Manchester United will host Athletic Club in their Europa League semi-final decider on Thursday night and the Spanish team have confirmed their travelling squad.
After a dominant first-leg performance in Bilbao, Manchester United return to Old Trafford this week with a commanding three-goal advantage in their Europa League semi-final tie.
Despite the 3-0 lead, earned through goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, Ruben Amorim’s side will be well aware that Athletic Club won’t go down without a fight. The Spanish side played much of the first half with 10 men, but are expected to come out determined in the second leg.
United know that nothing can be taken for granted in football. Their focus will be on maintaining control, limiting Athletic’s chances, and sealing their place in the final—which fittingly takes place later this month in Bilbao.
Meanwhile, Athletic Club will be throwing everything at the match, using every tactic possible to spark a dramatic comeback against the Premier League giants.
Athletic Club missing four key players vs United
United fans were wary when Spanish reports claimed that several Athletic Club stars were absent from their training sessions this week.
Nico Williams was training on his own away from the squad while Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet were nowhere to be seen. This was suggested as an attempt at mind games.
But it has now been confirmed that all three of those players will miss the second-leg against United, which is a huge blow for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
Sancet is the Spanish club’s top scorer this season with 17 goals, while the Williams twins are tied at second place with 11 apiece.
Athletic Club are also missing one of their main centre-backs, Daniel Vivian, after he was sent off during the first-leg in Bilbao last week.
They already had a mountain to climb and the tie is now even harder for them. They will hope that the likes of Gorka Guruzeta and Álex Berenguer can help pull off an unlikely comeback.
The 24-man Athletic Club squad for the upcoming clash can be viewed in full below.
Athletic Club squad vs United in Europa League decider
Unai Simón, Agirrezabala, Santos, Gorosabel, Paredes, Yeray, Vesga, Berenguer, A. Djaló, Guruzeta, Núñez, I. Lekue, Ruiz de Galarreta, Yuri, De Marcos, Unai G., Maroan, Jauregizar, Prados, Canales, Adama, Olabarrieta, Rego, Varela.
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