Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The Europa League final is set for Wednesday evening at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, where two English giants—Tottenham and Manchester United—will battle it out for the trophy. I’m tipping a bet on goals in this clash, with an enticing odds value.
Match preview
Ange Postecoglou’s men enjoyed a successful semi-final: across two legs against Bodø/Glimt, Tottenham looked confident, clinching comfortable victories—3-1 away and 2-0 at home. Throughout this Europa League campaign, the Spurs have displayed impressive consistency, racking up nine wins, three draws, and just two defeats.
Only 13 goals have been conceded by Tottenham on their European journey, making them the tournament’s second-best defense—trailing only Olympiacos, who have allowed slightly fewer on average per game. Notably, Tottenham last hoisted a European trophy back in the 1983/84 season, when they claimed the UEFA Cup.
Under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United marched confidently through the Europa League semi-finals, leaving Spanish side Athletic Bilbao with no chance. Two emphatic performances—3-0 away and 4-1 at home—propelled the Red Devils into the final. United have shown both stability and aggression this campaign: they remain unbeaten, notching eight wins and six draws.
Special mention goes to their attacking firepower—35 goals scored, the most of any team in this year’s tournament. Recall that Manchester United lifted the Europa League trophy in 2016/17, defeating Ajax 2-0 in the final. Now, the club is on the verge of repeating that feat, confidently advancing to the showdown.
Probable lineups
- Tottenham: Guglielmo Vicario – Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro – Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur – Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-min
- Manchester United: André Onana – Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf – Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Patrick Dorgu – Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, Alejandro Garnacho
Match facts and head-to-head
- This season, Tottenham have beaten their opponent in all three meetings—twice in the Premier League and once in the English League Cup
- Both teams to score landed in only two of the last five encounters
- The over 2.5 goals bet hit in three of the last five matches
Prediction
Bookmakers see this as a dead-even contest, with no clear favorite. It’s worth noting both clubs have underperformed in the Premier League this season, making this clash a crucial gateway to the Champions League. Both sides have shown no shortage of attacking power in this Europa League run, but their defenses have also been prone to lapses. That’s why backing ‘Both teams to score’ at 1.80 looks like the smart play here.
