Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United predictions, betting tips and odds: Red Devils' European ambitions could take a hit

Where to watch Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United

You can watch Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United in the Premier League at 8pm on Thursday, May 2, live on TNT Sports 1

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United prediction & best bet

Athletic Bilbao
2pts 21-20 Hills

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Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United odds

Here are the latest odds ahead of Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United in the Europa League

Odds correct at time of publishing

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Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United predictions

The bigger you are, the harder you fall. That statement sums up Manchester United in a nutshell as, just a few days on from club legend Gary Neville declaring that bitter rivals Liverpool had usurped the Red Devils as England’s most successful club, they will play the first leg of a Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao – a tie that will make or break their season. 

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils would have scoffed at the idea of playing anything other than Champions League football in Europe but, now, they are reliant on the Europa League to dine at the continent’s top table again. 

United needed a 90th-minute equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to earn a point against ten-man Bournemouth on Sunday and that draw marked their seventh straight game without a win. 

That is only including 90-minute scorelines, of course, as they made the semi-finals of the Europa League by coming out on top in one of the craziest games in the tournament’s history when beating Lyon 5-4 in extra-time in the quarters. 

Europa League semi-final dates and fixtures

*All games to kick off at 8pm BST

Again, though, they needed late heroics from Harry Maguire and a red card from their opponents – they actually conceded twice to the ten men of Lyon before their sensational comeback – to secure the win on that occasion and they may not be so fortunate against a well-drilled Bilbao side. 

Ernesto Valverde, who expertly led his team to Copa del Rey glory last term, knows what it takes to win at the highest level and his experience could show against Ruben Amorim, who still has plenty of doubters in Manchester. 

Bilbao are flying high in fourth in La Liga – a far cry from United’s Premier League position of 14th – and while they may have one eye on Sunday’s Basque derby against Real Sociedad, they have more than enough talent to see off United, who have shipped 12 goals in five games and are hampered by injuries. 

Bilbao will be keen to build up a healthy lead before heading to Old Trafford and there is every chance they will, given they have scored 23 goals during a ten-match unbeaten run at home – a sequence that includes seven wins. 

No side in the Europa League has allowed fewer expected goals than Athletic’s 6.9, suggesting they can keep things tight at the other end, too.

It is hard to envisage a disjointed United enjoying their trip to the Basque country and the giants may not be done with their hard fall yet, with failure in the Europa League still very much on the cards. 

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Key stat

Manchester United’s only win in eight away matches came at Leicester, who have lost 11 of their last 12 games.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United team news

Athletic Bilbao
Unai Gomez is a doubt after missing the win at Las Palmas, a match in which top scorer Oihan Sancet suffered a hamstring injury that  has ruled him out of this clash.

Manchester United
Diogo Dalot has joined Lisandro Martinez, Toby Collyer, Ayden Heaven and Joshua Zirkzee on the sidelines. Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt have travelled with the squad and will be assessed.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United predicted line-ups

Athletic Bilbao (4-2-3-1): Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; I Williams, Berenguer, N Williams; Sannadi.
Subs: Lekue, Paredes, Nunez, Prados, Vesga, Guruzeta, Djalo.

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Fernandes; Hojlund.
Subs: Lindelof, Evans, Eriksen, Mount, Mainoo, Amass, Diallo.

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Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United Bet Builder player stats

Stats refer to league games only; does not include unavailable players

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United bet builder predictions

Nico Williams anytime scorer
The Spanish star has netted seven goals in his last 14 appearances for Bilbao and his pace can cause a depleted United defence plenty of issues

Luke Shaw to be booked
The England full-back was booked six times in 12 Premier League appearances last term and could be lacking sharpness having not played much football recently

Bruno Fernandes over 0.5 fouls
The United captain has committed eight fouls in his last seven starts for club and country and he could show his frustration if things don’t go the Red Devils’ way in Bilbao

Pays out at 14-1 with bet365

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