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Alan Shearer has backed Tottenham to beat Manchester United in a penalty shootout in the upcoming Europa League final.

The struggling Premier League clubs meet in Bilbao on Wednesday night with a major trophy and Champions League football on the line.

Spurs go into the game sitting 17th in the Premier League and without a Premier League win since early April.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have lost 21 of their 37 league games this season but have managed to put their dismal domestic form to one side in Europe.

In a favourable Europa League run, Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo-Glimt to reach the May 21 final.

It is a similar story for a Manchester United side who last tasted victory in the Premier League in mid-March.

Embarrassing results in the league have not stopped United from reaching another major final, with Ruben Amorim’s side beating Real Sociedad, Lyon and Athletic Bilbao on route to the showpiece event.

Revealing his prediction for the intriguing Europa League final, ex-England striker Alan Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘Who would you say are favourites? Tottenham because of their record against Man United this season?

‘They have both been rotten in the Premier League yet one of them is going to be playing Champions League football next season.

‘My prediction is 2-2 or 3-3 after extra-time and Tottenham to win on penalties.’

As Shearer mentioned, Spurs have already beaten Manchester United three times this season and Gary Lineker believes it will be number four on Wednesday night.

‘Talk about a huge game for both clubs,’ the outgoing Match of the Day presenter said.

‘The winner gets Champions League and a trophy and the loser gets nothing.

‘Man United seem to win trophies even when they’re not very good. They’ve done that over the last few years, whether they can sustain it I don’t know.

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‘I think it’s really tight, it could be anything, but I’m going to go for Spurs. We’ve seen a lot of teams that haven’t won for ages win stuff this season so maybe that will work on their favour. But it could easily go to extra-time.’

In better news for Manchester United, Micah Richards believes it will be the men in red lifting the Europa League trophy and has backed Bruno Fernandes to ‘make the difference’.

‘I think in the Europa league, Bruno has been exceptional,’ he said. ‘I think it could come down to a big moment where he steps up so I’m going for United, just.

‘Bruno this season, amongst all the nonsense and bad performances, really has stepped up and I think he’s the man to make the difference on the final. I’m going for a 1-0 United win.’

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Rio Ferdinand has serious doubts that Manchester United will beat Tottenham in the Europa League final, saying his former club are physically inferior to other Premier League sides.

The fascinating clash in Bilbao on Wednesday night will see one of the sides lift the trophy and book themselves a place in next season’s Champions League.

It will be a stunning prize for one of two teams that have been woeful in the Premier League this season, with United 16th and Spurs one place below them.

Ferdinand feels one of the Red Devils’ big problems this season has been their physical inferiority, which is something they will struggle with again as they take on Premier League opposition in Europe.

‘The worrying thing for me from a Man United perspective is that physically we can’t keep up with any team in the Premier League,’ Ferdinand told talkSPORT.

‘If they go man-to-man and go toe-to-toe with us, we’re at a disadvantage because our profile of our players at Man United are not players that can run as hard and as fast, and as long, and they’re not as powerful as other teams.

‘That’s a big thing in the Premier League. In the Europa, we’re overpowering every team.

‘There’s only one team I’ve watched us play against in the Europa League that we struggled against and thought, “Ooh, that was a bit too close for comfort.” Rangers, who are more akin to a Premier League side, physically.

‘So that’s the concern for me in the final playing against a Premier League team, who have beaten us three times, that physically can, minimum, match us.’

The former England defender is not quite tipping a Manchester United defeat in Bilbao, but cannot be anything like confident that Ruben Amorim’s side will lift the trophy.

‘I have to be honest, I can’t call a Man United result. They’re so inconsistent, or they have consistently been bad in the Premier League,’ he told Optus Sport.

‘But the fact that they are playing against Spurs, another consistently bad team in the Premier League. But they have players who can win a match. It makes it such a hard game to call.’

Ferdinand has gone as far as saying only a ‘lunatic’ would be surprised if Spurs picked up a win in Spain, having won their last three meetings with United.

‘I don’t think the fans can be too surprised. They beat us three times already this season, so it’s not going to be a surprise if they beat us a fourth time,’ said Ferdinand.

‘I think it’s only going to be stupid people that are going, “Oh my god, I can’t believe this.”

‘We’re 16th because we’ve lost a lot of games. 18 Premier League games we’ve lost this season. Anyone who’s surprised if we don’t win this game against Spurs is a lunatic, in my eyes.’

