The UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday marks the beginning of a series of European club finals over the next couple of weeks. It`s arguably unique because it pits two teams who finished relatively low in the English league (16th and 17th for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively) against each other for a major trophy, aiming to salvage something from a difficult season.
This match will be the fourth and final meeting between these clubs this season. Spurs have held a clear advantage in their previous encounters, securing three victories and outscoring United 8-3. However, the dynamics of Wednesday`s final are different. It`s a single match with a trophy at stake, adding unpredictability. Furthermore, both managers, Ange Postecoglou for Spurs and Ruben Amorim for United, face challenges in selecting their teams due to potential squad limitations, which adds tactical complexity to the final.
Tottenham will be missing important players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. For United, the availability and potential contribution of Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro on Wednesday remain uncertain. These potential absences are likely to influence the outcome of the final and raise significant questions about which team holds an advantage in different areas of the field.
As the Europa League final approaches, here is a comparison of Tottenham and Manchester United across different positions.
Match Details and Odds
- Date: Wednesday, May 21
- Location: San Mames Stadium — Bilbao, Spain
- TV: CBS Sports Network
- Odds: Tottenham Hotspur +190; Draw +220; Manchester United +140
Goalkeepers: Tottenham Hotspur Hold a Slight Edge
Neither Guglielmo Vicario of Spurs nor Andre Onana of United has had an outstanding season, largely due to defensive vulnerabilities in both teams that extend beyond the goalkeepers. Statistics from this campaign show similar performances, with few clean sheets and limited saves. However, Vicario has a marginal advantage, performing slightly better in metrics like expected goals against (averaging 1.3 per game across all competitions compared to Onana`s 1.4) and save percentage (68.3% versus 67%). Onana has also shown moments of being error-prone, even leading manager Ruben Amorim to drop him between the two semifinal legs against Lyon.
Defenders: Tottenham Hotspur Appear Stronger
The situation in defense heavily depends on injury status. The good news for Tottenham is that, in this specific area, they are expected to be fully fit. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are crucial players for Spurs, and their absence due to lengthy injuries significantly impacted the team`s form. They have only played together in 18 matches this season, but the statistics highlight their importance: with Romero and van de Ven, Tottenham concede an average of 1.17 goals per game with 1.07 expected goals against. Without them, expected goals against rises to 1.64 per game and goals conceded to 1.47. When combined with capable wingbacks like Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, Tottenham`s backline offers considerable promise for the final.
Manchester United, in contrast, face significant challenges in defense. Matthijs de Ligt, arguably their best defender, has been dealing with injuries recently, and his availability for Wednesday is uncertain, as is that of Leny Yoro. This leaves United potentially relying on a makeshift defense including players like Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, which doesn`t inspire much confidence. Patrick Dorgu is a promising option at left wingback but is still in the early stages of his United career and hasn`t yet reached his full potential.
Midfielders: Manchester United Have the Edge
The midfield area clearly illustrates the contrasting situations of the finalists this season. Tottenham arrives in Bilbao with limited options in midfield due to absences. They will miss James Maddison, arguably their most important passer, along with Dejan Kulusevski, who had a quietly effective season, and promising youngster Lucas Bergvall. This leaves manager Postecoglou with similar types of players in Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, potentially also sweating on the fitness of Pape Matar Sarr. Postecoglou might need to deploy players like Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore in unconventional roles, as he did in their recent loss at Aston Villa, highlighting a significant tactical question for the final.
By default, Manchester United might have the advantage in midfield, despite it being a problematic area for them for some time. Casemiro still gets playing time despite being past his peak, while Manuel Ugarte is tasked with covering a workload perhaps too large for one player. Bruno Fernandes has repeatedly carried the team, even publicly urging teammates to `step up` and share the responsibility. Whether his teammates can meet this demand quickly is uncertain, but Fernandes is likely prepared to shoulder the burden himself on Wednesday, regardless of their performance.
Forwards: Tottenham Hotspur Stronger in Attack
This has been an unusual season for Tottenham, partly because their attack has functioned quite effectively. They rank sixth in the Premier League for goals scored and are in the top half for shots, shots on target, and expected goals. Their goals have come from a variety of players, with five different individuals scoring 10 or more goals across all competitions this season. This list includes Maddison and Kulusevski, who will be absent for the final. However, Brennan Johnson has surprisingly led their scoring charts with 17 goals this season, while Dominic Solanke has contributed a respectable 15 in his first year at the club. Captain Son Heung-min has also had a solid season with 11 goals and 11 assists.
This presents a stark contrast to Manchester United, who are 16th in the Premier League for goals scored and in the bottom half for most attacking metrics. United`s difficulty in signing an impactful goalscorer is evident here, especially considering only three players *other than* Bruno Fernandes have reached double figures for goals: Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Amad Diallo. While these players have delivered in crucial moments this season, there are enough instances where they haven`t met expectations to raise concerns about their potential performance on Wednesday.
