Athletic Club vs. Man United score: UEFA Europa League result, stats as Bruno Fernandes inspires first-leg dreamland

Manchester United fans were well aware of the task at hand as the Red Devils traveled to meet Athletic Club at their San Mames fortress for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semifinal matchup. Even Ruben Amorim admitted the club must "manage expectations" to get back home with the aggregate scoreline intact.

As such, by the fulltime whistle, United could hardly have dreamed of a better result after a 3-0 road victory at La Liga's fourth-placed side.

Casemiro headed home the opening goal off a pinpoint cross from unlikely supplier Harry Maguire on the half-hour mark, but the tie would truly change five minutes later.

While attacking a cross right in front of goal, Rasmus Hojlund was yanked back by Daniel Vivian high up on his shoulder. At first, the referee let play continue, but VAR recommended a review at the monitor, and the replay left him with little choice but to give United a penalty and Vivian a red card.

Bruno Fernandes slotted home the penalty to give the visitors a 2-0 lead, and the Portugal international would find the net again just before halftime, dispatching a good finish after a brilliant backheel from Manuel Ugarte.

United would see the rest of the game out in uneventful fashion, only testing Julen Agirrezabala in net a few more times, a task the Athletic goalkeeper was up to expertly.

Amorim now takes a commanding first-leg lead back home to Old Trafford, and they are now 90 minutes away from a potential European final to cap off an otherwise disappointing season.

Should they progress through, that final could be against a fellow Premier League opponent in Tottenham, who are 3-1 up on Bodo/Glimt after a resounding win in London spoiled slightly by the Norwegians' late goal.

Full commentary and highlights | Team news and lineups | Final match stats

Athletic Club vs. Man United final score

Location: Estadio de San Mames (Bilbao, Spain)
Referee: Espen Eskas (NOR)

Starting lineups:

Athletic Club (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. Agirrezabala (GK) — 18. De Marcos (Gorosabel, 42'), 3. Vivian (red card, 35'), 5. Alvarez, 17. Berchiche — 23. Jauregizar, 16. Galarreta (Prados, 46') — 9. I. Williams, 7. Berenguer (Paredes, 42'), 10. N. Williams — 21. Sannadi.

Man United (3-4-2-1, right to left): 24. Onana (GK) — 2. Lindelof, 5. Maguire (de Ligt, 65'), 15. Yoro — 5. Mazraoui (Shaw, 74'), 18. Casemiro, 25. Ugarte (Mount, 65'), 13. Dorgu (Diallo, 84') — 8. Fernandes, 17. Garnacho (Mainoo, 84') — 9. Hojlund.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Athletic Club vs. Man United stats

Athletic Club vs. Man United live updates, highlights from Europa League first leg

FULLTIME: Athletic Club 0-3 Man United

The Red Devils see out the second half successfully, and will take home a resounding aggregate lead to Old Trafford! Does a European final beckon for Man United?

A wholly disappointing evening for the hosts, who are understandably upset by a few game-changing referee decisions, but all in all, they only have themselves to blame.

90th min: As four minutes of added time are shown, Man United have clearly looked to manage the rest of the game out through this second half. That will give Athletic Club some hope as they desperately look for a lifeline before the full-time whistle...

Sure enough, they advance forward with some confidence, but Unai Gomez puts his open header over the crossbar, unable to get the height on his jump required to meet the delivery.

81st min: Chance, Man United! Agirrezabala has done well to save a shot from Bruno Fernandes out top the penalty area! He dives down low to his left a bit awkwardly, but it does the job as he pushes the effort out of danger.

Shortly after, Amad Diallo will enter to the delight of Man United fans, returning from injury to replace Patrick Dorgu. Also coming on is Kobbe Mainoo who spells the fabulous Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine is booked for taking too long to exit the pitch.

77th min: Mason Mount picks up a yellow card for a clumsy push on Maroan Sannadi from behind.

Unai Gomez will come on for Athletic Club to allow Nico Williams to rest for the final few minutes, with the latter having been quite invisible for much of the game both before and after the red card.

74th min: Athletic Club players are leaving everything out on the pitch, trying their darndest to get something out of this game, but their forwards just can't quite generate an attacking threat while playing a man down. It doesn't help that they're slipping all over the place.

Man United bring Luke Shaw on for the final 16 minutes, replacing Noussair Mazraoui.

63rd min: Chance, Man United! Casemiro fires a shot from atop the penalty area, and with the ball heading just underneath the crossbar, the goalkeeper is forced to tip it up and over for a corner!

