Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are firmly on course for an all-English Europa League final following commanding semi-final first-leg victories on Thursday night.
United swept aside Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Spain — at the very stadium that will host the final on 21 May — while Spurs claimed a solid 3-1 home win over Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
The statistical odds strongly back both teams progressing. Data analysts at Opta give United a 97% chance of advancing to the final, with Tottenham also heavily favoured at 91%. That translates to an 88% likelihood of both sides meeting in Bilbao.
Such a showdown would mark only the sixth time in history that two English clubs have contested the final of a major European competition. Remarkably, it would also be Tottenham’s third appearance in those six encounters, underlining their growing presence on the continental stage.
Moreover, should both clubs reach the final, it would guarantee six English representatives in next season’s UEFA Champions League — a scenario made possible by new qualification rules under UEFA’s updated format.
The return legs take place next week, with United and Spurs now in commanding positions to make history in Europe once more.
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