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Both Manchester United and Tottenham will look to end their wretched seasons in style when they meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

The two English clubs have been woeful in the Premier League – currently sitting 16th and 17th in the table, respectively – but now have a chance to salvage their campaign and earn a crucial spot in next season’s Champions League.

Despite their poor league form, Ruben Amorim’s side have remained unbeaten throughout the entire Europa League campaign and eased past Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals to reach the final.

The Red Devils could now lift the trophy for the second time after their triumph under Jose Mourinho back in 2017.

Tottenham, meanwhile, saw off the challenge of Norwegian underdogs Bodo/Glimt in the semis and could now win the club’s first trophy since the League Cup back in 2008.

Despite rotating their squad in recent matches to rest key players, both teams have several injury doubts ahead of Wednesday’s final in Bilbao.

United could be without central defensive duo Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro as the pair recover from their respective injuries.

De Ligt has missed the last three games after picking up a fresh knock against Brentford at the start of May, while Yoro limped off during United’s defeat to West Ham two weekends ago.

The club will also wait to see if Diogo Dalot can be passed fit to play, with the Portuguese full-back hoping to prove his fitness after missing the last six games with a calf injury.

Ayden Heaven’s cameo appearance against Chelsea – his first minutes since March – provides a boost for Amorim, although it’s unclear if fellow centre-back Jonny Evans will be able to be feature after his similarly lengthy lay-off.

Toby Collyer could be called upon after making his long-awaited return to United’s matchday squad against Chelsea.

But the Red Devils will certainly be without Joshua Zirkzee and Lisandro Martinez who are unavailable due to long-term injuries.

Tottenham, meanwhile, find themselves short of options in central midfield after James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall were all ruled out of Wednesday’s final.

There were additional concerns for Pape Matar Sarr after he limped off during Friday’s defeat to Aston Villa, but Ange Postecoglou was quick to suggest that the withdrawal was a ‘precaution’.

Postecoglou rested several key players on Friday, but captain Heung-Min Son did play from the start, managing 74 minutes as he continued his comeback from a foot injury.

Predicted Tottenham XI to face Man Utd

Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Bissouma, Odobert, Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Predicted Man utd XI to face Tottenham

Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Shaw, Amad, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund.

Where to watch Tottenham vs Man Utd? TV channel and kick-off time

The Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United will kick off at 8pm on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.

Viewers can tune into the action via TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 6pm.

The final will also be able to watch for free, with fans simply needing to create a discovery+ account to stream the game at no extra cost.

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Manchester United will lose the Europa League final against Tottenham as their star player ‘won’t turn up on the night’.

That is Martin Keown’s prediction ahead of the all-important clash in Bilbao on Wednesday night.

Both United and Spurs have endured terrible Premier League campaigns, sitting 16th and 17th in the table ahead of the final weekend of the season.

Yet, both clubs have performed well in Europe and are desperate to win the Europa League, as it will give them not only a trophy but qualification for the Champions League.

The two sides have already met three times this season, twice in the Premier League and in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, with Tottenham winning each time.

But this final is a match that could go either way with Spurs under extreme pressure to end their 17-year wait for silverware, while manager Ange Postecoglou knows that defeat will surely cost him his job.

‘My Tottenham roots pull me towards them and I want them to win of course,’ former Spurs and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said on Match of the Day 2.

‘But I think Manchester United have the only player in both the sides whose reliable in the big games and can create magic: Bruno Fernandes.

‘I think he’s been a shining light and he’ll make the difference.’

In spite of United’s awful form, Fernandes has been fantastic, recording 38 goal contributions in 55 appearances, including seven goals and five assists in the Europa League.

The Red Devils captain already has plenty of experience in major finals, leading his side to FA Cup and Carabao Cup glory in the past two years.

Yet, Murphy’s co-pundit Keown isn’t convinced the attacking midfielder will be able to repeat the trick in Bilbao, instead predicting: ‘I think Spurs will win it, I honestly do.

‘I know it could be a long night, maybe Manchester United will look for extra-time and penalties but I feel like Spurs can win this.’

Asked if Fernandes could make the difference for United, the Arsenal legend replied: ‘I don’t think he’ll turn up on the night.

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‘I actually think Dominic Solanke might be the standout player. £65million will be like a snip if they win it.’

Solanke has endured a difficult and injury-ridden first season in north London following his big money move from Bournemouth.

The England striker has managed 15 goals and eight assists in 45 appearances, but appears to be finding form at the right time, scoring in each of the last three Europa League matches.

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has become the new favourite to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, according to Betfair.

Spurs have endured a miserable Premier League season under head coach Postecoglou, with the north Londoners one spot above the relegation zone.

