English Giants Dominate Europa League Semi-Final First Legs
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur delivered commanding performances in their respective Europa League semi-final first legs, positioning themselves favourably for a potential all-English final.
Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Manchester United
At San Mamés, Manchester United showcased their European prowess with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Despite a challenging domestic season, United’s European campaign remains unbeaten. Casemiro opened the scoring in the 30th minute, capitalising on a deft assist from Manuel Ugarte. Shortly after, Bilbao’s Dani Vivian received a red card for a foul on Rasmus Højlund, leading to a penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes added a third goal before halftime, effectively sealing the match. This result marks one of Bilbao’s heaviest home defeats in European competition.
Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 Bodo/Glimt
In North London, Tottenham Hotspur secured a 3-1 win against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. Brennan Johnson made history by scoring the fastest goal in a Europa League semi-final, finding the net just 38 seconds into the match. James Maddison doubled the lead in the 34th minute, and Dominic Solanke added a third from the penalty spot in the second half. Bodo/Glimt’s Ulrik Saltnes scored a late consolation goal, keeping the tie alive ahead of the second leg in Norway.
Betting Tips Review
Several pre-match betting tips proved accurate:
✅ Manchester United to win: United’s dominant performance confirmed this prediction.
✅ Tottenham Hotspur to win: Spurs’ home advantage played a crucial role in their victory.
✅ Over 2.5 goals in both matches: Both fixtures saw a total of four goals each.
✅ Bruno Fernandes to score anytime: Fernandes’ brace validated this tip.
✅ Brennan Johnson to score anytime: Johnson’s early goal confirmed this prediction.
❌ Both teams to score in Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt: While Bodo/Glimt scored, Spurs’ clean sheet was disrupted late in the game.
❌ Athletic Bilbao to win: Bilbao’s defeat contradicted this expectation.
Looking Ahead
Both English clubs carry significant advantages into the second legs of their semi-final ties. Manchester United will host Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford, while Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt. Should both teams progress, it would set up the first all-English Europa League final since 2019.
