Wednesday marks the first of several upcoming European club finals, featuring a somewhat unusual pairing: England`s 16th and 17th-placed teams, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Both sides are targeting a major piece of silverware that could significantly alleviate the disappointments of their respective domestic seasons and secure a spot in the prestigious Champions League.
This final will be the fourth and last meeting between these two clubs this campaign. So far, the series has heavily favored Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou, who have secured three victories against the Red Devils, outscoring them 8-3 across these encounters. However, the context for Wednesday`s match is distinctly different. Not only is it the unpredictable nature of a single knockout game with a trophy at stake, but both Postecoglou and his Manchester United counterpart, Ruben Amorim, may face challenging squad selections due to potential injuries, adding a layer of tactical intrigue to the showdown.
Tottenham will be without key creative forces such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. For Manchester United, the potential involvement and impact of central defenders like Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro remain unclear. Any combination of these significant absences is likely to play a crucial role in how the final unfolds, prompting big questions about which team truly holds an advantage across different areas of the pitch.
Ahead of this highly anticipated Europa League final, let`s examine how Spurs and United compare position by position.
Goalkeeper
Neither Tottenham`s Guglielmo Vicario nor Manchester United`s Andre Onana has had a standout season, largely attributable to the defensive vulnerabilities in front of them rather than individual shortcomings alone. Mirroring their teams` underwhelming performances, the statistics for both keepers this season are quite similar, with limited clean sheets and modest save volumes. Despite this, Vicario edges out Onana slightly in a few key metrics, including expected goals against per game (an average of 1.3 for Vicario across all competitions compared to 1.4 for Onana) and save percentage (68.3% for Vicario vs. 67% for Onana). Furthermore, Onana has demonstrated a tendency for costly errors at times this season, leading to his benching by Amorim between the two legs of their semifinal tie.
Defenders
The strength in defense heavily relies on player fitness, and here, Tottenham receives good news as their key defensive unit is expected to be fully available. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are absolutely fundamental to Tottenham`s defensive structure and overall success; their prolonged absences earlier in the season were directly correlated with the team`s dip in form. The pair has featured together in only 18 games this season, but the impact is clear in the numbers: with Romero and van de Ven on the pitch, Tottenham averages 1.07 expected goals against and concedes 1.17 goals per game. Without them, these figures rise significantly to 1.64 xGA and 1.47 goals conceded. Supported by dynamic wingbacks like Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, Spurs` backline appears well-equipped heading into the final, provided fitness holds.
Conversely, Manchester United faces considerable challenges in their defensive options. Their top defender, Matthijs de Ligt, has been struggling with various injuries recently, making his availability for Wednesday uncertain, a situation mirrored by Leny Yoro. This leaves United potentially relying on less convincing pairings, such as Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, which does not inspire significant confidence. While Patrick Dorgu is a promising addition at left wingback, he is still in the early stages of his time at United and hasn`t yet fully realized his potential.
Midfielders
The midfield area starkly highlights the differing narratives of the two finalists` seasons. Tottenham arrives in Bilbao significantly depleted in this department, whereas Manchester United`s midfield has simply struggled for effectiveness. Spurs will be without James Maddison, arguably their most vital passer and creative hub, along with Dejan Kulusevski, who has had a quietly strong season, and rising talent Lucas Bergvall. This leaves Postecoglou with players of similar profiles like Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, while also potentially sweating on the fitness of Pape Matar Sarr. The manager may be forced to find creative roles for younger players like Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore, as he did in their recent loss to Aston Villa, making his midfield solution a significant tactical puzzle for the final.
By default, Manchester United might hold the edge here, despite their own well-documented midfield issues. Casemiro continues to feature despite seemingly being past his peak, and Manuel Ugarte is often left with an immense workload that is perhaps too much for one player. Bruno Fernandes has consistently carried the creative burden for his team, often performing heroics and publicly calling for his teammates to increase their contribution. While the consistency of those around him remains a question mark, Fernandes is likely prepared to take on the responsibility of trying to win the game single-handedly if his teammates don`t step up.
Forwards
Tottenham`s season has been peculiar in many respects, not least because their attack has continued to function relatively effectively. They rank sixth in the Premier League for goals scored and are well within the league`s top half for shots, shots on goal, and expected goals. Their goals have also come from a variety of sources, with five players reaching double figures across all competitions this season. While this list included Maddison and Kulusevski, who will miss the final, Brennan Johnson surprisingly leads their scoring charts with 17 goals. Dominic Solanke has contributed a respectable 15 in his first season at the club, and captain Son Heung-min has quietly delivered a solid season with 11 goals and 11 assists.
This contrasts sharply with Manchester United, whose attack has struggled, ranking 16th in the Premier League for goals and sitting in the bottom half for most key attacking metrics. Their difficulty in securing a consistently impactful goalscorer throughout the season is particularly evident in this comparison. Only Bruno Fernandes and three other players – Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Amad Diallo – have managed to score 10 or more goals across all competitions. While these individuals are certainly capable of producing moments of brilliance, their overall consistency has been a concern, raising questions about their collective ability to perform reliably at the highest level in the final.
Adrian Whitmore