Background and Significance of the Teams
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will compete in the final of the UEFA Europa League 2024-25, scheduled for Wednesday, May 21st, at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, with a capacity exceeding 50,000 spectators.
The Europa League is the second most prestigious club tournament in Europe, trailing only behind the Champions League. The winning team is estimated to receive around 5 million euros in economic incentives.
Road to the Final
Manchester United secured their spot in the final by defeating Athletic Bilbao with an impressive global score of 7-1. The English side took a notable 0-3 lead in the first leg as visitors and sealed it with a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford on Thursday.
In the other semifinal, Tottenham triumphed 0-2 over Bodo/Glimt in Norway, extending their 3-1 advantage from the first leg in London.
Contrasting Seasons
This final highlights a contrasting moment in the season, as both Manchester United and Tottenham find themselves near the bottom of the Premier League table, yet safe from relegation.
As of now, 35 out of 38 matches have been played in the Premier League. Manchester United sits at position 15 with 39 points out of 105 possible, accumulating 16 losses, 10 wins, and a goal difference of -9.
Tottenham has a similar record, occupying position 16 with 38 points. They have 19 losses and 11 wins, but boast a positive goal difference of +6 (63 scored and 57 conceded).
Historical Context
Manchester United, a team with three Champions League titles, is returning to a continental final after four years. Their most recent appearance was in the 2020-21 season, where they lost the Europa League final to Villarreal in Poland.
With nine continental finals under their belts (five in the Champions League, one Recopa de Europa, and three in the Europa League), including this 2025 final against Tottenham, Manchester United is an experienced side.
Tottenham, on the other hand, will be contesting their sixth continental final (one in the Champions League, one Recopa UEFA, and four in the Europa League). Their last final was in 2019, where they lost ‘La Orejona’ to Liverpool.
This will only be the third Europa League (formerly Copa UEFA) final between English teams. The first was in 1972, when Tottenham defeated Wolverhampton 3-2 after a home-and-away series. The second was in 2019, when Chelsea triumphed 4-1 over Arsenal in a single match held in Azerbaijan.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the teams playing in the Europa League final 2024-25? Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
- What is the significance of this final? The Europa League is the second most prestigious club tournament in Europe, and the winner receives around 5 million euros in economic incentives.
- How did Manchester United and Tottenham reach the final? Manchester United defeated Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate, while Tottenham overcame Bodo/Glimt 5-2 on aggregate.
- What are the teams’ current Premier League standings? Both teams are near the bottom of the table, with Manchester United at 15th and Tottenham at 16th, yet safe from relegation.
- What is the historical context of these teams in continental finals? Manchester United has nine continental finals to their name, including three Champions League titles and one Europa League title in 2017. Tottenham has six continental finals, with their last final appearance in 2019.
