Bilbao stages an all-English affair in the 2025 Europa League final on Wednesday night, as Tottenham Hotspur take on Manchester United.
The pair of woefully underperforming English Premier League sides have long prioritised their continental journeys, but salvation can only arrive for one tonight in northern Spain.
A harsh summer of introspection and drastic change is in store for the loser.
United sit 16th in the Premier League, with Spurs slightly worse off in 17th, but success on Wednesday supplies the victor with the chance to rebuild in an instant. While United haven’t been shy of silverware amid their post-Sir Alex Ferguson malaise, Spurs are chasing their first major trophy since 2008.
Victory in Bilbao would mean so much for Tottenham supporters, and potentially allow Ange Postecoglou to remain at the helm. His team have performed with impressive maturity and control in their quarterfinal and semifinal triumphs over Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodø/Glimt respectively.
United, who are still unbeaten in the competition, was superb over two legs against Athletic Club in the last four, but required a remarkable comeback in the second leg of their quarterfinal with Lyon to advance 7-6 on aggregate.
Lucas Bergvall has been absent for the past few weeks due to an ankle injury.
Spurs’ injury woes have refused to relent in the build-up to the final. James Maddison is out of action due to the knee injury he suffered during the first leg of their semifinal triumph, while Dejan Kulusevski has since undergone surgery on his right patella.
Postecoglou is thus without his two most creative sparks, and doubts remain over Lucas Bergvall’s status. The young Swedish midfielder was pictured on crutches at the start of the month after sustaining an ankle injury, but some optimists suggest he may be fit to feature in Bilbao. He has travelled with the squad, but so have the majority of Spurs’ stricken stars.
Radu Drăgușin is a long-term absentee after tearing his ACL, and Timo Werner has barely featured in 2025 due to a reported hamstring issue.
Son Heung-min could start after making his comeback from injury against Crystal Palace 10 days ago. Brennan Johnson is likely to get the nod on the opposite flank.
