Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

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·29 avril 2025

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

Man United’s dreams of qualifying for the Champions League are fading

Manchester United will continue their quest to qualify for the Champions League on Thursday as they visit Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

Vidéos OneFootball

The quarter-final was not short of drama as United scored three goals in a frenetic period of extra time to turn over Lyon, but they will now face Bilbao for just the fifth time in either club’s history. It will be their first meeting since the 2011-12 Europa League round of 16, their only other meetings coming back in 1957.

Ruben Amorim will hope to keep the semi-final rather more straightforward, but that may not be easy - barring the Lyon win, United are winless since March 16, when they beat Leicester 0-3.

Bilbao are in the midst of a strong season, though, sitting fourth in La Liga with just one loss in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

They have recorded four draws in that time, though, three of which were goalless. Whether United can overcome such a stalwart defence will prove to be pivotal on Thursday.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Athletic Bilbao vs Man United is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

The match will take place at Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao.

There was bedlam at Old Trafford after Maguire’s winner against Lyon

Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Where to watch Athletic Bilbao vs Man United

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog!

Free highlights: The TNT Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights at full time.

Athletic Bilbao vs Man United team news

United have struggled with injuries of late, and are set to be without eight players for the trip to Spain. The most recent additions to the physio’s rota is Altay Bayindir, who has suffered n injury in training, and Toby Collyer, who sustained a knock which he has struggled to shake off.

Matthijs de Ligt had been reported to be close to a return from his ankle injury, as had Ayden Heaven, but both are expected to miss out on Thursday night. Amad Diallo may return before the end of the season, while Diogo Dalot, Joshua Zirkzee, and Lisandro Martinez will all remain sidelined through to the new campaign.

Bilbao, however, are facing an anxious wait to see whether Nico Williams will be fit in time for the tie. He suffered an ankle injury ahead of Bilbao’s visit to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid, but he returned to the bench last week as Athletic Club beat Las Palmas. He did not feature in that match, but his presence in the squad hints at the fact that he was fit enough to appear.

Bilbao top scorer Oihan Sancet will miss the match, though, in a major boost to Amorim. The striker, who has 17 goals and three assists in all competitions this season, is also a doubt for the second leg, having struggled with recurring hamstring issues this year.

Athletic Bilbao vs Man United prediction

Bilbao will come into this match with a healthy defence and a weakened front line. United come into it with a relatively strong defence and a misfiring attack.

These factors will likely combine for a low-scoring match. If fit, Williams’ star factor will prove to be key, as will Fernandes’ for United. While Bilbao will want to secure a healthy lead heading into the second leg at Old Trafford, it will be easier said than done. A stalemate looks most likely.

Draw, 1-1