UEFA Cup - Biba 1-1 Manchester United: The UEFA Cup win is of great significance, Manchester United s problems still exist | Foresight

In the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in the 2024-25 season, Manchester United, Tottenham, Athletic Bilbao and Bode shine four teams. Three and five major league teams are the favorites to win the championship, and the two Premier League teams have the strongest desire for championships.

Manchester United and Tottenham will end their worst Premier League season, but winning the UEFA Cup is still of great significance. In the Premier League, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur's results are just far away from the relegation zone and even further away from the European War Zone. However, if they win the UEFA Cup, they can participate in the Champions League next season. The team currently ranked high in the Premier League standings, Liverpool, which won the championship ahead of schedule, has secured the qualification for the Champions League, and Arsenal is also soon. Five teams, Newcastle, Manchester City, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, will compete for the other three Champions League places. Chelsea, which are also BIG6, may miss the Champions League next season.

For Manchester United, the opponent of the Europa League semi-final Athletic Bilbao is difficult to deal with. The Basque Lions coached by former Barcelona coach Valverde is really like a Lions in both La Liga and Europa League this season.

Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United

Nature of the match: First leg of the Europa League semi-finals

Match time: May 2 3:00

In the current La Liga standings, Athletic Bilbao has 16 wins, 12 draws and 5 losses, ranking fourth with 60 points, 6 points less than Atletico Madrid, third, and 6 points more than Real Madrid, six points more than Real Madrid, sixth. Like the Premier League, La Liga has also won five UEFA Champions League places next season. With the results of Brazil's La Liga, it is not a big problem to qualify for the Champions League.

And Manchester United's situation is very different.

In the current Premier League standings, Manchester United ranked 14th with 10 wins, 9 draws, 15 losses, and 39 points. Even if they win all the remaining four rounds, they will only have 51 points in the end, which will be the lowest points in the Premier League era. At the pre-match press conference, Manchester United coach Amorin expressed his determination to compete for the championship, "Nothing can save our season, but winning a trophy is of great significance. Qualifying for the Champions League may change many things for our club this summer."

Amorin also said that even if he wins the UEFA Cup, Manchester United's problems still exist. "The UEFA Cup will not change any problems we have. It can help us play the Champions League next season and increase capital investment, but the problems still exist."

Athletic Bilbao coach Valverde talked about Manchester United's recent situation at a pre-match press conference. "Their current position in the Premier League is indeed unexpected, but they can qualify for the Champions League by winning the UEFA Cup. Manchester United is a team belonging to the Champions League... This reward is so tempting that our teams in the semi-finals all have the responsibility to work hard for it."

Athletic Bilbao has 5 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss in the last 10 games in all competitions. The only loss is La Liga defeated the defending champion Real Madrid 0-1 away, and is in good shape recently.

Manchester United has won 2 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses in the last 10 games, and has lost 4 draws and 3 losses in the last 7 games. It is in average recently.

The two sides have faced each other in the last three matches, and Biba has the upper hand in 2 wins and 1 draw. In the 2011-12 Europa League 1/8 final, Biba defeated Manchester United 3:2 away and 2:1 at home. The last encounter between the two sides was a friendly match in the summer of 2023, with Biba dating Manchester United 1-1 away.

In this battle, Biba, who is optimistic about the home court, is unbeaten.