Harry Maguire is definitely a best player in the Europa League, in my opinion.
After the Manchester United defender’s dramatic 121st-minute winner against Lyon in the quarter-finals, Maguire created magic to help his team triumph 3-0 at Athletic Club in the first leg of their semi-final match.
Even Ronaldinho was compared to Maguire’s dribbling abilities and cross, which saw Casemiro lead the Premier League team in front.
After United made a significant step toward reaching the Europa League final, which will take place at the same San Mames stadium in Bilbao, the 32-year-old was referred to as “Harrydinho” on social media.
When Maguire went all-Ronaldinho to silence the home fans, the game was 29 minutes old.
United’s number five turned one way, stopped in front of him, and then turned the other way, before turning around again, passing his rival and receiving the cross.
Casemiro nods into the net after Manuel Ugarte flicked it on.
What a winger! Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Maguire’s side, increased United’s lead from the penalty spot before adding a third before half-time to give his side a respectable first-leg lead, “I don’t think he even knew he had that in his locker.
“Harry is now much more self-assured. His playing position is strengthening, and we hope he keeps getting better.
Former United defender Phil Jones said, “I didn’t know he had it in him,” in a statement released on 5 Live. Fair play, great ball in, and I never saw it during training, to be honest.
Former United captain Maguire’s former manager Ruben Amorim also received praise.
Harry has had difficult times in his life, according to the Portuguese. We must enjoy everything he does because it benefits the team.
What about Maguire’s role in that trickery, exactly?
When Alejandro Garna passed me the ball, it was nice to do some dribbling and put in a great cross, he said, “I found myself attacking the back post.”
Was this the night it all came together for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?
The former Sporting boss has endured an uneasy start to life at Old Trafford since his appointment, particularly domestically where he has overseen just six wins in 23 Premier League games.
But European football is looking like being his and United’s salvation this season and Thursday’s 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in their Europa League semi-final first leg ensures they have one foot firmly planted in the final.
Granted, the Spanish hosts played much of the game with 10 men but this was nevertheless an impressive display against a side that boasts the best defensive record in La Liga.
“That was the best that I have seen Manchester United play under Ruben Amorim,” former Leeds, Tottenham and Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 live.
“They were excellent – granted they were playing against 10 men, but they still had to do a job.”
Former Manchester United midfielder Robbie Savage said on TNT Sports: “People will look at the result and say Athletic Bilbao were down to 10 men but this has been a magnificent performance.
“They concede hardly any goals, one of the best [defences] in Europe but to come here and score three goals, magnificent Manchester United performance.”
There have been plenty of poor performances and disappointing losses for United under Amorim but there has also been the odd eye-catching result.
They won 2-1 at rivals Manchester City in December, drew 2-2 with Liverpool and knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup in January and thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 in Europe.
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Man Utd overcome the nerves as senior players step up
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Few would have predicted such a win for United at San Mames Stadium – which will host the Europa League final on 21 May.
Indeed, initially it did not look likely with some of the visiting players appearing nervous.
Manuel Ugarte was often caught in possession in the opening 15 minutes, while a static defence was almost embarrassed when Inaki Williams rose highest to glance a header over.
Patrick Dorgu was caught way up the pitch to allow Inaki Williams space to attack and deliver a cross for Alex Berenguer, whose shot was blocked on the line by Victor Lindelof.
The loud atmosphere created by the home fans undoubtedly contributed to those nervous displays from United’s younger players but their senior players stepped up to ultimately settle them.
Brazil midfielder Casemiro rolled back the years with a display reminiscent of his Real Madrid days, sitting deep to break up attacks, offering composure and creativity on the ball while also providing an aerial threat.
Harry Maguire, criticised previously for being past his best, scored the late winner against Lyon in the quarter-finals, and popped up on the right wing this time to deliver the cross that led to Casemiro’s the opener.
Then there was captain Bruno Fernandes, who was coolness personified to shut out the noise of the stadium and convert the penalty that put United in control, before dinking home a second when played through on goal.
Amorim was full of praise for his senior players for providing the calming influence.
He told TNT Sports: “You can feel especially in the beginning player like Ugarte with a lot of experience was a bit nervous, also Patrick Dorgu.
