Silke Mayr Manchester United took a big step toward the Europa League final with a strong 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night. The match, held at San Mames Stadium in Spain, saw United dominate from the start. Despite earlier struggles in the Premier League, coach Ruben Amorim’s team showed great form in Europe. The win gives United a strong lead going into the second leg at Old Trafford.
A Big Win at the Right Time
Ruben Amorim has had a tough time since becoming Manchester United’s manager. He joined from Sporting and won only six of his first 23 Premier League games. Many fans questioned his tactics and wondered if he could handle the pressure. But in the Europa League, things look very different.
On Thursday, Amorim’s team played one of their best games. They scored three goals against Athletic Bilbao, who are known for having the best defence in Spain’s La Liga. Even though Bilbao played with ten men for much of the match, United’s performance stood out.
A former Premier League goalkeeper said on radio that United looked better than ever under Amorim. A former United player also praised the result, calling it “magnificent” because Bilbao rarely allow three goals in a match.
United’s Best Moments Under Amorim
This was not the first big result for Amorim’s team. In December, they beat Manchester City 2-1. They also drew 2-2 with Liverpool and knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup. In the Europa League, they had already beaten Real Sociedad 4-1 earlier in the season.
Still, Amorim said the Bilbao win was the most important. “The best result, because nobody expected this,” he said in a post-match interview.
Veterans Take the Lead as Young Players Struggle Early
The match started with some problems for United. At first, the players looked nervous. Manuel Ugarte lost the ball too often, and the defence was slow. Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams nearly scored in the opening minutes. He set up Alex Berenguer, whose shot was cleared by Victor Lindelöf.
Young full-back Patrick Dorgu also made mistakes, leaving space open for Bilbao to attack. The loud home crowd made things harder for United’s young players.
But United’s experienced stars stepped up. Casemiro, the former Real Madrid midfielder, played like he did in his best years. He controlled the midfield, stopped Bilbao’s attacks, and even threatened to score.
Harry Maguire, often criticised in the past, delivered a great cross that led to Casemiro’s goal. Captain Bruno Fernandes stayed calm under pressure and scored a penalty before adding a second goal later in the match.
Amorim praised these veterans. “Casemiro, Maguire, and Bruno helped calm the team when it mattered,” he said. “Young players like Ugarte and Dorgu were nervous, but the leaders brought focus and control.”
A Trip to the Final in Sight – But No Guarantees
This was Manchester United’s first time scoring three goals in the first half of a European game since 2020. They last did it away from home in 2017, against CSKA Moscow.
To come back, Bilbao now need to score at least four goals at Old Trafford – a tough task. In the other Europa League semi-final, Tottenham beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1, making an all-English final a real possibility.
Captain Bruno Fernandes asked fans to be ready for another trip to Spain. The Europa League final will also be held at Bilbao’s stadium.
“We could have done more in the second half,” Fernandes admitted, “but we managed the game well.”
Amorim, however, warned against overconfidence. “We’re in a strong position,” he said, “but anything can happen in one match.”
Manchester United’s dream of a European trophy is now within reach. With a big win in the first leg and confidence growing, Amorim’s team has a real chance to lift the Europa League title. But as the manager reminds everyone—nothing is won yet.