Terrific Tottenham break 17-year Trophy curse in thrilling finale

Tuesday 3 June 2025

UEFA Europa League Final 2024/25

Tottenham Hotspur Vs Manchester United

Estadioa San Mames, P.º Rafael Moreno "Pitxitxi", s/n, Basurto-Zorroza, 48013 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain

Terrific Tottenham break 17-year Trophy curse in thrilling finale

Tottenham edge out Manchester United in a thrilling contest in Bilbao to end their 17-year wait for silverware in Ange Postecoglou's second season. 

MATCH PREVIEW:

It's the heavyweight showdown at Bilbao for the UEFA Europa League Final, for a place in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase at stake. Two sides, who have had underwhelming campaigns in the Premier League, both finishing in the lower half of the points table, and even worse, battling against relegation. Tottenham Hotspur are looking to end their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware after their League Cup win in 2008, against a struggling Manchester United side, who have suffered their worst ever Premier League season, finishing 15th in the league whilst Spurs finished 17th, despite being miles clear of Ipswich Town. This is the 4th meeting between these two sides in this campaign with Spurs dominating all 3 encounters before this game. This is Manchester United's 9th major final in European competitions, but failed to win 3 out of 4 finals. Their previous one being a loss to Villareal on penalties in the 2021 edition. It's a high stakes game, where both managers are under severe pressure to win this competition. Ange Postecoglou did promise to the Tottenham fans that he would always win a trophy in his second season with a club, and will he prove his point tonight? United have had 2 manager changes through this campaign, sacking Erik Ten Hag, after 2 years where he won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, as they replaced him with former Sporting Lisbon manager, Ruben Amorim, who so far, hasn't quite got his tactics to plan. Many players failing to understand the 3-4-2-1 system he plays, in addition to many talented players getting dropped from the starting XI, including many fallouts with the manager, such as Alejandro Garnacho, whom many people have thought that he was going to be the next big thing for United, but he hasn't lived up to the hype. Injuries have hampered both teams, particularly Tottenham Hotspur, who have found replacements, but have been losing too many games in the league, to try and salvage this competition to compensate. Who will come out on top tonight? Can Tottenham end their trophy curse, or will Manchester United beat Tottenham to gain their second Europa League trophy?

TEAM NEWS:

Tottenham Hotspur: (Recent Form:WDWLL)

Having decided to rest his players in the defeat at Aston Villa, Postecoglou has recalled 10 players apart from Pape Sarr back into the starting XI on his 100th game with the club, with Vicario, Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie, Bentancur, Bissouma, Richarlison, Johnson and Solanke all return in place of Kinsky, Reguilon, Davies, Danso, Spence, Gray, Son, Odobert, Moore and Tel.

Starting XI: Vicario, Udogie, Van de Ven, Romero, Porro, Bentancur, Bissouma, Richarlison, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke (4-2-3-1 Wide):

Substitutes: Kinsky, Danso, Son, Gray, Spence, Tel, Moore, Gray

Manchester United: (Recent Form:WLWLL)

Only one change made by Amorim, with Leny Yoro returning to the team replacing Victor Lindelöf despite naming the strongest starting XI against Chelsea.

Starting XI: Onana, Shaw, Maguire, Yoro, Dorgu, Fernandes, Casemiro, Mazraoui, Mount, Amad, Højlund.

Subtitutes: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Garnacho, Dalot, Mainoo, Heaven, Lindelöf

Ones to Watch:

Brennan Johnson: He has been shooting up goals and assists from everywhere in what has been a largely disappointing campaign for Spurs plagued with injuries, but he has also had injury troubles keeping him out of the action, but he returns to the starting XI for his team seeking the trophy, will he deliver?

Amad Diallo: In a largely disappointing campaign for United, he has been their best player, conjuring goals for them, including a terrific derby peformance in December against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Having recently returned from injury, will he be United's saviour once more?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

AWAY WE GO IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL, WITH SPURS GETTING US UNDERWAY! It's the 4th meeting between these two sides, with United winless in 6 games against Spurs, but determined to push for the title. This is the sixth all-English final in Europe tonight, very exciting contest we have on our hands. Already we are seeing the counter punches from both teams, with Spurs at one end failing to score, with United doing the same. And Spurs got their first chance, but had it not been for Andre Onana and Harry Maguire, it could've been 1-0 Tottenham inside 11 minutes. And 5 minutes later, United had their best chance, but Amad could not take advantage as he sends his chance across the face of goal from a tight angle after Vicario parried Bruno Fernandes's corner. There has been nothing to showcase both teams. Defending tightly and preventing chances, whilst their creativity hasn't been up to scratch. Tottenham have an xG of 0.21 compared to Man United's xG of 0.14. After Diallo's great chance, Tottenham finally broke the deadlock on 42 minutes. A one-two between Fernandes and Mazraoui goes wrong and Spurs win it back. Now Sarr, running with the ball, searching for options, finds Richarlison on the left hand side, sees the run of Bentancur, who does a great job of pulling two United players out of position, back it goes to Sarr, who whips a cross into the box, AND SPURS SCORE!! BRENNAN JOHNSON REACTED QUICKLY TO THE BALL, AFTER SHAW ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR, BUT BRILLIANT POACHER'S INSTINCT FROM THE WELSHMAN WHO FIRES SPURS AHEAD WITH 3 MINUTES TO GO UNTIL HALF-TIME! WHAT SCENES FROM THE SPURS FANS HERE IN BILBAO! THE COOLEST MAN IN BILBAO IS BRENNAN JOHNSON, AS HE MAKES IT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 - MANCHESTER UNITED 0! JOY FOR BIG ANGE ON HIS 100TH GAME!! 

