Manchester United are looking likely to be involved in the Europa League final, which is just over a fortnight away, with Tottenham leading the race to be the opponent.
While Manchester United are not confirmed to be in the Europa League final just yet, it would take an absolute disaster for Ruben Amorim’s side not to progress.
After a brilliant 3-0 first leg victory over Athletic Club, all the cards are stacked against the Basque side overturning the deficit at Old Trafford.
Any chance of staging a comeback looks dashed on Wednesday as Athletic Club have suffered a double injury blow to both Inaki Williams and Nico Williams.
This should mean United have a relatively simple night on Thursday with Bilbao missing their three best players. Therefore, this should mean United are overwhelming favourites to return to San Mames in a fortnight.
As of now, it looks likely that it will be Tottenham Hotspur who join United in the final.
James Maddison suffers season-ending injury two weeks before Europa League final
In their first leg, Tottenham beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1 at home, setting up a frosty affair in the Arctic Circle this Thursday where the Norwegian side are rather formidable.
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Ange Postecoglou’s side will have to do it all without James Maddison, as the extent of his recent injury has been revealed.
It comes according to Sami Mokbel and the BBC, who report that Maddison’s season is over and is even a doubt for pre-season at Spurs with a knee injury.
This, of course, will include the Europa League final, which Spurs will be hoping to play in two weeks over in Bilbao, with United the likely opponent.
Maddison does not require surgery on his knee, and the hope is that he will be fit for the start of the 2025/26 season in August.
This will weaken Spurs, with Maddison being the decider in the previous meeting between United and Spurs, in which Amorim lost 1-0.
Which Manchester United players will miss the Europa League final?
So, assuming it is Spurs who reach the final, they will be without a player who has 12 goals and 11 assists this season across all competitions.
In comparison, United look set to have a fairly healthy squad for the final, with Amad Diallo and Luke Shaw both recently returned from injury.
Absentees will, however, include Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee, and potentially Diogo Dalot if he does not get fit in time. Additionally, the race will be on for Ayden Heaven and Toby Collyer.
Amorim will, however, more or less have his full strength side available to him for the final should he manage to deny a Bilbao comeback.
It is exactly two weeks until the final, and fans should be excited.