Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao predictions, betting tips and odds: Europa League final beckons for Red Devils

Where to watch Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao

You can watch Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-finals at 8pm on Thursday, May 8, live on TNT Sports 1

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao prediction & best bet

One or both teams not to score
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Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao odds

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

Odds correct at time of publishing

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Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao predictions

Manchester United needed an extraordinary extra-time comeback in their last Europa League fixture at Old Trafford but things should be more straightforward for the Red Devils in Thursday's semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao.

United trailed ten-man Lyon 4-2 deep into their quarter-final second leg before scoring in the 114th, 120th and 121st minutes to pinch a 7-6 aggregate victory.

This time around, Ruben Amorim's men are in complete control of the tie after a 3-0 first-leg victory in Bilbao, where the Europa League final takes place on May 21.

The Red Devils are just 1-100 to book a return trip to San Mames while Athletic are as big as 35-1 to overcome their three-goal deficit in Manchester.

United supporters will not take anything for granted with their side languishing in 15th place in the Premier League and on course for their lowest finish since they were relegated in 1973-74.

But any fears of an Athletic fightback should be allayed by the news that the visitors are missing three key attacking players due to injury.

Brilliant Spain winger Nico Williams is sidelined along with top goalscorer Oihan Sancet and leading assist-maker Inaki Williams.

Sunday's goalless draw at Basque rivals Real Sociedad suggests Athletic's attacking understudies may struggle to land a blow on United's defence and backing one or both teams not to score looks a good bet.

Ernesto Valverde's men mustered only three shots at the Anoeta Stadium and their four previous La Liga away trips resulted in 1-0 defeats at Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, a 1-0 win at Sevilla – clinched by an 84th-minute goal – and a 0-0 draw at Villarreal.

They were also held to a goalless stalemate in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Rangers, despite the Gers being reduced to ten men in the 13th minute at Ibrox.

United eased to a 3-0 win in Bilbao thanks to three first-half goals against hosts who had centre-back Dani Vivian sent off in the 35th minute.

A second-string Red Devils side lost 4-3 at Brentford in the league on Sunday but their matches are not usually that expansive.

Both teams scored in only seven of United's 17 home league games and their last two top-flight matches at Old Trafford produced a 1-0 loss to Wolves and a forgettable 0-0 derby draw with Manchester City.

Another dull, low-scoring contest would do nicely for the home fans on Thursday and United have little to fear from a severely depleted Athletic attacking unit.

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Key stat

Both teams have scored in only one of Athletic Bilbao's last ten matches in all competitions

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao team news

Manchester United
Matthijs de Ligt and Toby Collyer will be assessed but Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee and Ayden Heaven are sidelined. Striker Chido Obi, who started at Brentford last weekend, is ineligible.

Athletic Bilbao
Dani Vivian is suspended after his red card in the first leg and key attackers Nico Williams, Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet are injured.

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao predicted line-ups

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

Athletic Bilbao (4-2-3-1): Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Parades, Alvarez, Berchiche; Prados, Jauregizar; Djalo, Gomez, Berenguer; Guruzeta
Subs: Gorosabel, De Galarreta, Nunez, Lekue, Vesga, Sannadi, Olabarrieta

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Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Bet Builder player stats

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

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao bet builder predictions

Under 2.5 goals
Athletic Bilbao's last five away matches in La Liga produced just three goals and they drew 0-0 at ten-man Rangers in the Europa League quarter-finals

Over 2.5 Athletic Bilbao cards
Three of Manchester United's last five opponents, including Athletic, had a player sent off and the visitors have received 17 cards in six Europa League away fixtures

Under 9.5 corners
Athletic are missing star wingers Nico and Inaki Williams and United's Premier League home matches have averaged only 9.18 corners per game

Pays out at 5-1 with Paddy Power

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