Tottenham & Manchester United close in on all-english Europa League final
KATHMANDU: Tottenham Hotspur have taken a significant step towards reaching the UEFA Europa League final with a commanding 3–1 win over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their semifinal clash.
Ange Postecoglou’s side delivered one of their most impressive performances of the season on Thursday, reinforcing hopes of claiming their first major trophy since 2008.
The Premier League club made a lightning-fast start, taking the lead just 38 seconds into the game when Brennan Johnson headed in from Richarlison’s assist.
Tottenham doubled their lead shortly after as James Maddison controlled a long pass from Pedro Porro with finesse and finished clinically into the corner. A foul on Cristian Romero then led to a penalty, confidently converted by Dominic Solanke, putting Spurs 3–0 up before the hour mark.
Despite being under pressure throughout the match, Bodø/Glimt salvaged a late goal through Ulrik Saltnes in the 83rd minute— their only shot on target. The Norwegian side, known for their high-tempo play, now face an uphill battle in the return leg, although they remain strong at home. Their impressive home record includes victories over Porto, Beşiktaş, Olympiacos, and Lazio, with a 70% win rate at home in the Europa League since 2022–23.
However, injuries to goal-scorers Maddison and Solanke, both of whom were substituted in the second half, could prove costly for Tottenham ahead of the decisive second leg in the Arctic Circle.
Manchester United Dominate Athletic Club to Seize First-Leg Advantage
In the other semifinal, Manchester United cruised to a 3–0 victory over Athletic Club in Bilbao, putting them in firm control of their tie heading into the second leg at Old Trafford.
The game turned in United’s favor in the 30th minute when Harry Maguire delivered a precise cross from the right, which Casemiro powerfully headed in to break the deadlock. Seven minutes later, a VAR review awarded United a penalty after Dani Vivian fouled Rasmus Højlund. Vivian was sent off, and Bruno Fernandes calmly converted from the spot.
Just before half-time, Fernandes struck again, finishing off a well-weighted pass from Manuel Ugarte to make it 3–0. Athletic had chances early on, with Iñaki Williams heading wide and Alex Berenguer denied by Victor Lindelöf on the line, but they failed to recover from the sending off.
Despite a spirited second-half performance from Rúben Amorim’s team, United remained dominant, and Casemiro nearly added a fourth with a header that struck the post.
With a three-goal cushion, United are in a commanding position to secure their spot in the final.
