Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur are the Europa League champions after a backs-to-the-wall victory over Manchester United at a bouncing San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
The Red Devils had the possession and the shots; but a goal from Brennan Johnson, just before the break, gave Spurs a half-time lead which they held onto thanks to a superb defensive performance and the Red Devils’ lack of punch up front. It’ll be hard to take for Ruben Amorin’s Manchester United but, on the white side of North London the celebrations will go on well into the night.
At the beginning of the season Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou boldly announced: ‘I always win in my second season mate’. And he’s delivered… to finally end a 17 year trophy drought at the club.
Highlights of the game
Both teams came out positively, but it was the Red Devils who carried the most attacking threat, Amad Diallo firing an early shot inches wide. Manchester United captain, talisman and most productive player, Bruno Fernandes, came close on 21 minutes after good work from Casemiro, but his cross shot was stopped by Spurs keeper Vicario. At the other end of the pitch Richarlison took advantage of slack United defending but his shot was charged down by Mason Mount.
In my SBOTOP preview of this final I predicted goals, partly due the flaky defences likely to be on show and when winner came, on 43 minutes, it was a scrappy affair. Pape Sarr sent a wicked cross into the danger area and the United defence failed to deal with it. As keeper Andre Onana stood rooted to the spot Johnson charged in, alongside defender Luke Shaw, to bundle the ball over the line. There was some question as to whether the ball bounced in off Shaw but the Spurs’ fans weren’t too bothered as they celebrated wildly.
The second half was messy in the early stages, stop start with a smattering of fouls and that suited Tottenham as the Red Devils struggled to find any fluency in attack. Spurs were happy to play on the break but when Richarlison put Dominic Solanke in, the striker’s first touch let him down and United cleared. And that was Richarlison’s last action as he was replaced by Heung-Min Son.
The Red Devils came so close on 69 minutes when Vicario had a nightmare and dropped the ball to give Rasmus Hojlund an empty net to head towards; but Spurs centre back Micky van de Ven miraculously cleared off the line to save his keeper’s blushes. United ramped up the pressure and Fernandes had a great chance but he glanced his header wide with the goal gaping; and then Vicario saved well to deny substitute Garnacho.
Spurs had their backs to the wall and United threw centre back Harry Maguire up front, not for the first time this season. But as the Red Devils threw the kitchen sink at it, the Whites held firm to end 17 years of hurt.
Key statistics
Both teams rested players in the Premier League last weekend, Spurs away to Aston Villa and Manchester United against Chelsea and the Europa League 2025 betting odds backed these two to go deep into this competition from the outset. So this was the biggest game of both club’s campaigns and they set about each other in a lively first half, which was high on energy if low on quality.
Johnson’s goal, on 43 minutes, was Spurs’ first in five cup finals, drawing blanks in the Carabao Cup finals in 2009, 2015 an 2021 as well as the 2019 Champions League final loss to Liverpool.
Manchester United came into the final as the only team unbeaten in European competition. They had been behind four times previously, winning three and drawing one but it was fifth time unlucky for the Red Devils.
In a physical game there were 32 fouls, 22 committed by Spurs, while United picked up four yellow cards to Tottenham’s three.
What’s next?
Well, after all this Europa excitement the battle for 16th place in the Premier League reaches its climax next weekend. Manchester United, currently in 16th, sign off at home to Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa while Tottenham host Brighton and Hove Albion who are in line for a Europa Conference place. Both Spurs and Manchester United can still catch Wolves in 14th and West Ham United in 16th. But Wolves are at home to Brentford, while the Hammers are away to relegated Ipswich Town…so I fear 16th may be the best both can hope for.
The Europa League 2025 updates will have gone down well on the Sky Blue side of Manchester where Manchester City are on the cusp of qualifying for next year’s Champions League. But on the Red side of North London Arsenal fans will be fed up that their rivals have won a trophy and they haven’t.
Tonight is Tottenham’s night; this win has saved their season and they’ve waited long enough… so I’d say they deserve it.
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