Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Europa League fixtures, including Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao.
© Imago
With one tentative foot in the Europa League final, Tottenham Hotspur travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion for the second leg of their semi-final tie on Thursday night.
Spurs secured a 3-1 first-leg victory in North London last week and the victors of this contest on aggregate will face either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao in the showpiece event.
We say: Bodo/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs to win 5-3 on aggregate)
Bodo/Glimt will welcome a return to home soil where they have put together a strong run of form and they will back themselves to make the net ripple against a porous Spurs backline that has kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 games across all competitions.
Overturning a two-goal deficit cannot be ruled out, but it may be a step too far on this occasion. Spurs supporters could be in for a few nail-biting moments in Norway, but Postecoglou’s men should ultimately do enough to seal their spot in the Europa League final.
> Europa League preview: Bodo/Glimt vs Spurs
> Maddison blow, Solanke, Son hope: Predicted Spurs lineup vs. Bodo/Glimt
> Maddison, Son update: Spurs injury list for Bodo/Glimt clash
© IconSport
Seeking to finish the job and secure their place in the Europa League final, Manchester United welcome Athletic Bilbao to Old Trafford for the second leg of their semi-final tie on Thursday night.
The Red Devils have put themselves in a strong position to return to San Mames Stadium, where this season’s showpiece event will be held, after claiming a 3-0 first-leg win in the Basque Country.
We say: Manchester United 3-2 Athletic Bilbao (Man Utd to win 6-2 on aggregate)
In the five previous meetings between Man United and Athletic Bilbao, there have been a total of 22 goals at an average of 4.4 goals per game, with the Red Devils scoring 12 and conceding 10. All five of those matches have seen at least three goals scored and another goal-fest could be on the cards on Thursday.
Athletic simply have to improve in the final third and must throw everything they can at a Man United backline that has kept just two clean sheets in their last nine games in all competitions. However, a three-goal deficit is likely to be too much for the Spanish outfit to overturn and we believe that the Red Devils will ultimately find a way to outscore their opponents in front of a fired-up Old Trafford crowd to seal their spot in the Europa League final.
> Europa League preview: Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao
> Diallo, Lindelof decisions: Predicted Man United lineup vs. Athletic Bilbao
> De Ligt, Dalot updates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. Athletic Bilbao
