Europa League final build-up: Man Utd & Spurs fans in Bilbao, team news, predictions, updates

Summary

Europa League build-up as Tottenham and Man Utd face season-defining final (20:00 BST, on BBC Radio 5 Live)
Both teams struggling near bottom of Premier League can rescue season and qualify for Champions League
'50,000-80,000 fans expected in Bilbao' - travel stories, best images, your predictions
Poll: Who will win the Europa League final? Have your say
Team news: Bergvall unavailable but Sarr fit for Spurs | Yoro, Dalot and Zirkzee fit for Man Utd
WATCH: Football News Show special and listen to BBC sounds Europa League final preview podcast via 'Watch & Listen' tab at top of page
Get Involved: WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) - send in your photos

What information do we collect from this quiz?

Live Reporting

Written by Emma Smith, Neil Johnston, George Booth, Tyrese King & Craig Nelson

'We found some benches and it was alright'published at 13:05 British Summer Time 21 May
Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)
Neil Johnston
BBC Sport
Image source, Matthew Blackford
This is Matthew Blackford. He has travelled to Bilbao to watch his beloved Manchester United. With money tight and hotels in the city ramping up their prices, Matthew and his mates spent the night sleeping in a park in Bilbao.
He says it was worth it just to be in Bilbao to watch his beloved United.
"I'm with a few mates and we only arrived in Bilbao at 10.30 last night," Matthew tells me.
"We headed straight out for a few drinks. It only dawned on us later 'where are we going to sleep tonight"> AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar

Quarter-final:

Tottenham 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham

Semi-final:

Tottenham 3-1 Bodo/Glimt
Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham

Get Involvedpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 21 May

#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

We all know it hasn’t been a great season for Utd or Spurs, but football is still about special moments and occasions with friends and family, so I, for one, am really looking forward to it! Follow follow follow, because Utd are going to Bilbao!

Paul, Manchester

Man Utd's route to the finalpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (Wed, 20:00 BST)

Manchester United

But exactly how how did the two teams get here?

Well, Manchester United qualified directly for the last 16 after finishing third in the Europa League table.

They were the only unbeaten team in the league phase, after winning five and drawing three of their eight games.

Round of 16:

Real Sociedad 1-1 Man Utd
Man United 4-1 Real Sociedad

Quarter-final:

Lyon 2-2 Man Utd
Man Utd 5-4 Lyon (AET)

Semi-final:

Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Man Utd
Man Utd 4-1 Athletic Bilbao

Spurs and Man Utd fans enjoy Bilbao build-uppublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

By boat

Tottenham fans on a boar — Image caption,
Tottenham fans enjoy a river cruise

On foot

Manchester United fans before the big match — Image caption,
Manchester United fans take a stroll

Postpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

It was Oleta Adams who put it best: "I don't care how you get here. Just get here if you can."

Manchester United and Tottenham fans arrive in Spainpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

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Manchester United and Tottenham fans arrive for Europa League final

Man Utd's contrasting fortunes under Amorimpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Manchester United

Manchester United are the only unbeaten side in major European competition this season.
The Red Devils have won nine and drawn five of their 14 Europa League games.
They want to become only the fourth side to win the Europa League without losing a single match during the campaign.
However, United have also gone eight league games without a win for the first time since an 11-game stretch between December 1989 and February 1990.
United have lost 14 times in 26 league games under Ruben Amorim in his six months in charge.
Amorim's record at his previous club Sporting, in Portugal, was 14 defeats in 167 league games.

'No formal move to quit' from Amorim in Januarypublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Mark Ogden
Senior writer for ESPN on the Football Daily podcast

I was told in January that it got so bad that Ruben Amorim was considering offering to quit. Now I have put that to the club and the club said: "No, that wasn't the case. There was no formal move to quit."

But people at the club have said: "Yes, he did need reassurance that he was their guy and he would be backed."

Fernandes jokes that Amorim is under pressurepublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

As BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter, Ian Dennis pointed out earlier, the mood in Manchester United's news conference was much more relaxed.

But Ruben Amorim was asked whether he was grateful that he was not under the same pressure as Ange Postecoglou.

Manchester United's club captain, Bruno Fernandes, quickly interjected and said: "He is. Who told you he's not? He is."

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He wants my job! - Amorim and Fernandes joke in Europa League final press conference

Get Involvedpublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 21 May

#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

It's difficult to work from home when a party is so close to you, probably I will them later. Let the best team win!!! Welcome to Bilbao and keep the fun good natured.

Jose Manuel, Bilbao

'I'm not a clown and never will be'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Ange Postecoglou's press conference was never going to be light-hearted, especially after The Standard said Spurs' boss was "teetering between hero and clown."

Postecoglou said: "Irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be," said Postecoglou.

"You really disappointed me that you used such terminology to describe a person that for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to a position where he is leading out a club in a European final."

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Don't worry about my future, mate - Postecoglou

Postpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 21 May

The pressure placed upon both managers as a result of their club's shocking league form led to some interesting exchanges in Tuesday's pre-match news conferences...

'39 defeats between Spurs and United'published at 12:38 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on the Football News Show

The two sides domestically are in poor form - 39 defeats combined between them this season. That's going to lead to a Champions League place.

A common themepublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Parking the two sides' European history to one side for a moment, something that Manchester United and Tottenham do have in common is their torrid form in the Premier League this season, which has been in stark contrast to their run to the Europa League final.

Only relegated sides Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester have had a worse record than United and Spurs.

