Manchester United’s domestic campaign this season has been nothing short of disastrous, first under Erik ten Hag and now under Ruben Amorim. However, there remains a glimmer of hope for the club as the 2024/25 season approaches its climax.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Red Devils have flourished on the European stage. Their resounding 3-0 victory in the Europa League semi-final first-leg against Athletic Club has placed them within striking distance of the final, which is set to unfold at the breathtaking San Mames stadium in Bilbao.
As long as they avoid complacency in the return leg at Old Trafford, United’s road to the final should be relatively straightforward, and history supports their chances.
Ruben Amorim Thrilled with First-leg Outcome in Bilbao
A total of 133 teams have secured a three-goal margin in the first leg of a UEFA Cup/Europa League knockout round match away from home, and every single one of those teams has advanced from the tie.
Thursday night also marked United’s largest away victory in a major European semi-final, and Amorim was pleased with the overall performance.
“This is the best result because nobody expected it,” he told reporters post-match. “We created opportunities, but the key is that the opponent didn’t manage a single shot on our goal.”
While Amorim revels in European success, he must grapple with the stark contrast in his team’s domestic form.
To highlight United’s contrasting fortunes, they have now notched up more victories in the Europa League (seven wins in nine matches) under Amorim than they have in the Premier League (six in 23 outings). Remarkably, the team’s goal tally in Europe (24) is only three short of their league total (27) under the Portuguese coach.
Amorim’s statement that United limited Athletic Club’s shot attempts holds some water. The Basque side still managed nine shots compared to United’s 14, but only three of Athletic’s attempts were on target, while the visitors hit seven.
Athletic’s Largest Home Defeat in Seven Years
The three-goal cushion at half-time is significant, as it marks the first time United has netted three first-half goals in a knockout away game in a major European competition since the 1965/66 European Cup quarter-finals against Benfica.
Conversely, Athletic Club endured their heaviest home defeat across all competitions since a 3-0 loss to Villarreal in La Liga back in September 2018. Prior to this match, Los Leones had allowed just two goals at home in their combined six Europa League fixtures this season.
The goals scored have pushed United’s tally to 31, making them the highest-scoring team in this season’s competition. They have also managed two or more goals in 10 matches, equalling their highest tally for a single campaign in major European tournaments, alongside their 2002/03 Champions League run.
Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United’s Key Player
Fernandes scored twice in Bilbao, providing United with a crucial advantage in the tie. Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (56) has been directly involved in more goals for a Premier League club in all competitions this season than the Portuguese (35 – 19 goals, 16 assists).
With 27 goals, United’s captain now trails only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34) and Radamel Falcao (30) in Europa League scoring, and he stands equal with Dries Mertens as the joint-top assister in the competition (18), highlighting his immense value to this developing squad.
Overall, Fernandes was one of many players in red who stood out that night.
Few teams have gone to San Mames and dominated possession, boasting a staggering 72.6% during the match.
The red card that contributed to United’s second goal from the penalty spot certainly influenced the visitors’ ability to control the game and force Athletic Club to work harder than they would have liked. However, Athletic is not a team that typically rolls over, which makes Amorim proud of how his players managed to stifle Ernesto Valverde’s side.
Disappointing Performance from Basque Giants
While Athletic were tenacious, winning 11 of 18 tackles (compared to United’s 12) and registering 10 interceptions to United’s seven, they faltered when it counted most.
With only 228 completed passes against United’s 631, and a meagre 63.4% pass completion in the opposition half compared to United’s impressive 83.7%, Athletic’s shortcomings were clear.
Typically, Athletic players like Iñaki Williams (41.7%), Nico Williams (53.3%), and Óscar de Marcos (62.5%) would be more accurate, but they struggled against a United defence led by Harry Maguire (97.1%), Victor Lindelöf (97%), and Leny Yoro (92.5%), making it a persistent challenge for them throughout the match.
Valverde will undoubtedly be displeased that his team failed to take advantage of United’s astonishing 117 turnovers in the encounter and that they only managed 14 total touches in the box.
Currently positioned fourth in La Liga and in good form, it was an off-night for the Basques. However, the first leg’s outcome will force Valverde to abandon his usual cautious strategy at Old Trafford, which will likely play into United’s advantage.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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