There is only one top-flight fixture remaining and it is now mathematically impossible for the so-called ‘Big Six’ club to finish any higher than 14th.

Spurs could save their season if they get their hands on the Europa League trophy, with Postecoglou’s side facing a final against Manchester United.

If Spurs lose the Europa League final on Wednesday, though, it is thought that the club may decide to make a managerial change in the summer.

Burnley head coach Scott Parker was the previous favourite but Glasner has now become a 3-1 shot after guiding Palace to FA Cup glory this term.

Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: ‘Oliver Glasner is the new 3/1 favourite to be the next Tottenham manager after leading Crystal Palace to a historic FA Cup win on Saturday.

‘Glasner, who was 5/1 prior to lifting the trophy, is followed by Thomas Frank and Scott Parker at 6/1, with Simone Inzaghi 13/2 to replace Ange Postecoglou.

‘Andoni Iraola joins former favourite Mauricio Pochettino at 9/1 to become Spurs’ next manager, with Roberto De Zerbi 11/1 to return to the Premier League.

‘Meanwhile, Kieran McKenna is amongst the outsiders at 12/1 to move to north London.’

Sam Boswell, spokesperson for BetVictor Casino, added: ‘Crystal Palace will still be riding the high of Saturday’s FA Cup win, but manager Oliver Glasner may have his sights set on bringing silverware to another part of London.

‘The Austrian boss has seen his odds to replace Ange Postecoglou at Spurs slashed.

‘Should Spurs lose the Europa League final, those odds may shorten further as they look for the right man to bring silverware back to north London.’

Glasner only arrived at Selhurst Park in February 2024 – replacing Roy Hodgson – and has already become a Palace legend by leading the south London club to their first ever major trophy.

The 50-year-old Austrian previously managed German side Eintracht Frankfurt from 2021 to 2023, winning them the Europa League title.

His trophy record appears to have impressed the Spurs hierarchy, who are desperate to bring silverware to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs haven’t landed a major trophy since the League Cup in 2008 when they beat Chelsea in the final.

Football pundit Roy Keane, a United legend who supported Spurs as a boy, is backing the Red Devils to win this week’s Europa League final in Bilbao.

‘You still have to fancy United, someone like Bruno [Fernandes] can produce, the history of Manchester United still carries a little bit of weight,’ Keane told Sky Sports.

‘There’s not much between them [in the league] but come the crunch, come the final, United’s history in finals, them winning cups the last few years…

‘You’d like to think they would have a bit more knowledge around the game than Spurs.

‘That might edge it for them, and I think Bruno can produce that bit of magic.’

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As Arsenal confirmed another second-place finish, manager Mikel Arteta pointed out that some teams have struggled so badly this season that they are down in 16th and 17th position in the table – where Manchester United and Tottenham are residing.

The Gunners beat Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates on Sunday, confirming that they will finish second for the third straight season.

It is another season without silverware and there is an air of disappointment around the club as a result, despite an impressive run to the semi-finals of the Champions League and another runner-up spot in the Premier League.

Arteta admitted he is disappointed, but is proud of his players for how they dealt with injuries in the squad, reminding onlookers that other clubs have not handled injuries so well.

While Arsenal are finishing second, Manchester United and Spurs are sitting just above the relegation zone with just one game to play.

It is unlikely the Spaniard picked 16th and 17th place at random when he noted how badly a season can go for big clubs.

‘We are clearly very disappointed because we wanted to be here with the Premier League or the Champions League and it’s not the case,’ Arteta told Sky Sports after the win over the Magpies.

‘But chasing a dream has it’s ups and downs. Make sure that doesn’t get blurry and it does get recognised what we’ve done.

‘Any other team, and I’ve seen it, with one injury to finish eighth to 16th, 17th.

‘What the team has done, in my opinion, to sustain the level throughout the season, with everything that has happened, is incredible.

‘We don’t want anybody to value [it] but me as a manager has to value what these guys have done.’

Arteta added: ‘We have to start creating our own history here in this stadium and we started this season. There is much more to come and it won’t be easy. These players have the talent.

‘We need to rest and finish at Southampton and then go on holiday. Any other club in this position would finish in a position that we cannot even dream of.’

Arteta’s only major trophy as Arsenal manager remains the 2020 FA Cup and the message is clear that the club must end their silverware drought next season.

Captain Martin Odegaard said: ‘We can be proud of what we’ve done, especially in the Champions League, we had a great run there and some great experiences. We have to accept we haven’t been good enough in the league, but we have to take all experiences, good and bad, take them into next season and be better.

