The trip to Bilbao will be a very difficult task for Manchester United. Ernesto Valverde's side are unbeaten in their previous 10 home games, including seven wins.
At home in this season's Europa League, Athletic Bilbao have won all 6 matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding 2. The last team to win 7 home matches in a Europa League campaign was Ajax in the 2016-2017 season.
However, despite Man United having their worst ever Premier League season, the Europa League has helped them escape domestic difficulties.
The Red Devils are the only club yet to lose a game in the 2024-2025 Europa League, despite having won just twice away from home and without a single knockout win. However, the 12 unbeaten matches are their longest streak in major tournaments in Europe since a series of 15 consecutive matches from November 2016 to October 2017.
If it had not been for this achievement, perhaps Ruben Amorim's tenure with the club would have ended. Man United have lost 11 of their 23 Premier League games. However, Amorim's 8 unbeaten matches in Europe mean he has had the most impressive start since the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson (11 matches).
Part of Man United's success in Europe this season is thanks to their ability to score. They have scored 28 goals in the Europa League this season, the most since scoring 34 goals in the 2020-2021 season.
The Red Devils have had the most shots (222) and the most touches in the opposition box (458) compared to any other team in this year's Europa League.
Meanwhile, the Williams brothers, Inaki and Nico, are important pillars of Athletic Bilbao. Each has scored 5 goals in the Europa League this season.
Nico Williams has contributed to at least one goal in all six of his Europa League appearances this season. Only three players (Giuseppe Rossi, Guillaume Hoarau and Ciro Immobile) have scored or assisted in 7 consecutive home matches.
Athletic Bilbao has reached the semi -finals of the European Cup for the third time and two of them appeared in the final. It was in the 1976-1977 season against RWD Molenbeek at the UEFA Cup and the 2011-2012 season met Sporting CP in the Europa League.
Head-to-head record
The two teams met in their first European campaign, in the 1956-1957 season. Man United responded to a 3-5 defeat in the first leg with a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Then, their only meeting was in the Europa League round of 16 in 2012. Marcelo Bielsa's Athletic Bilbao won 3-2 at Old Trafford in the first leg, then continued to defeat the opponent 2-1 at home. In the end, they reached the final, only losing 0-3 to Atletico Madrid.
The two clubs drew 1-1 in a friendly match 2 years ago, with facundo Pellistri equalizing for Man United in the last minute. Aitor Paredes, who could feature in the upcoming match, was sent off in the second half.
Score prediction
With home advantage, Athletic Bilbao is predicted to have a 48.8% chance of winning this match. Meanwhile, the possibility of Man United leaving Spain with a victory is 25.5%, the remaining 25.7% is the scenario of the two teams drawing.
No Europa League semi-final in the last two seasons has had more than 2 goals. Therefore, this match will be very balanced.
Predicted result: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Man United
The match between Athletic Bilbao and Man United takes place at 2:00 am on January 2 (Vietnam time).
