Which English loser team will save the season?
Rarely has there been so much at stake in a Europa League final as there will be on Wednesday evening at San Mamés in Bilbao. On the one hand, of course, there is the prestigious title in the second most important club competition on the European stage at stake. On the other hand, however, issues such as the Champions League ticket, a potential exit for Ange at Spurs and the financial aspect are also leading to a dramatic sense of significance, which logically also has a decisive influence on the Tottenham vs. Manchester United tip.
After disastrous performances in the league, this Europa League final offers an outstanding opportunity to end the 2024/25 season on a high note with a title. For weeks, both teams have shifted their focus to this competition, so the latest impressions from the Premier League can be safely ignored in the prediction ahead of the final between Tottenham and Manchester United. Throughout the season, the two English heavyweights have shown a completely different side of themselves internationally.
Tottenham – Statistics & current form
It has been 17 years since Tottenham Hotspur Football Club last won a title. Under coach Juande Ramos, the Lily Whites won the League Cup back then. To find their last European cup triumph, you have to dig even deeper into the annals. In 1983/84, they won the UEFA Cup, a feat they hope to repeat 40 years later in its successor competition, the UEFA Europa League.
The Londoners have hardly put a foot wrong on their way to this final. In 14 games played to date, they have suffered only two defeats, the last one at the beginning of March in the first leg of the round of 16 against AZ Alkmaar. This was followed by a 3-1 victory in the second leg and four more unbeaten matches (3-1-0). The highlight was undoubtedly their quarter-final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, when they won 1-0 in the Hessian metropolis. With a record of nine wins, three draws, and two defeats, they fully deserve their place in the final.
Will Tottenham also win their fourth league game of the season against United?
This is particularly impressive given that the defense has steadily improved. They conceded just four goals and never more than one per match in the six knockout games. By way of comparison, in the Premier League, the 61 goals conceded were the main reason why, after 37 matchdays, only the three teams already relegated had fewer points than THFC, who lost no fewer than 21 league games and also came off second best in five of their last six PL matches.
Nevertheless, looking ahead to Wednesday, I am not averse to predicting that Ange Postecoglou’s team will win the title between Tottenham and Manchester United. Firstly, anything can happen in 90 minutes (+X). Secondly, in a predicted 50/50 affair, it makes sense to go for the higher odds. And thirdly, the capital club have already beaten Man Utd in three competitive games this season.
However, confidence is somewhat dampened by the personnel situation, as Maddison, Bergvall and Kulusevski are all definitely out. There is also a big question mark behind Pape Sarr. All the more reason to pin hopes on striker Dominic Solanke, who has scored at least once in his last four matches against United (five goals in total) and is also Spurs’ top scorer in the Europa League with nine points (five goals, four assists). The odds for Solanke to score for Tottenham against Manchester United are 3.65 in the Interwetten app.
Manchester United – Statistics & current form
Not only Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, but also Manchester United have their entire season riding on Wednesday evening’s Europa League final. It would be an absolute disaster if the Red Devils were to lose and miss out on European competition next season. In terms of prospects, finances and image, there could be no worse scenario. Although much of this also applies to Spurs, I believe there is even more pressure on Ruben Amorim’s team ahead of the title decider in Bilbao.
Looking at their performance in the Europa League so far, the 20-time English champions are still narrow favorites. After all, MUFC is the only club still unbeaten in this season’s Europa League, with nine wins and five draws. Incidentally, Eintracht Frankfurt became the last team to win the title without defeat in 2022.
Will the MUFC offense led by Bruno Fernandes make the difference?
While Tottenham, as mentioned, defined itself in the knockout stages with a focused defensive performance, Amorim’s team impressed primarily with its offense. 35 goals in 14 games is the highest tally of any EL participant in 2024/25. Seven of those goals came in the two semi-final matches against Bilbao, although the 3-0 first-leg win at San Mamés must be put into perspective, as the Basques were reduced to ten men early on and then virtually threw away the game.
Nevertheless, they have scored at least two goals in five Europa League matches in a row. This time, I think there are many reasons to believe that the betting odds for the all-English clash between Tottenham and Manchester United will be no more than one goal for MUFC. These are currently 1.55 in the Bwin app, which means they meet the Bwin bonus conditions.
When it comes to the protagonists for Wednesday evening, Bruno Fernandes’ name must of course be mentioned first. The UEFA Europa League is the Portuguese player’s biggest hobbyhorse, and he has already scored seven goals and provided four assists this season. The 30-year-old is captain and playmaker in the United attack. Fernandes has played 57 times in the Europa League, contributing to 50 goals. However, he lost the final with the Red Devils against Villarreal in 2021. Now the final is set to take a different course.
Tottenham – Manchester United Head-to-head record / H2H record
The two finalists have already faced each other in three competitive matches this season alone. In the first half of the Premier League season, Tottenham won 3-0 at Old Trafford. The return leg ended 1-0 for the Spurs, who also came out on top in the League Cup with a 4-3 victory. Under Ange Postecoglou, the Londoners are now unbeaten in five direct encounters against MUFC. In total, United have now gone six consecutive meetings without a win (0-2-4). The only clash at international level, however, took place over 60 years ago and therefore plays no role whatsoever in Wednesday evening’s considerations.
Tottenham – Manchester United Tip
The Europa League final has rarely been more exciting and dramatic in recent years than it is this season. The backdrop is the fact that two English teams are facing each other in Bilbao, both teams have had disastrous seasons in the Premier League, and winning the title is the only way to qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League. Incidentally, there is over £100 million at stake, the short- and medium-term future of both clubs and, in the case of Spurs, even whether coach Ange Postecoglou will be allowed to continue in London.
I therefore expect a hard-fought match that will probably only be decided by nuances. Due to this balanced starting position, I am leaning towards the higher odds and have therefore placed my Tottenham vs. Manchester United bet on the Spurs as the new title holders. At Betano, you can get 1.98 for this, which I am betting on with five units.
