Europa League final in Bilbao: Tottenham against Manchester United!

Europa League final in Bilbao: Tottenham against Manchester United!

The UEFA Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will take place on May 21, 2025 at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain. Kick-off is at 9 p.m. Live coverage is also available. Both teams are fighting for a title and a crucial qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage this season, which could potentially earn them up to €65 million, Al Jazeera reports.

While the fans wait for the exciting duel, the situation for both clubs in the national league is precarious. Manchester United is only in 16th place before the final matchday, while Tottenham is languishing in 17th place with one point less. The poor performances in the Premier League are a big issue for both teams this season.

Coach and team news

For Tottenham Hotspur, the final is a historic opportunity as coach Ange Postecoglou aims for their first major title since 1984. In the last four decades, Tottenham have only won the FA Cup in 1991 and the League Cup in 1999, 2008. Postecoglou relies on attacking football, even if this involves risks. Kevin Danso will probably only sit on the bench, as Krone reports.

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim sees the upcoming final as crucial for the fans. Amorim has already lost a Europa League final as a player with Benfica Lisbon and knows the importance of a title. The team has only had a few successes since the last league title in 2013, such as two FA Cup titles (2016, 2024) and the League Cup in 2017 and 2023.

Current form of the teams

The game's form curve shows that Manchester United have not won a Premier League game since March 16th and have recently suffered six defeats and two draws. Tottenham, on the other hand, celebrated their last league win on April 6th and have recorded five defeats and one draw in their last six games.

The Manchester United team is expected to feature Rasmus Hojlund, while Matthijs de Ligt is questionable. Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee could also be key in the starting lineup. In Tottenham's side, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are out through injury, while Son Heung-Min is expected to be fit and Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are available.

Financial outlook and historical significance

The winner of the final will receive 13 million euros, while the loser will receive 7 million euros. This is notable as it is the first time that two teams with the lowest rankings in their domestic league will meet in a UEFA final. In fact, both clubs experienced disappointing seasonal performances, which further increases the importance of the upcoming game as Champions League qualification represents a huge financial incentive.

Spectators at the San Mames Stadium, which has over 50,000 seats, can look forward to an exciting final where more than just the title is at stake. For both teams, it's about qualifying for the Champions League league phase next season and giving something back to the fans, which justifies the subsequent European appearances. The journey to the title could be crucial to both clubs' histories, while the Premier League will also have their Champions League qualifications in mind next season, as Bundesliga explains.