‘Unbelievable [Champions League], those are the nights we live for. To play here at home with that support. Great game and hopefully we can have many moments like that next season. Unbelievable to feel that and the love from the fans.

‘We want to thank the fans. We always feel the love, the support we have is amazing so thank you.

‘We have to use all experiences from this season, to feel that pain of not winning and take it to next season and come back stronger and bring the club some trophies next season.’

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Roy Keane has made his prediction for the all-English Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham on Wednesday.

The clash in Bilbao looks set to be a mouth-watering showdown with Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou both in desperate need of a trophy.

Tottenham have beaten United twice in the top-flight this term and also eliminated the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in December.

Keane is a United legend but supported Spurs as a boy growing up in Ireland and says there’s ‘not much’ to seperate the Premier League teams.

Ultimately, though, Keane feels United will come out on top because of their better history in major finals and Bruno Fernandes’ individual quality.

‘You still have to fancy United, someone like Bruno can produce, the history of Manchester United still carries a little bit of weight,’ Keane told Sky Sports.

‘There’s not much between them [in the league] but come the crunch, come the final, United’s history in finals, them winning cups the last few years, you’d like to think they would have a bit more knowledge around the game than Spurs.

‘That might edge it for them, and I think Bruno can produce that bit of magic.’

United’s last major trophy came last season when they beat Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final.

Tottenham, meanwhile, haven’t registered any major silverware since 2008 when they defeated Chelsea in the League Cup final.

United and Spurs have both massively struggled in the Premier League this term, sitting 16th and 17th in the top-flight table with just one game left each.

Spurs have suffered a significant blow ahead of the Europa League final after news emerged that Dejan Kulusevski would miss out due to injury.

Fellow football pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Kulusevski’s absence could be costly but is also adamant that the final is a ’50/50 game’.

‘Kulusevski’s injury is a massive blow for Spurs,’ Redknapp said. ‘It feels like a 50/50 game for me.

‘For Tottenham, it is an opportunity to change the narrative and history of the club.

‘If they win a cup, their league position will be irrelevant… if they win a cup, then the players will have hero status.’

United cruised past Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate in the last four to reach this season’s Europa League final.

Tottenham knocked out Bodo/Glimt in the other Europa League semi-final showdown, winning 5-1 on aggregate.

Whoever comes out on top in the Europa League final will qualify for next season’s Champions League.

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Tottenham have a ‘strong advantage’ over Arsenal in the transfer race to sign Crystal Palace’s FA Cup hero Eberechi Eze, according to reports.

Eze scored the only goal of the FA Cup final on Saturday as Palace landed their first major trophy with a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley.

The 26-year-old has shined for the south London club this season, conjuring up 24 goal involvements in 41 games across all competitions.

Eze, capped 10 times by England to date, is now being linked to three other Premier League teams with Spurs, Arsenal and City all interested in a deal.

Spurs are the favourites to land Eze, The Sun have reported, with Ange Postecoglou’s side having a significant edge over both Arsenal and City.

Eze is thought to be determined to play Champions League football – which Spurs will qualify for if they win their Europa League final on Wednesday.

Arsenal have not been ‘as aggressive in their pursuit’ to sign Eze, although Mikel Arteta’s side are still believed to be keeping an eye on his situation.

City cannot be ruled out either, with Pep Guardiola seeking a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Palace don’t want to lose Eze – who is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2027 – and it would likely take a huge fee to sign the attacking midfielder.

If Eze refuses to sign a new deal at Palace, though, he will enter the final 12 months of his contract in the summer of 2026, which could leave the Eagles in a more vulnerable transfer position.

It is reported that Eze, who joined Palace from fellow London club Queens Park Rangers five years ago, will take his time in deciding his next move.

Eze previously spent some time in Arsenal’s youth academy but his spell with the Gunners didn’t last long and he was released at the age of 13.

Speaking to The Independent in 2020, Eze opened up about being axed by Arsenal as a youngster and how it left him absolutely devastated.

‘I remember crying in my room for a solid week, my mum telling me that it’s going to be OK but not being able to get over it,’ the Englishman said.

‘Then I went to Fulham and I was finally starting to enjoy my football again.

‘We played Arsenal a few months later but, when I went over to shake the academy manager’s hand, I started welling up. All the feelings came back.’

Eze has played a total of 165 games for Palace to date, registering 39 goals and 28 assists since his arrival at the club from QPR in 2020.

He scored his first international goal for England earlier this year in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Latvia.