Johnson celebrates the opener after 42 minutes.

United have been leaking too many goals from the back as they look to try and put that to a halt. Can they find an equaliser? HALF-TIME AT BILBAO! 

It's been an evenly contest half, but Tottenham just about edge it, thanks to Brennan Johnson's goal and NOT an own goal from Luke Shaw. Spurs leading with an xG of 1.01 whereas United still remain without a goal with an xG of 0.21, meaning that they are lacking a cutting edge to their style of play.

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

In a bid to save their worst ever season, Manchester United kick-off the second half, in need of goals to save this final. And we can see the first chance for the Red Devils, as Højlund headed wide from Mazraoui's cross. As you saw, United have been behind in a game for 31 times this season!! Most recently against Athletic Bilbao, where they did concede, but Mason Mount led the fightback. A chance for United on 59 minutes, but Vicario denied Yoro, as the Frenchman did get a touch towards the goal line, but should he have done better? As we see substitutes coming in and out for both teams, a magical moment occured on 68 minutes. Oh dear! Vicario hasn't dealt with this free kick, are Spurs going to be punished?! NO! MICKY VAN DE VEN, WHAT A TERRIFIC CLEARANCE FROM THE DUTCH MAN! IS THIS A GAME-CHANGING MOMENT, THAT POTENTIALLY WINS THE GAME FOR TOTTENHAM?

Van de Ven's extrodinary clerance keeps the score at 1-0 to Spurs.

It is literally go big or go home for Ruben Amorim's United as he sends on Garnacho and Zirkzee to grab an equaliser. And amost immediately, United could not cash in as Fernandes's header went wide from Mazraoui's cross. At this point, United are throwing everything they can to get an equaliser, but Vicario again to the rescue to deny Alejandro Garnacho, the substitute who did very well to get past Pedro Porro, but can't make the finish. Approaching the final 10 minutes as Tottenham continue to be resolute in the defence, giving no chances for the Red Devils, as Kevin Danso, the January signing from Lens, came very close to scoring the second goal for Spurs, but the ball did not come to him, despite the Austrian putting a full stretch dive to not make contact with the ball. Now, there are 7 additional minutes of added time, indicated by the 4th offical. A chance for both teams, one to hold onto their lead, and the other to send the game into extra time. 3 big chances arrived in the final 3 minutes for Manchester United, as once again they rallied on with their players to try and bag a leveller. First , Leny Yoro blazed his effort over the crossbar after Diallo's cross was blocked by Danso. Second, no penalty awarded for United, as Casemiro could not find a way to force a Spurs player to make contact in the box for a potential spot kick, appeals waved away by Felix Zwayer, the referee for tonight. Third, TERRIFIC SAVE FROM VICARIO TO DENY LUKE SHAW! Diogo Dalot, the substitute swings in a cross from the right and a crowd of red shirts in the penalty area, but Luke Shaw cannot capitalise, as his header was saved by Vicario. Lastly, OH SO CLOSE FOR UNITED!! CASEMIRO COULD NOT PERFORM THE OVERHEAD KICK! INSTEAD HE SENDS IT INTO THE SIDE NETTING! AND THAT SHOULD BE THE LAST EFFORT OF THE GAME! 

AND THAT IS THAT!! THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE HAS SOUNDED AND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR HAVE DONE IT! THE 17-YEAR CURSE HAS BEEN BROKEN AND THEY HAVE WON THE EUROPA LEAGUE BY JUST ONE GOAL TO NIL!! OH IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE THRILLER TO WATCH THIS GAME, SPURS WERE DOMINANT IN THE FIRST HALF AND DEFENDED BRILLIANTLY TO SEE OFF THE UNITED CHANCES IN THE SECOND HALF! The only goal arrived on 42 minutes, courtesy of Brennan Johnson's effort squeezing beyond Onana, and from there it looked to have been the game. Had it not been for Micky Van De Ven's crucial goal-line clearance, this game would've been going into extra time! But, it is done! Spurs will be playing in next season's UEFA Champions League 2025-26 in the league phase & no European football for Man United! Which is such a shame, as they were once a dominant force under Sir Alex Ferguson, but it is the second time, since 2014 they are without European football! It all ends with Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Manchester United 0! 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Cristian Romero

Despite an injury-plagued season, he has been sensational tonight in the Europa League Final, being a crucial partner to Micky Van De Ven, who also helped out big time! Even through all of this, he has stood strong and becomes the second Argentine player after Julian Alvarez to win a European Competition along with a FIFA World Cup to his name.