Advantage Man Utd – ‘but anything can happen in one game’
Comfortable first-half displays in Europe for Manchester United don’t come around often.
This was the first time they have scored three first-half goals in a major European game since November 2020 against Istanbul Basaksehir, and also the first time away from home since September 2017 against CSKA Moscow. Both of those were in the Champions League.
For Bilbao to go to Old Trafford next week and score at least four goals seems a tall task and instead an all-English Europa League final between United and Tottenham is looking very like, after Spurs beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in their semi-final first leg.
Another performance like this in the second leg and that will surely be enough to secure United’s return to the San Mames in three weeks.
“We want our fans to travel twice to Bilbao,” Fernandes told TNT Sports.
“The result for us was unbelievable. We should push a bit more in that second half, but we controlled the game and that is good.”
Amorim, however, is looking no further than the next game.
“Of course we are have an advantage,” he said. “We have our fans, but again this could change.
With Thursday’s semi-final first-leg victories, Manchester United and Tottenham both made significant progress toward reaching the Europa League final.
Tottenham defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in London while United defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0, who incidentally hosted the final on May 21.
With a 91% chance for Spurs, United has a 97% chance of making it to the final, which is equal to an 88% chance for both teams to make it there.
Just a sixth all-English final in a major European competition, with Spurs playing in half of the matches.
Do we seem to be advancing too far?
Only 12% of the time in Opta’s data indicates that it won’t be an all-English final.
United won 3-0 over Athletic, who sit fourth in La Liga, and they will hope to get over the line with home advantage next week.
Spurs may feel that their work isn’t being quite as good.
What would result in England winning the Champions League sixth round?
Regardless of where they finish on the domestic scene, the Europa League winners advance to the Champions League the following year.
A United vs. Spurs final would also guarantee their return to the top of European football’s mega-riches.
That rule is useful for both Spurs, who are 16th, and United, who are 14th, both more than 20 points adrift of fifth place.
No one of them will compete in any European competition after the Europa League championship.
The top five teams would be guaranteed a Champions League spot through the league, which would not have any impact on any other English teams.
Could England win all of the European championships?
No nation’s teams have ever won the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League (even though the latter is only in its fourth year) in the same season.
However, with teams in all the semis in the country this term, it might still happen to England.
Arsenal, who lost 1-0 to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League first leg on Tuesday, has the smallest chance (12.1% of the vote favor Opta).
What other English finals were there?
Images courtesy of Getty
Tottenham and Wolves met in the two-legged final of the first Uefa Cup game in 1971-72.
Two weeks later, Spurs drew 1-1 at White Hart Lane after winning the first leg 2-1 at Molineux, with Martin Chivers scoring twice.
The next English final, which took place in 2007-08 with Manchester United beating Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, would take 36 years.
Before the shootout, John Terry’s miss-and-goal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal were best remembered for.
In 2018-19, there were two all-English finals.
Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi scored goals as Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the Champions League match in Madrid.
And Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4-1 in Baku to win the Europa League, scoring Eden Hazard twice in his final appearance for the club.
After dozens of people were killed in two days of sectarian clashes south of Damascus, a Druze minority leader in Syria has condemned attacks against his region.
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday referred to the “genocidal campaign” against the Syrian Druze community in Jaramana and Sahnaya earlier this week.
According to the Ministry of Information in Syria, two separate attacks resulted in the deaths of 11 members of the country’s security forces.
At least 101 people were killed in fighting between security forces, allied fighters, and local Druze groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a war monitor in the UK.
The SOHR, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, reported that Husam Warwar, the former mayor of Sahnaya, had been killed along with 30 government loyalists, 21 Druze fighters, and 10 civilians.
It reported 40 Druze fighters died in an “ambush” on Wednesday in the southern province of Sweida, the heartland of the Druze minority, along with 35 others in an “ambush” on the Sweida-Damascus road.
After a man’s audio clip of a man criticizing Islam’s Prophet Muhammad first appeared on social media around midnight on Monday, the fighting broke out. A Druze scholar was responsible for the audio. However, the scholar, Marwan Kiwan, claimed in a video that many Sunni Muslims found offensive on social media that he was not to blame for the audio.
