Athletic Bilbao Faces Manchester United in Europa League Semifinal

Athletic Bilbao and Manchester United will face off in the UEFA Europa League semifinal, with the first leg taking place at Bilbao's San Mames stadium. Athletic, led by Inaki and Nico Williams, is motivated by the chance to reach a European final at their home ground, an achievement that would be historic for the club, which has never won a European trophy. The team is coming off a Copa del Rey victory that ended a 40-year title drought, and both players and fans are highly motivated, with Nico Williams emphasizing their commitment to 'give our souls' for a place in the final. Manchester United, meanwhile, is seeking to salvage a disappointing season, viewing the Europa League as a key opportunity for European qualification. United arrives after a dramatic quarterfinal comeback and leads the competition in several attacking metrics, but has a challenging record against Athletic from past encounters. Both teams approach the match with determination, making it a highly anticipated and emotionally charged semifinal.