Manchester United took a giant leap towards the Europa League final with a stunning 3-0 away win over Athletic Bilbao.
A trip to San Mames, which will host the final in three weeks’ time, was expected to serve as United’s toughest test in a European campaign that has served as the tonic to the worst Premier League season in the club’s history.
But, after surviving an early onslaught from the hosts, fourth in LaLiga, United improbably took the lead through Casemiro’s close-range header.
It quickly turned into a disastrous evening for Bilabo, who fell 2-0 behind after Bruno Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Dani Vivian saw red for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund.
Fernandes made it 3-0 just before half-time having been cleverly played in by Manuel Ugarte, and United managed the game extremely well thereafter, with Ruben Amorim’s men unfortunate not to find a fourth that almost certainly would have killed the tie.
Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United
United looked like they had stunned San Mames into silence when Alejandro Garnacho broke through on goal and showed great composure to find the bottom-left corner, only to be denied by the offside flag, which was raised correctly.
Bilbao responded extremely well, with Alex Berenguer drawing a strong save from Andre Onana before Inaki Williams wasted a gilt-edged chance, heading over from Berenguer’s superb left-wing cross.
The hosts would have taken the lead in the had Victor Lindelof not produced an excellent block to keep out an effort from Berenguer that was destined for the bottom-left corner at the end of an outstanding move from the hosts.
Bilbao’s failure to take advantage of their dominance was punished in unlikely fashion on the half-hour mark.
After Bilbao failed to clear a free-kick, Harry Maguire collected possession on the right and cleverly worked his way to the byline and produced an excellent cross that Ugarte headed on to Casemiro to put United in front from point-blank range.
Their lead was doubled seven minutes later when Dani Vivian pulled down Rasmus Hojlund as he attempted to get on the end of a low right-wing cross.
After a lengthy VAR check, referee Espen Eskas pointed to the spot, with Dani Vivian then shown a straight red card and Fernandes coolly stroking into the bottom-right corner to give Bilbao a mountain to climb.
Patrick Dorgu was denied at the near post by Julen Agirrezabala , but United’s lead did grow more emphatic when Ugarte slipped Fernandes through on goal with a clever flick, with the Portguese making no mistake in giving Amorim’s side complete control of the tie.
He then rattled crossbar as Bilbao lost all composure, and Casemiro was similarly unfortunate to hit the post in the second half following a corner after being denied by Agirrezabala, who also thwarted Garnacho and Fernandes to at least give the Basque side a tiny glimmer of hope heading into the return leg at Old Trafford next week.