A deal was reached between Druze dignitaries and official representatives on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Syrian government, which allowed security forces and pro-government fighters to enter Sahnaya and allow Druze gunmen to leave the streets.
Videos made on social media made offensive remarks about sectarian remarks made by what appeared to be pro-government armed groups beating Druze men they had captured in Sahnaya.
According to al-Hijri’s statement, “This collective killing is systematic, clear, visible, and documented.” Because the government doesn’t use its own citizens through loyal, extremist gangs that the government calls itself a government and who they are after the massacre, they no longer trust us as a group.
The new government, which overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December, faces a significant challenge due to the violence. More than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawite, were killed in a series of massacres in Syria’s Alawite heartland on the Mediterranean coast in March, according to the SOHR.
Syrian authorities object to foreign intervention.
Israeli officials have endorsed the Druze, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating that if Syria’s new administration fails to protect the minority population, it will “with significant force” respond.
Katz later stated that if the Syrian regime fails to stop the Druze attacks, Israel will act decisively.
Asaad al-Shaibani, the country’s foreign minister, stated on X that “national unity is the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival” on Thursday, reiterating Syria’s opposition to international intervention.
He continued, “Any request for external assistance, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further division and division.”
Most Druze spiritual leaders and factions have chosen to communicate privately with the new government, but concerns have grown even more acute as a result of the government’s decision to launch a series of targeted revenge attacks on the Alawite minority group.
Videos of Alawite victims being burned down and bloodied on the streets were widely circulated. Many Alawite have fled south to neighboring Lebanon because they are too afraid to go back.
Manchester United won 3-0 in the Europa League opener at Athletic Bilbao with three first-half goals to put them on the verge of reaching the title match.
Veteran midfielder Casemiro took the lead 30 minutes into the match in a raucous San Memes atmosphere on Thursday, with supporters wishing for their first-ever European trophy.
Five minutes later, when Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian was sent off for fouling Rasmus Hojlund in the penalty area, United, who are having a terrible domestically, were given a second boost.
Before the break, the United fans at the top of the table were in Dreamland as captain Fernandes fought through to seal the victory and perhaps even the tie.
Casemiro scores Manchester United’s first goal [Vincent West/Reuters]
With a weak second half, Bilbao struggled to recover from the defeat, leaving United with the most unlikely first-leg victory.
Harry Maguire, a United defender, stated to TNT Sports, “Of course it’s a great start, to get a victory here, and score three goals and keep a clean sheet.
Everyone is anticipating what we will endure, under all the pressure. We must properly prepare, and if we do that, we will have a good chance of succeeding.
One foot in the door of the finished product.
Bruno Fernandes scores Manchester United’ second goal from penalty spot [Vincent West/Reuters]
United can forget that they are on track to record their worst Premier League points total this season thanks to the Europa League, which has somewhat provided them with a safe haven.
United traveled to Bilbao as the only unbeaten team in any European competition, but they faced their toughest challenge yet, with Bilbao currently sitting fourth in LaLiga and having the worst defense in the division.
The first chance was better for the Bilbao players because they fueled the crowd’s enthusiasm early on. Victor Lindelof saved United’s blushes with a timely block on the line, but Inaki Williams should have headed home from a close-range header.
However, Casemiro did so on time to turn the momentum in United’s favor. After consulting with the pitch-side monitor, Norwegian referee Espen Eskas determined that Vivian had denied Hojlund a clear goal-scoring opportunity, branded a red card, and pointed to the spot.
Manchester United’s third goal is scored by Bruno Fernandes [Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]
Despite the ear-splitting whistles from the conceited crowd, Bruno Fernandes showed incredible composure as he calmly stroked home the penalty. When the United skipper rushed onto Manuel Ugarte’s film to add a game-clinching third, the whistles barely ceased.
In their seven Europa League games in 2025, United has scored more goals than they have in their 15 Premier League games this year, to highlight the contrast between United’s domestic and continental campaigns.
Since Ruben Amorim became coach, they have won more Europa League games than they have in the Premier League.
