Struggling giants clash in Europa League final

In a dramatic twist, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur—both struggling near the bottom of the Premier League—will face off in the Europa League final on Thursday, 22 May at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao 1 AM (Bangladesh time).

United are 16th and Spurs 17th in the league, just above the relegation zone. Yet, both sides now have a chance to save their seasons with a major European trophy and a spot in next season’s Champions League.

This final is historic for another reason too—never before have both finalists been so low in their domestic leagues. The winner will become the lowest-ranked Europa League champion since the tournament was rebranded in 2009, breaking the previous record set by Sevilla, who won in 2023 while finishing 12th in La Liga.

Tottenham were given extra time to prepare for the final after UEFA allowed them to bring forward their league match, which ended in a 2–0 loss to Aston Villa. Manchester United, meanwhile, lost 1–0 at Chelsea on the same day.

Team news: Spurs will be without Dejan Kulusevski, who recently had knee surgery. He joins key players James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall on the injury list. United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the final.

For Spurs, this is a chance to win their third UEFA Cup/Europa League title, their last coming in 1984. United won it in 2017 and will be looking to avoid a repeat of their 2021 final defeat to Villarreal on penalties.

The stakes are high. The winner will earn a place in the 2025–26 Champions League and face the Champions League winners in the UEFA Super Cup in Udine, Italy. Importantly, this won’t affect other English teams’ European spots, as the Premier League is already guaranteed five Champions League places next season.

There’s also a financial boost on the line: £10.95 million for the winners and £5.9 million for the runners-up—welcome news for two clubs having poor league seasons.

No matter who wins, this final shows how unpredictable football can be. Two struggling teams are now one match away from European redemption—and possibly, a fresh start.