Then, on the ensuing set-piece delivery, it meets the Brazilian at the near post, but he heads it just wide! So close to a fourth for Man United! It clipped the post on its way out of play!

Shortly after, Matthijs de Ligt comes on in his return from injury, replacing Harry Maguire. Mason Mount also enters to replace Manuel Ugarte, who picked up two assists in his 65 minutes.

60th min: Alejandro Garnacho is fouled for the fourth time in this game. He's been exceptional today.

57th min: Maroan Sannadi is quite clearly fouled by Harry Maguire on the counter, but the referee lets play on. Sannadi goes wriggling around on the ground in an tantrum, while the crowd is up in arms. There's a VAR check in the end of it for a potential red card, but because the incident happened out wide right and there was a trailing defender in the middle, there's little the review system can do about it.

It's a clear missed call and probably a yellow card, but it's never a red, so VAR has no power to readjudicate the situation.

Ernesto Valverde Unai Simon on the bench is booked for his protests on the touchline, and you have to understand why he's so upset. The referee has been poor today and the home fans are quite frustrated.

53rd min: Chance, Man United! Again a Man United player chasing a ball in front of goal is felled by a defender, but the referee waves away Alejandro Garnacho's protests! That certainly looked like a foul as well, as Garnacho looked like he was tripped...but VAR lets this one continue without even a stop for a check.

2nd half kickoff: They're back under way at a stunned San Mames stadium, with Man United hoping to see out this match without too much trouble. Athletic make a third change at the break, bringing on Benat Prados in place of Inigo de Galarreta in midfield.

If you're still wondering why a red card was given to Daniel Vivien for his foul on Rasmus Hojlund, here's a more comprehensive explanation.

Why the referee had no choice but to send Daniel Vivien off once the decision to give a penalty was made:

Laws of the Game state that a DOGSO decision must result in a red card if there's no attempt to play the ball (✅) and push/pull/drag (✅).

Red card. pic.twitter.com/PnpFGx6qJL

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) May 1, 2025

HALFTIME: Athletic Club 0-3 Man United

That could not have gone better for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim! They are three goals up on the road at Athletic Club, and a man to the good as well. All they must do is protect this lead the rest of the way and they have a spot in the final!

What a wonderful performance! It started very sloppy, but things turned in their favour just past the half-hour mark when Casemiro scored and then the penalty/red card decision!

19 - Manchester United have scored more goals in their seven UEFA Europa League games in 2025 (19) than they have in their 15 Premier League games this calendar year (18). Priorities. pic.twitter.com/l808EfeImJ

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 1, 2025

45+4 min: Chance, Man United! Noussair Mazraoui rattles the crossbar with a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area!

45th min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! BRUNO FERNANDES SCORES HIS SECOND, AND IT'S A HUGE GOAL FOR THE VISITORS!

Brilliant work from Rasmus Hojlund and Manuel Ugarte in the buildup, as the former holds the ball up under heavy pressure and the latter flicks a backheel assist to spring Fernandes, and the Portuguese star finishes it well!

VIDEO: Watch Man United goal in USA | Watch in UK

43rd min: With Athletic Club down a man, they have been forced into a pair of changes before halftime. Aitor Paredes and Andoni Gorosabel are brought on, with Alex Berenguer the attacker sacrificed and captain Oscar de Marcos also withdrawn.

That's the effect the red card has had on the hosts, and it's a tough pill to swallow, as Berenguer had been bright across the first half-hour.

32nd min: Chance, Man United! The visitors, newly in the lead, are screaming for a penalty as Noussair Mazraoui's cross from the right was headed to Rasmus Hojlund in front of goal, before the Man United striker was yanked back on the shoulder by Daniel Vivian.

That surely does look like enough for a check, and VAR indeed has a look, what will they decide here? There's certainly physical involvement from the defender...the referee will go to the monitor for a check!

Vivian surely commits a foul here, as he grabs Hojlund around the neck yanking him back from attacking the delivery. The referee has his decision...PENALTY, MAN UNITED!!!

AND WHOA!!! A RED CARD TO DANIEL VIVIAN FOR DENYING A GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITY! That feels quite harsh, but you can also understand the decision! There was no attempt to play the ball, and the foul occurred in a prime goal scoring position!

This is a clear penalty on Hojlund pic.twitter.com/D0jpXJzuNk

— Kara (@UTDKara) May 1, 2025

Bruno Fernandes steps up to take the penalty, and...GOAL! MAN UNITED!!!! He calmly, cooly slots it home while sending the goalkeeper the wrong way!