Casemiro’s second-half header came off the post, missing the mark, and could have even added a fourth.
Chelsea strolled to a comfortable 4-1 win at Djurgarden in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final on Thursday to all but book their spot in the final.
In the other semi-final, Spain’s Real Betis take a 2-1 lead into the return fixture against two-time runners-up Fiorentina.
First-half goals from Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke put Chelsea in control in Sweden, before Nicolas Jackson grabbed a brace midway through the second period.
Chelsea’s Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson (C) passes Djurgardens’ Swedish goalkeeper #35 Jacob Rinne (L) to score the 0-3 goal during the UEFA Conference League semi-final football match Djurgardens IF vs Chelsea FC at the 3Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, 2025, (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
“It was (a perfect night), an important semi-final,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports.
“It’s a good result, but we have the experience from the Legia Warsaw game, where we won 3-0 there and we struggled a little bit (Chelsea’s only loss in the tournament came at home in the return fixture), so we need to be focused on the second leg.”
Maresca’s side have one foot in the final of the Conference League in their debut campaign in the third-tier European competition.
READ ALSO: Man Utd Beat 10-Man Bilbao To Close In On Europa League Final
Lifting the trophy in the Polish city of Wroclaw on May 28 would add another continental title to the London club’s haul of two Champions Leagues, a pair of Europa Leagues and two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups.
Chelsea’s English defender #04 Tosin Adarabioyo (2nd L) reacts as Djurgardens’ Norwegian midfielder #16 Tobias Gulliksen (5th L) and his team mates argue during the UEFA Conference League semi-final football match Djurgardens IF vs Chelsea FC at the 3Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, 2025, (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
Their opponents, on the other hand, don’t quite boast the same European pedigree, and in making the last four became the first Swedish side to play a semi-final in Europe since 1986/87.
To further add to Djurgarden’s underdog status, coach Jani Honkavaara only had 14 senior players fit to call upon for the visit of the Premier League giants.
Chelsea took the lead via Sancho on 12 minutes as the winger collected a lofted pass in the box and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper before the retreating Marcus Danielson sliced his attempted clearance against his own arm and into the goal.
The goal settled Chelsea, who slowly got more accustomed to the artificial surface in Stockholm and began to dominate Djurgarden.
Madueke made that dominance pay two minutes prior to half-time when he opened up his body to feint a cross-goal shot with his left foot, before sweeping a first-time finish inside the near post.
Jackson at the double
As the interval loomed, Djurgarden nearly caught Chelsea with a sucker-punch, only for the English club’s Swedish-born ‘keeper Filip Jorgensen to readjust brilliantly and tip Tokmac Nguen’s deflected strike behind for a corner.
Jackson put Chelsea three goals to the good one minute before the hour as he tapped in from close range following a defensive mix-up.
The Senegalese striker doubled up six minutes later, unleashing a fizzing shot with his left foot from the edge of the box.
Chelsea’s Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson (R) celebrates with Chelsea’s English midfielder #22 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring the 0-3 goal during the UEFA Conference League semi-final football match Djurgardens IF vs Chelsea FC at the 3Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)
Teenager Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta snatched a consolation for Djurgarden in the 68th minute with a powerful downward header for his first senior goal.
“Very good performance, the most important thing is that we won. It is one step forward and we hope to reach the final,” said Jackson.
In Andalusia, Betis had a dream start when Abde Ezzalzouli smashed the ball in off the crossbar on six minutes following battling centre-forward play by the in-form Cedric Bakambu.
Fiorentina came within a whisker of equalising midway through the first half, but Rolando Mandragora’s powerful header zipped inches wide of goalkeeper Fran Vieites’ upright.
Former Barcelona centre-half Marc Bartra had a chance to double Betis’ lead at the end of the first period but blasted over from a corner.
Manchester United loanee Antony then did get a second for the hosts with a fierce right-footed effort from outside the box which flew beyond David de Gea’s reach and into the top corner in the 64th minute.
Fiorentina halved the lead against the run of play with 17 minutes remaining as Luca Ranieri slotted home after being teed up by Robin Gosens.
The second leg ties will take place next Thursday.