Get Involved - 'A 3am kick-off for us in Perth'published at 12:29 British Summer Time 21 May

#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

It's a 3am kick-off for us here in Perth, Australia. I've got my dad, both brothers, nephews, nieces, wife, kids, all coming around to wake up the street if we win! COYS!

Essex boy turned Aussie Dave!

'My son was born two weeks before last trophy'published at 12:27 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on the Football News Show

My son is 17. He was born two weeks before the last time Tottenham won a trophy.

It's a frightening amount of time. That 'Spursy' tag - that all disappears [if they win the Europa League].

Is European history important?published at 12:25 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Peter Schmeichel knows what it takes to win a European trophy after helping Manchester United clinch the Champions League back in 1999.

We reported earlier that he believes United's history in European competition was "massively important", but can it really have a bearing on tonight's final?

Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson has put the club's recent trophy record into stark context...

Man Utd in the Europa Leaguepublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 21 May

Tottenham v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

The trophy is held aloft by Wayne Rooney after winning the the Europa League

Tottenham may have the longest history in the Uefa Cup, but Manchester United have the more recent success in the competition, with two visits to the final since it was rebranded as the Europa League.

They won it in 2017 under Jose Mourinho, after beating Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm.

In 2021 they reached the final again, this time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and faced Villarreal in Gdansk. It finished 1-1 after 120 minutes and the most incredible penalty shootout followed.

The Spanish side, managed by current Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, won 11-10 on penalties after United goalkeeper David de Gea had his effort saved.

In total, Manchester United have been in eight major European finals. They have won the Champions League three times (1968, 1999 and 2008) and lost in two other finals (2009 and 2011).

The club also won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1991.

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Lazio	8	6	1	1	17	5	12	19	Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Loss
2 Athletic Club	8	6	1	1	15	7	8	19	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win
3 Manchester United	8	5	3	0	16	9	7	18	Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win
4 Tottenham Hotspur	8	5	2	1	17	9	8	17	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win
5 Eintracht Frankfurt	8	5	1	2	14	10	4	16	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
6 Olympique Lyonnais	8	4	3	1	16	8	8	15	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Draw
7 Olympiakos Piraeus	8	4	3	1	9	3	6	15	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win
8 Rangers	8	4	2	2	16	10	6	14	Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Win
9 Bodø / Glimt	8	4	2	2	14	11	3	14	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Draw
10 Anderlecht	8	4	2	2	14	12	2	14	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
11 FCSB	8	4	2	2	10	9	1	14	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss
12 Ajax	8	4	1	3	16	8	8	13	Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
13 Real Sociedad	8	4	1	3	13	9	4	13	Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win
14 Galatasaray	8	3	4	1	19	16	3	13	Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss
15 Roma	8	3	3	2	10	6	4	12	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win
16 Viktoria Plzeň	8	3	3	2	13	12	1	12	Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
17 Ferencváros	8	4	0	4	15	15	0	12	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
18 Porto	8	3	2	3	13	11	2	11	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win
19 AZ	8	3	2	3	13	13	0	11	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss
20 Midtjylland	8	3	2	3	9	9	0	11	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Draw
21 Union Saint-Gilloise	8	3	2	3	8	8	0	11	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss
22 PAOK	8	3	1	4	12	10	2	10	Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss
23 Twente	8	2	4	2	8	9	-1	10	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win
24 Fenerbahçe	8	2	4	2	9	11	-2	10	Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw
25 Sporting Braga	8	3	1	4	9	12	-3	10	Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
26 Elfsborg	8	3	1	4	9	14	-5	10	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss
27 Hoffenheim	8	2	3	3	11	14	-3	9	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Win
28 Beşiktaş	8	3	0	5	10	15	-5	9	Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
29 Maccabi Tel Aviv	8	2	0	6	8	17	-9	6	Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
30 Slavia Prague	8	1	2	5	7	11	-4	5	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw
31 Malmö FF	8	1	2	5	10	17	-7	5	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw
32 Rīgas FS	8	1	2	5	6	13	-7	5	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
33 Ludogorets	8	0	4	4	4	11	-7	4	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw
34 Dynamo Kyiv	8	1	1	6	5	18	-13	4	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win
35 Nice	8	0	3	5	7	16	-9	3	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw
36 Qarabağ	8	1	0	7	6	20	-14	3	Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss

Europa League final build-up: Man Utd & Spurs fans in Bilbao, team news, predictions

Summary

Live Reporting

'We found some benches and it was alright'published at 13:05 British Summer Time 21 May

Get Involvedpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 21 May

Man Utd's route to the finalpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 21 May

Spurs and Man Utd fans enjoy Bilbao build-uppublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 21 May

Postpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 21 May

Manchester United and Tottenham fans arrive in Spainpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 21 May

Man Utd's contrasting fortunes under Amorimpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 21 May

'No formal move to quit' from Amorim in Januarypublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 21 May

Fernandes jokes that Amorim is under pressurepublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 21 May

Get Involvedpublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 21 May

'I'm not a clown and never will be'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 21 May

Postpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 21 May

'39 defeats between Spurs and United'published at 12:38 British Summer Time 21 May

A common themepublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 21 May

Get Involved - 'A 3am kick-off for us in Perth'published at 12:29 British Summer Time 21 May

'My son was born two weeks before last trophy'published at 12:27 British Summer Time 21 May

Is European history important?published at 12:25 British Summer Time 21 May

Man Utd in the Europa Leaguepublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 21 May

UEFA Europa League Scores and fixtures

Wednesday 21st May

Final

UEFA Europa League Table

Key

Watch & listen