VIDEO: Watch Man United goal in USA | Watch in UK | Watch in Canada

30th min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! THE VISITORS HAVE A HUGE OPENING GOAL! CASEMIRO HEADS IT HOME ON A CROSS FROM HARRY MAGUIRE!!! What an unlikely combo!

Incredibly, Maguire crops up as a winger out wide on the right, and he works space around his defender like a seasoned attacking veteran before whipping a pinpoint cross to the far post where Casemiro wins his aerial duel!

VIDEO: Watch Man United goal in USA | Watch in UK | Watch in Canada | Watch in Australia

24th min: Alejandro Garnacho has been very lively so far to begin this match, as he wins two fouls in quick succession, the second from Yuri Berchiche who has to be careful of drawing the referee's ire. The free-kick is sent in from the right edge of the penalty area, but it's headed away by some rigid home defending.

19th min: Chance, Athletic Club! Victor Lindelof with a heroic pair of blocks to prevent the opening goal, as he stops a goal-bound effort from Alex Berenguer!

16th min: Manchester United's buildup has largely been recycling possession, as they try to kill time on the ball. Their best attacking moments have come on the counter-press as they generate turnovers high up the field. Their possession has largely been of a defensive nature, which is understandable given they are just trying to manage the game and get back to Old Trafford with the aggregate scoreline intact.

11th min: Chance, Athletic Club! Inaki Williams heads one inches over the crossbar! He gets the cross perfectly from outside the top-left corner of the penalty area, and comes flying in to redirect the ball on net, but just barely misses the frame!

A lively start from both sides to this match, it's been fun so far! Not exactly of the highest quality, as both sides are giving the ball away cheaply in midfield, but fun at the very least!

7th min: Chance, Athletic Club! Andre Onana is called to action for the first time as he dives to his right to save a strong effort by Alex Berenguer! The Athletic man slips as he shoots, but still manages to put the ball on net, requiring Onana to make the acrobatic stop!

On the ensuing corner, Athletic play it short, and the cross eventually finds Yuri Berchiche at the far post, but his header goes just wide!

5th min: Chance, Man United! Alejandro Garnacho has the ball in the net, BUT THE FLAG IS UP FOR OFFSIDE! Athletic give it away cheaply in their own half, and United counter with venom, including a Bruno Fernandes backheel in the buildup.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Garnacho was just leaning slightly over the defensive line as he received the vertical feed, and the decision is confirmed by VAR! Athletic get away with a poor turnover and a defensive lapse.

📸 - GARNACHO SCORES BUT IT'S OFFSIDE! pic.twitter.com/LndLNTRBpE

— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) May 1, 2025

Kickoff: They're under way at the San Mames, where the home fans are BUMPING! Man United's season is squarely on the line, while the quest for a spot in the Europa League final begins!

Some noise in here pic.twitter.com/iHN7OB9P9U

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 1, 2025

Athletic Club vs. Man United: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: Ahead of the match, Ruben Amorim said Man United must "manage their expectations" today, which could be a hint as to how they will play today.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand is just hoping the Red Devils can get back to Old Trafford for the second leg with the scoreline level. They'll have a tough test tonight, with kickoff right around the corner!

"I would take a 0-0 right now."@rioferdy5 previews Man United's challenge in Bilbao tonight 🗣

🎙 @julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/6rylu2UeSx

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 1, 2025

30 mins to kickoff: Athletic Club have grown in strength over the last few years. They ended a 40-year trophy drought last season by winning the Copa del Rey, and are pushing for a Champions League place in La Liga while reaching this late stage of the Europa League as well.

This climb is quite the feat on its own, but it's even more incredible considering the self-imposed restrictions the club places on itself. Athletic will ONLY sign players either born in the Basque region of Spain, or those who were developed in the academies of clubs from the Basque region.

The population of this region is only just above 3 million people, so they are severely limiting their player pool in doing this. Clearly, it has some merit given how much success they've had in recent years!

Everyone knows Athletic Club for their Basque-only policy — they only select players from a region with around the same population as Wales.

But what is it, who qualifies and when did it start?

My explainer, updated from a piece I wrote in 2023 ⬇️https://t.co/hhpzQzhLbZ

— Tomás (@tomas_hill) April 29, 2025

45 mins to kickoff: For Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde, the biggest question coming into today was how to replace the injured No. 10 Oihan Sancet, the club's leading scorer and playmaker who picked up a fitness issue over the weekend in league play.

