Athletic Bilbao v Man United: Prediction, tips and bet builder as Red Devils face stern Spanish test
Man United’s audacious season-saving bid sees them travel to Bilbao this Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final (2000 GMT).
The pressure is on. Winning the Europa League would secure a much-needed trophy for Ruben Amorim, as well as Champions League qualification for next season. Failure, however, will leave the Red Devils in an almighty mess.
Amorim’s men have endure a truly dreadful Premier League campaign, สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที one which keeps on getting worse.
Take their previous five league results as an example. Defeat to Nottingham Forest, goalless draw with Man City, a 4-1 thrashing in Newcastle, a home loss to Wolves and, most recently, a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Amorim is rightfully under pressure and that will only get worse should he fail to mastermind a winning strategy against Athletic Bilbao.
Trouble is, the Spaniards will be horribly difficult to break down. Ernesto Valverde’s men are currently fourth in La Liga and have suffere the joint-fewest defeats, alongside Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
No team in the Spanish top tier have conced fewer goals than Valverde’s side, while no team in the Europa League has manag to avoid defeat away in Bilbao.
The task ahead of United appears gargantuan, especially when you remember United’s poor record away from home.
Amorim’s men have won just one of their previous eight matches on the road, with that sole success coming at the King Power Stadium against Leicester – not much of an achievement this season.
There is, of course, one big positive – United are unbeaten in Europe. For all their domestic troubles this season, the Red Devils have actually excelle when it comes to continental football.