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Tottenham have been handed yet another injury headache ahead of their Europa Leage final showdown with Manchester United after Pape Matar Sarr was forced off injured against Aston Villa.

Spurs were in action against Aston Villa on Friday night with Unai Emery’s side sealing a 2-0 win to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive on the same night Chelsea beat Manchester United.

Ange Postecoglou made a number of changes with next week’s trip to Bilbao in mind with Yves Bissouma, Brennan Johnson, Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke among those rested.

Centre-halves Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were left out of the squad altogether.

Sarr was among those to start but was replaced after 53 minutes, gingerly walking straight down the tunnel at Villa Park.

The 22-year-old midfielder will now face a race to recover in time for Wednesday’s final – although Postecoglou did offer hope post-match by suggesting the change was a precautionary one.

‘Pape felt something in his back, so we took him off as a bit of a precaution,’ Postecoglou said.

‘I don’t think it’s anything too significant, speaking to him afterwards but he just felt something in his back.’

Postecoglou added: ‘I think Mikey [Moore, who went down in the second half] was okay. It was fatigue as much as anything else. He hasn’t played that sort of amount of minutes before.’

Spurs are already without three key midfield options in James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski – with Tottenham confirming the latter has undergone knee surgery this week.

Heung-Min Son meanwhile was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt in April having recovered from a foot injury.

The South Korean also appeared off the bench against Crystal Palace last weekend with Postecoglou confident he will be ‘good shape’ for next week’s final.

‘It’s good to have him back and involved,’ the Tottenham manager said.

‘I’m sure he feels better for that run out, as well, having a decent hit out. Hopefully, that puts in him good shape for the final.’

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Ruben Amorim says Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot and Matthijs de Ligt ‘have a possibility’ of featuring in Manchester United’s Europa League final against Tottenham.

All three defenders, plus young centre-back Ayden Heaven, were absent from United’s training session this morning, just two days out from the side’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Dalot was, though, pictured doing individual work away from the main group, with the Portuguese full-back desperate to work his way back to full fitness from a calf injury.

Perhaps the most pressing concern amongst United fans is Yoro, who appeared close to tears as he limped off the pitch with a foot problem in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

The young Frenchman had hit a rich vein of form, but was forced off in the 52nd minute at Old Trafford and is now in a race against time to be available for United’s all-important final versus Spurs on May 21.

Asked for an update on United’s four missing defenders this afternoon, Amorim told reporters: ‘I don’t know if they are going to be available.

‘We are trying to push because it’s the final matches and it’s a final, you know that. All the players want to play that really bad.’

The United head coach all but confirmed that the injured quartet would play no part at Stamford Bridge on Friday.

‘I don’t know. I think they will not go to Chelsea,’ he added.

‘But we will have a possibility to have some of them in the final.’

Having sat out United’s last five matches in all competitions, Dalot is ‘working really hard’ to be in contention to start in Bilbao.

Amorim explained: ‘Dalot is trying really bad. I don’t want to risk Dalot because when you start getting one injury, second injury and then it’s a big thing.

‘We cannot have these kind of problems in our squad.

‘We’ll see but he’s working really hard to get in the final.’

According to Amorim, there is a real sense of anticipation and ‘excitement’ building amongst the group heading into next week’s showdown in Spain.

‘A final is different. But this season has been really tough on everybody; the results and the changing in the staff. You can feel it,’ the Portuguese said.

‘We are addressing that during the season, we are changing the way we play during the season, so the environment is tough.

‘But I guarantee you when we are playing a game in the Europa League the environment is different and you can feel the excitement.’

Asked if the Europa League or Champions League qualification is more important, Amorim replied: ‘Personally, for me, I think the Champions League is more important for everything, to prepare the next season.

‘We are supposed to be in the Champions League; the Europa League here is not enough.

‘This is the best way to get us to the top in a few years.’

Amorim believes the connection between his team and United’s long-suffering fans can be a ‘game-changer’ against Tottenham.

‘It is hard to have a message. You can see it every Sunday here, they are always supporting the team,’ he went on.

‘I think we have lost nine games at home this season. They are always supporting the manager, so I have nothing to say.

‘The connection with the supporters is really important. It can be a game-changer. We want to build that connection and win titles.’

Just as Amorim was facing the media, Tottenham confirmed some injury news of their own – and it will come as a huge blow to Ange Postecoglou.

Dejan Kulusevski hobbled out of Spurs’ loss to Crystal Palace with a knee problem at the weekend and the Sweden forward looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

‘We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace,’ an official statement from Spurs read.

‘Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately. We’re all with you, Deki.’

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