Wednesday`s UEFA Europa League final marks the first of several European club finals over the next two weeks. It`s a somewhat unusual matchup, featuring England`s 16th and 17th-ranked teams – Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – vying for a major trophy that could help salvage disappointing seasons.
This upcoming match will be the fourth and final encounter between these two sides this season. So far, the series has heavily favored Spurs. Ange Postecoglou`s team has secured three victories against the Red Devils in their previous meetings, outscoring them 8-3 in the process. However, the context of Wednesday`s game is different, not least because of the inherent unpredictability of a one-off final with silverware on the line. Both Postecoglou and his United counterpart, Ruben Amorim, may face challenges in team selection due to limited squads, adding a layer of tactical intrigue to the showdown.
Spurs will be without key players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. For United, the potential involvement of Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro on Wednesday remains uncertain. The absence of any combination of these players is likely to significantly impact how the final unfolds, prompting serious questions about which team truly holds the advantage in specific areas of the pitch.
Ahead of the Europa League final, here`s a position-by-position comparison of how Spurs and United stack up.
How to watch Europa League final, odds
- Date: Wednesday, May 21 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: San Mames Stadium — Bilbao, Spain
- TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Tottenham Hotspur +190; Draw +220; Manchester United +140
Goalkeeper: Tottenham Hotspur
Neither Spurs` Guglielmo Vicario nor United`s Andre Onana has had a particularly outstanding season, though this is largely attributable to defensive frailties in front of them, a problem bigger than either goalkeeper. Reflecting the similar struggles of both teams, statistics show Vicario and Onana had comparable performance metrics this campaign, with few clean sheets and a limited number of noteworthy saves. Nevertheless, Vicario holds a slight edge – he performed marginally better than Onana in several categories, including expected goals against (averaging 1.3 per game across all competitions for Vicario versus 1.4 for Onana) and save percentage (68.3% for Vicario compared to 67% for Onana). Furthermore, Onana has been prone to errors at times, to the extent that Amorim dropped him between the two legs of the semifinal against Lyon.
Defenders: Tottenham Hotspur
The assessment in this category hinges entirely on injury status, and the good news for Spurs is that, at least defensively, they are expected to be at full strength. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are fundamental to Spurs` defensive success; indeed, the team`s downturn in form earlier in the season can be significantly linked to their lengthy injuries. The pair have played together in only 18 games this season, but the results highlight their importance – with Romero and van de Ven, Tottenham average 1.07 expected goals against and concede 1.17 goals per game. Without them, the expected goals against rises to 1.64 per game, and they concede 1.47 goals. Combined with dynamic wingbacks like Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, this back line provides considerable hope for Spurs heading into the final.
United, in contrast, face significant challenges in defense. De Ligt, their top defender, has been dealing with various injuries recently, and his availability for Wednesday remains uncertain, as does that of Yoro. This situation leaves United potentially relying on a makeshift defense featuring players like Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, which does not inspire confidence. While Patrick Dorgu is a promising addition at left wingback, he has not yet reached his full potential in his early months at United.
Midfielders: Manchester United
The midfield battle really exemplifies the story of both Europa League finalists this season – Spurs arrive in Bilbao significantly short-handed in this department, while the Red Devils` midfield isn`t necessarily strong but is less depleted. Tottenham will be without Maddison, arguably their most crucial playmaker, while Kulusevski also misses out after a solid season; rising talent Lucas Bergvall is also unavailable. Postecoglou will be left with players like Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, who have similar profiles, and might also be concerned about the fitness of Pape Matar Sarr. The manager may need to find unconventional roles for young players such as Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore, as he did in their recent 2-0 loss at Aston Villa, making his midfield solution a major question mark for the final.
The advantage, almost by default, may rest with United. Their midfield has been a problem area for a while, with Casemiro still featuring despite being past his prime and Manuel Ugarte struggling to cover the ground needed for a job too big for one person. Bruno Fernandes, however, has repeatedly carried his team, even publicly urging teammates to `step up` and share the burden. Whether they can meet his demands quickly is debatable, but Fernandes is likely prepared to shoulder the responsibility himself on Wednesday, regardless of his teammates` performance.
Forwards: Tottenham Hotspur
It`s been an unusual season for Tottenham, largely because one aspect has continued to function relatively well – their attack. They rank sixth in the Premier League for goals scored and are in the league`s top half for shots, shots on goal, and expected goals. Their goals have also come from a diverse range of players, with five players scoring 10 or more goals across all competitions this season. While this list includes the unavailable Maddison and Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson surprisingly leads their scoring charts with 17 goals this season, and Dominic Solanke has a respectable 15 in his first year at the club. Captain Son Heung-min has also had a quietly effective season with 11 goals and 11 assists.
This contrasts sharply with the Red Devils, who rank 16th in the Premier League for goals and are in the bottom half in most attacking metrics. United`s struggle to recruit an impactful goalscorer is evident here, particularly as only three players other than Fernandes have reached double digits in goals – Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Amad Diallo. This isn`t to say they can`t perform on the day, especially since each has delivered in crucial moments this season. However, there are enough instances of them not meeting expectations to raise concerns about their ability to perform consistently in the final.
