As the UEFA Europa League reaches its final four, two fallen English giants are hoping European success can rescue what’s been a disastrous domestic campaign.
Tottenham and Manchester United are both long out of the race for European spaces in the English Premier League, and staring at the prospect of missing out on continental football next season. Their hopes now rest on winning this tournament – but standing in their way are two of the most dangerous sides left in the competition.
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Will Man Utd or Spurs' season be saved by the UEL? ? pic.twitter.com/dtwKNDZVeE
Athletic Bilbao, inspired by the chance to lift the trophy on home soil, host United at San Mamés, while Norwegian dark horses Bodø/Glimt head to North London having already beaten European stalwarts Lazio, Besiktas, Olympiakos, Porto and FC Twente this season.
Here’s a closer look at each contender, with Bet9ja outright odds to win the competition.
Tottenham – odds to win Europa League: 2.75
This is Spurs’ last hope. Sitting 16th in the Premier League and fresh from a 5-1 loss at Liverpool, Ange Postecoglou’s side have nothing left to play for domestically. The manager rested key players at Anfield to focus fully on this tie, and anything less than a win tonight will be seen as failure.
Spurs haven’t lifted a major trophy since 2008, and this is their best chance in years to end that drought. In Europe, they’ve been a different side: more organised, more clinical, and, crucially, more consistent. They knocked out Eintracht Frankfurt in the last round with a mature, measured performance – showing a level of control that’s been sorely missing from their Premier League showings.
It is a MASSIVE night for Spurs in the UCL! ? pic.twitter.com/KD61JW0TFs
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Now they face Bodø/Glimt, an opponent who might sound like a mismatch on paper but absolutely isn’t. The Norwegian side have already beaten some European giants at their remote Arctic home ground this season, and they’ll be desperate to keep this tie alive ahead of the return leg in freezing, unfamiliar conditions.
Spurs will aim to get the job done in London tonight. With captain Son Heung-min still a doubt and injuries mounting, the likes of Maddison, Kulusevski and Bentancur will need to step up. Their home form in Europe has been strong, unbeaten in 13, but any complacency could be punished.
The goal? A big first-leg win that lets them avoid a nervy night in Bodø.
Athletic Bilbao – odds to win Europa League: 3.05
Athletic have been superb in Europe this season and are unbeaten at San Mamés, winning all six of their home matches by an aggregate score of 14–2.
Their motivation is clear: the Europa League final will be played at their own stadium. That has added an edge to every performance. They eliminated Roma and Rangers, and now aim to do the same to Man Utd, a team they beat home and away the last time they met in Europe, in 2012.
Nico Williams is in top form, while the likes of Inaki Williams and Gorka Guruzeta provide goals and movement up front. The only concern is the injury to midfield lynchpin Oihan Sancet, who could miss both legs.
Still, this is a united, confident team with the best defensive record in La Liga. And they have a chance to make history.
Manchester United – odds to win Europa League: 3.30
Manchester United’s Europa League run has been dramatic, unpredictable, and somehow undefeated.
Their quarter-final against Lyon summed it up perfectly. United looked dead and buried when they went 6-4 down on aggregate late at Old Trafford, only for Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire to score three times in six minutes to complete one of the most chaotic comebacks in the competition’s history. The noise at Old Trafford that night was deafening – but the dust hasn’t really settled since.
These were the scenes inside Old Trafford as Harry Maguire took the roof off the Theatre of Dreams with his winner in the 121st minute.
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Manchester United trailed 10-man Lyon 4-2 on the night with just six minutes to play, before three goals completed one of the most famous… pic.twitter.com/lJwORVhRzA
Domestically, things have continued to spiral. United haven’t won a EPL game since March 16, and their recent 1-1 draw with Bournemouth was their sixth straight league game without a victory. Injuries continue to mount too, with Zirkzee, Dalot, Martínez and more all still sidelined.
But European form tells a different story. United are the only unbeaten team left in any UEFA competition this season. They’ve scored more goals, taken more shots, and had more touches in the opposition box than any other team in the tournament.
Bruno Fernandes remains the heartbeat of the team, and his Europa League record is unmatched, but they’ll need a huge collective effort to get past an Athletic Bilbao side who’ve made San Mamés a fortress.
Bodo/Glimt – odds to win Europa League: 14.00
No one expected Bodo/Glimt to reach the semi-finals – but no one can deny they deserve it.
The Norwegian champions have taken down seasoned European sides like Porto, Lazio, Olympiakos and Besiktas already, using their home advantage in the Arctic Circle to full effect. The freezing temperatures and artificial pitch in Bodø have become infamous — and that’s exactly where they’ll be taking Spurs next week.
For now, they’ll just want to leave London with the tie still alive. Kasper Høgh leads the line and is the joint top scorer in this season’s Europa League. But they arrive short-handed: captain Patrick Berg and midfield partner Hakon Evjen are both suspended, and several others are carrying injuries.
It’s a big ask – but if they can frustrate Tottenham tonight, they’ll fancy themselves to finish the job up north.
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1 Comment
by Jibirin mohammed
Thank im apreshiate