Manchester United delivered their best European performance yet under Ruben Amorim — stunning Athletic Club 3-0 in the cauldron of San Mamés and taking a giant leap toward the UEFA Europa League final.
Goals from Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes (twice) in a dizzying 15-minute burst silenced a raucous Basque crowd and rewrote the script of what had appeared to be a doomed season.
For a club battered by Premier League woes, Ruben Amorim’s United suddenly look like contenders on the continental stage.
“This is the best result because nobody expected it,” said a delighted Amorim after the match.
“In the Premier League, we are suffering game after game — but in Europe, we are alive. We can win this competition.”
United’s Unexpected Blitz: Three Goals, One Dream
Before the match, few gave United hope. Athletic Club boasted the best home defensive record in Spain, while United had spent much of the season looking toothless.
For the first 30 minutes, it was more of the same — United jittery, Athletic dominant, and the home fans baying for blood.
But football, ever unpredictable, flipped the narrative.
First, Harry Maguire — playing like a marauding right winger — danced down the flank and delivered a cross for Casemiro to nod home.
Then, disaster struck for the hosts as Daniel Vivian pulled down Rasmus Højlund in the box. A red card followed, and Bruno Fernandes buried the penalty.
Before Bilbao could catch their breath, Fernandes struck again.
A cheeky backheel assist from Casemiro released the captain, who coolly made it 3-0.
It marked the first time in nearly 60 years that Manchester United had scored three first-half goals away from home in a European knockout game.
“They had some chances early on, but when we scored, we felt free,” Amorim explained.
“We showed what this team is capable of when the shackles are off.”
Athletic Club Furious, Valverde Fumes
For Athletic Club, this was supposed to be historic — a semifinal in front of a packed Cathedral and a chance to reach a European final for the first time in decades.
Instead, it was chaos, controversy, and collapse.
The red card and penalty decision enraged players and fans alike. Head coach Ernesto Valverde didn’t hold back.
“It’s too much of a punishment,” he said.
“Being 2-0 down is one thing — playing with 10 men for an hour is another. We felt it deeply.”
Home supporters vented their fury at referee Espen Eskås throughout the second half.
Europa League: Amorim’s Lifeline
United’s Premier League season may be beyond repair — six wins from 23 matches tell that tale — but in the Europa League, it’s a different story: seven wins from nine.
More than glory, a Europa League triumph could be worth up to £100 million — and a place back in the Champions League. For Amorim, it’s more than a lifeline — it’s validation.
In the night’s other semifinal, Tottenham also took a major step toward the final with a 3-1 win over Bodø/Glimt in London.
Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke found the net, but a late goal from Ulrik Saltnes gave the Norwegians a glimmer of hope.
Manager Ange Postecoglou summed up Spurs’ season perfectly:
“It’s been a parallel reality. Frustrating domestically, but in Europe we’re one step from history.”
For United, the second leg at Old Trafford should now be a formality — but with this club, nothing is ever certain.
But on this night, in this stadium, a broken team rediscovered its soul. And maybe — just maybe — the road to salvation runs through Europe.
Next Fixture:
Manchester United vs. Athletic Club – Europa League semifinal second leg, Old Trafford
Date: Next Thursday
First-leg aggregate: United 3-0 Athletic Club
Chelsea took a commanding step towards their first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League final with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Swedish side Djurgarden in the first leg of their semi-final clash.
Despite making eight changes to the side that edged Everton in the Premier League, manager Enzo Maresca’s men were dominant from start to finish at the 3Arena in Stockholm.
Goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke in the first half put the Blues in control, before substitute Nicolas Jackson added two more after the break.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, opened the scoring in the 12th minute after chesting down Enzo Fernandez’s cross and firing home, aided by a defensive miscue from Marcus Danielson.
Madueke doubled the lead just before halftime with a sharp finish at the near post.
After the interval, Jackson capitalised on a mix-up between Danielson and goalkeeper Jacob Rinne to make it 3-0, and later fired in a stunning fourth from the edge of the box.
The hosts grabbed a late consolation through 18-year-old Isak Alemayehu, who netted his first senior goal with a fine header.
Djurgarden, who began their European campaign last July, struggled to match Chelsea’s pace and precision.
Their bench, which featured five teenagers, reflected the gulf in squad depth and experience.
With a three-goal cushion heading into next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are now strong favourites to book their place in the May 28 final in Wroclaw.
A win in the competition would complete their collection of major European trophies, having previously won the Champions League and Europa League twice.
Up next for Chelsea is Sunday’s Premier League clash with newly crowned champions Liverpool, as Chelsea continue their push for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
