, promising a high-stakes contest between two proud clubs eager for redemption — and a coveted return to Europe’s top tier.
