Manchester United secured a spot in an all-English UEFA Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, thrashing Athletic Club 4-1 in the second leg to advance 7-1 on aggregate. Preserving their unbeaten record as the only side without a loss in European competition this season.
Trailing by three goals from a disastrous first leg in Bilbao, Athletic Club needed a strong start at Old Trafford. Ernesto Valverde’s team looked dangerous early, but Álex Berenguer squandered a golden chance, curling a shot over from close range. The warning went unheeded by United, who struggled to find their rhythm and fell behind when Mikel Jauregizar unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the top corner.
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Athletic pushed for a second goal before halftime, but United nearly equalized when Alejandro Garnacho, set up by Patrick Dorgu, narrowly missed with a delicate chip. The second half mirrored the first, with Athletic dominating but failing to create clear chances. Unai Nuñez’s angled header sailed wide. With 20 minutes left, United, determined to protect their European record, made a game-changing triple substitution.
Mason Mount, one of the substitutes, ignited Old Trafford by spinning in the box and curling a precise shot past Julen Agirrezabala to level the score. That goal crushed Athletic’s hopes, and United surged ahead eight minutes later when Casemiro headed in a Bruno Fernandes free-kick.
With Athletic deflated, United piled on two more goals. Rasmus Højlund finished off a sharp Amad Diallo cutback, and Mount capped the night with a breathtaking long-range lob into an empty net after Agirrezabala’s error. The victory propelled United to their ninth European final, offering a shot at silverware and Champions League qualification to redeem a disappointing season.
