Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao predictions ahead of this clash in the Europa League on Thursday night. Manchester United, leading 3-0 from the first leg, are strong favourites to reach the Europa League final, needing only to manage the return leg safely at Old Trafford. Read on for our free betting tips and predictions.

Europa League | May 8, 2025 at 8pm UK at Old Trafford

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

Manchester United on the Brink: Can Bilbao Spark a Miracle or Is It Too Late?

• Leaky But Lethal: Manchester United have managed only three clean sheets in 13 Europa League games, despite scoring 31 goals in that span.
• Bilbao’s Desperation Mode: With at least three goals needed to force extra time, Athletic are expected to come out swinging from the first whistle.
• Bruno’s Old Trafford Streak: The Portuguese midfielder has scored in all three of United’s home Europa League ties in 2025, including a hat-trick against Real Sociedad.

Best Bet for Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao

This Thursday night at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao reconvene for the decisive second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final. With the air thick with tension and the pressure ratcheting up, both sides will be keen to make a statement—albeit from vastly different starting points.

The Red Devils, under immense domestic scrutiny and languishing in an underwhelming 15th place in the Premier League, have redirected all their energy into conquering Europe. And rightly so. Their dramatic 3-0 first-leg demolition in Bilbao, a performance defined by explosive counter-attacks and a Bruno Fernandes masterclass, has given them a stranglehold on this tie. The hosts arrive back in Manchester with swagger and momentum, having not tasted defeat in the Europa League this season.

Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, must muster every ounce of belief they possess. A Champions League spot via La Liga remains a realistic aim, but their dream of playing a European final on home soil is hanging by the finest of threads. Having failed to breach United’s goal last week, they now face the daunting task of scoring at least three without reply. To say it’s an uphill battle would be an insult to mountains.

As the lights dim and the roar at Old Trafford builds, the question isn’t just whether United will reach the final—it’s how much chaos Bilbao can inject before the inevitable unfolds.

Best Bet: Both Teams to Score (BTTS – Yes)

Amongst all the wagers flying around for this tantalising second leg, the standout prediction from our team at BettingTips4You.com is Both Teams to Score – Yes. This isn’t a wild guess or a dart thrown blindfolded at the betting board—this is our chosen tip, carved out after hours of deep-dive analysis, tactical breakdowns, and form scrutiny.

We don’t do half-measures here. No bloated lists with five conflicting bets. Just one prediction. The best. The most reasoned. And most importantly, the most value-driven option on the board.

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Why Both Teams to Score is the Smart Play

There’s something gloriously chaotic about this version of Manchester United. While they’ve racked up goals in Europe like a kid hoarding sweets, they’ve been equally generous at the other end. Three clean sheets in thirteen Europa League outings tell their own story—and not a particularly defensive one.

The stats underpin the madness: United have let in at least one goal in ten of their thirteen European clashes, often finding themselves wobbling at the back before rediscovering control. Even in the first leg, against a ten-man Bilbao side, they shipped 1.1 xG. That’s not an ironclad defence—it’s a polite invitation to attack.

Bilbao, for their part, will have no choice but to play with fire. They need to go forward, early and often. Sitting back and soaking pressure would be sporting suicide. And while they’ve been stung by recent lapses, their front line still has punch—particularly if Oihan Sancet or Nico Williams is able to shake off injury concerns.

United’s attacking firepower is hardly up for debate. With Bruno Fernandes in talismanic form—six goals in four Europa League games, including a hat-trick against Real Sociedad—the hosts should find the net again. Rasmus Hojlund’s last-gasp equaliser against Bournemouth at the weekend adds to the sense that this side simply doesn’t know when it’s beaten going forward.

There’s also the psychological aspect. With such a heavy lead, United may allow complacency to seep in. Athletic will look to pounce on any sloppiness, especially in transition. This feels like one of those mad European nights where logic occasionally takes a smoke break and chaos writes the script.

“We’ve watched United dance between brilliance and bedlam all season. Backing both teams to score here is betting on a beautiful mess,” says our BettingTips4You.com expert Mark Wighan. *“Bilbao have to throw everything forward, and United don’t really know how to play boring football. Expect thrills, spills, and goals at both ends.”_

With all the key injuries—Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martínez for United, Dani Vivian’s suspension for Bilbao—the defensive units are stretched. And let’s not forget: United conceded four goals to Lyon and three to Brentford in recent weeks. This is not the same backline that kept the clean sheet stats padded in years gone by.

The final score? We’re tilting slightly away from the projected 2-1 and calling it 2-2. United might get rattled early, then strike back with flair. Bilbao’s urgency could earn them a couple of goals, but the hosts’ class will ensure they don’t lose the night. A draw that feels like a win—for one side at least.

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