AFCON 2025
Manchester United secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal clash.
Bruno Fernandes scored twice to lead Ruben Amorim’s men to a big win against 10-man Athletic Club.
United were three up at half-time after breaching Europe’s tightest home defence at the Estadio de San Mames, where the LaLiga side hadn’t lost since August.
It took something special to unlock Athletic Club when Harry Maguire momentarily turned into a winger, showing quick feet on the right before crossing into the near post for Manuel Ugarte, who flicked the ball on for Casemiro to head home the opener in the 30th minute.
The entire tie changed within seven minutes after Rasmus Hojlund was pulled back by Dani Vivian when he tried to reach a low cross in the six-yard box.
The referee sent the Bilbao man off and awarded United a penalty, which Fernandes cooly dispatched.
Fernandes added a second before the end of the first half to kill off the game for the Red Devils.