He could have turned to young Unai Gomez, but his mediocre production in limited time this season meant Valverde instead moved right winger Alex Berenguer into the slot, while installing Inaki Williams on the right. Athletic will have a LOT of pace out wide tonight!

1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in! As we expected, Amad Diallo is on the Man United bench, as he needs some game time before he's ready to start. Still, having him in the squad alone is a real boost for Red Devil fans.

The only surprise for Man United is that Victor Lindelof starts at the back, with Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt both on the bench and Noussair Mazraoui moved out to wing-back to cover for the injured Diogo Dalot.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Amad Diallo is back in training for Man United. He has been out for quite a while with an ankle injury, so it would be shocking to see him slot back into the starting lineup straightaway, but given this is the most important remaining competition for Man United, and their season is on the line...it would make some bit of sense!

Amad Diallo is nearing a return to action for Man Utd 😍#manutd | #uel pic.twitter.com/5ipX57lb7c

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) April 30, 2025

1 hour 30 mins to kick: In a moment of genuine insight, Alejandro Garnacho said a Europa League title would be "important" but it would not erase their struggles in the Premier League this season.

"It would not be a great season if we win the Europa League, because in the league we are bad."

Yeah, you could say that!

Alejandro Garnacho says it "won't be a great season" if Man United win the Europa League 🏆

Watch the full interview with Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo on the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel 📺 pic.twitter.com/EgfBi64WjB

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2025

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Athletic Club may have more home support today than usual, as it's a national holiday in Spain. As it is the country's Labor Day today, fans are out in droves throughout Bilbao. It looks like a festive atmosphere in the city streets!

It’s a national holiday in Spain and Athletic Bilbao fans have been out in force all day. Probably the most football-centric city in Spain I’ve been fortunate enough to visit pic.twitter.com/liRB4MowBQ

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 1, 2025

2 hours to kickoff: Welcome to coverage from The Sporting News of Athletic Club vs. Man United in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal matchup.

Ruben Amorim reiterated yesterday that winning the Europa League would be "huge" for Manchester United. It's always somewhat amusing watching managers and players of big clubs forced to ensure fans know they are still motivated when making deep runs in the lower-tier UEFA competitions.

Winning the Europa League would be "huge" for Manchester United, says Ruben Amorim 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0IGrcF0avP

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 1, 2025

Athletic Club vs. Man United kick off time

This Europa League semifinal first leg kicks off from the San Mames on Thursday, May 1 at 9 p.m. local time in Bilbao, Spain. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

Athletic Club vs. Man United lineups, team news

While United have completely bailed on domestic play to focus on Europe, Athletic have not been afforded that same luxury as they battle for a Champions League qualifying place in Spain.

As such, they were dealt a significant blow as vital No. 10 Oihan Sancet went down with a foot injury in the 22nd minute of their win over Las Palmas last Wednesday, leaving him likely out for not only this first leg but probably the second leg as well.

21-year-old Unai Gomez has been the one to step in for Sancet in the past, but today Alex Berenguer moves over to the No. 10 spot, while Inaki Williams enters the attack out wide right opposite his brother Nico Williams on the left.

Athletic Club starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Agirrezabala (GK) — De Marcos, Vivian, Y. Alvarez, Berchiche — Jauregizar, Galarreta — I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams — Sannadi.

Athletic Club subs: Simon (GK), Gorosabel, Paredes, Vesga, Djalo, Guruzeta, Nunez, Lekue, U. Nunez, Prados, Canales, Boiro.

MORE: All the latest Man Utd news | 2024/25 Premier League top goal scorers list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list

Amorim hoped rotating the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, and Diogo Dalot would have given Man United their best chance of keeping their European campaign alive. Unfortunately, Dalot cropped up with a calf injury anyways, leaving the Red Devils without a key player for this two-legged affair.

The options to replace him at right wing-back are scarce. A report by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News posits that 18-year-old Jayden Kamason could be used to take over for Dalot, but he was left on the bench as Noussair Mazraoui moves out wide to cover for Dalot while Victor Lindelof starts at the back.

United fans were delighted to see Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt return to training on Wednesday following lengthy absences, and both were included on the United bench, a huge boost for the club even if they're not ready to start just yet.

Man United starting lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): Onana (GK) — Yoro, Maguire, Lindelof — Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu — Fernandes, Garnacho — Hojlund.

Man United subs: Bayindir (GK), Heaton (GK), Amass, de Ligt, Fredericson, Shaw, Kamason, Eriksen, Mainoo, Mount, Diallo, Mantato.

Athletic Club vs. Man United live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: