Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United Prediction, Preview, Team News and Lineups 21.05.2025

Event Details

• Date and Time: Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 3 PM EDT
• Venue: San Mames Barria, Bilbao, Spain
• Competition: UEFA Europa League Final

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United Preview and Team News

Tottenham Hotspur Team News

Can there be a bigger game than this in all of Europe, save the final of the UEFA Champions League? Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United take each other on in the final of the UEFA Europa League in Bilbao on Wednesday. Neither team will be playing at home, and this fact, oddly enough, will give each of them an advantage and a disadvantage. 

Spurs have been an aberration this season, and one would have to delve deep into the records of European football to see if there had ever been a side ranked 17th in the Premier League table who had made it to the Europa League final. 

Spurs are on their way to Bilbao 🎶 pic.twitter.com/rVNJFnIDSk

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 17, 2025

Spurs have been below average in the league this season, but more than made up for it in the Europa League, where their attacking credentials can be attested to by poor FK Bodø/Glimt, whom they thrashed in the semifinals, returning with accumulated figures of 5-1 across both legs. 

In their most recent encounter in the Premier League, Spurs’ performance seemed painful even as manager Ange Postecoglou fielded a young side against Aston Villa and lost the game 0-2. This was ostensibly done to ensure that the first team players rested well before the big final on Wednesday.

Lilywhite in Bilbao 🤍 pic.twitter.com/glV8tn6YcH

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 17, 2025

There is no doubt whatsoever that Spurs boast of immense attacking potential, given that the likes of Richarlison and James Maddison (albeit injured) operate in full flow, giving supply to the ever-available Heung-min Son, who has seemed a shadow of his former self after Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich. 

Nonetheless, in this game, they will have to be on their toes in defence too, and not allow the Manchester United attackers to weave past them and pick up goals at will. 

Maddison’s knee injury will hamper Spurs’ preparation for this game, as will the unavailability of the likes of Dane Scarlett, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall and Radu Drăgușin. 

The Europa League final is next ⏳ pic.twitter.com/aXnS15iaec

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 17, 2025

Manager Postecoglou has managed to hold on to his job despite severe disappointment in the Premier League, and this game will hold a lot of significance for him personally. Spurs like to play with a 4-3-3 formation normally, and this gives them a lot of time on the ball while employing their wingers to course forward and crowd the attacking third.

Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineup vs Manchester United (4-3-3): Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Bentancur; Johnson, Solanke, Richarlison.

Manchester United Team News

If one game can decide the future of a club, once flourishing but now struggling to keep up with the times, it will be this. Manchester United decided to look beyond Erik ten Hag late last year and turned to Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, and the latter has almost single-handedly guided them to the Europa League final this time around. 

However, Manchester United’s performance in the Premier League has been abysmal, at best, with them currently being ranked 16th in the table. In their last outing in the league, they were thrashed 0-1 by old rivals Chelsea. Manager Ruben Amorim fielded most of his first-team players in that clash, risking injury and fatigue ahead of the big final, but failing to get a good result. 

It’s #UEL final week and the Reds are ready 🔴🖼️#MUFC pic.twitter.com/rOXqmzdDEP

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 19, 2025

However, if they beat fellow English club Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final and take home the title, which they last won in 2016-17, every sin will be forgiven. Most importantly, the winner of this game gets a ticket to the UEFA Champions League next season, and that will be the carrot driving the Red Devils. 

United, under Amorim, play with a 3-4-2-1 formation in which a lot of emphasis is put upon central midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro. The duo sit back and wait for the ball to come to them when in possession and then drive forward to supply it to their more attack-minded colleagues. 

Our focus shifts to Wednesday now.#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/Mf4uhmB9Z4

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 18, 2025

Captain Bruno Fernandes, who is, by trade, a central attacking midfielder but has played several roles under Amorim, including that of a wide-lying playmaker, is the one through whom most of United’s attack builds, and the same will be the case in this game as well. The three-man backline allows for two wing-backs who bomb up and down on a regular basis to ensure that their forward line is always supplied with crosses inside the box. 

Up till now, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui have managed to do the job well despite Diogo Dalot’s absence due to injury. Central defender Leny Yoro recently picked up a foot injury, and will not be available for selection in this game, forcing Amorim to look into a backline consisting of Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt. Lisandro Martínez and Joshua Zirkzee remain long-term absentees for the Red Devils. Matthijs de Ligt is also a doubtful starter owing to a knock.

Manchester United predicted lineup vs Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1): Onana; Maguire, Lindelöf, Shaw; Dorgu, Ugarte, Casemiro, Mazraoui; Fernandes, Garnacho; Højlund.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United Prediction

• Pick: Manchester United to win or draw
• Odds: -256 (20Bet)
• Score prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester United

Manchester United have a slight advantage over their opponents in this game, and we expect them to either win or draw. The way in which the Red Devils dismantled Athletic Bilbao in the semifinals, scoring 3-0 and 4-1 over the two legs respectively, showed that they mean business in the Europa League and will go to great lengths to ensure a Champions League berth next season. 

Ruben’s Reds are going to Bilbao 🏆#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/hOYwHbFEG6

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 17, 2025

There have been a total of 33 games recorded between these teams in the recent past, out of which Manchester United have won or drawn 22. The rest of the 11 matches were won by Tottenham Hotspur. United also have the experience of having won the Europa League in the past, in the 2016-17 season, under former Jose Mourinho (who, interestingly, was also a part of Spurs in the past).

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United Prediction, Betting Tip

• Pick: Both teams to score
• Odds: -132 (20Bet)

With attackers such as Richarlison and Son plying their trade for Spurs, as well as Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho for United, what else can we predict but both teams to score (BTTS)? Two out of the last four matches played between these teams have seen both teams get on the scoresheet, and we expect the same here, no matter what the result. 

Most recently, Spurs managed to edge United out 1-0 in the Premier League in February, but United have got back on their feet nicely and seem well set to score goals in this game. With Rasmus Højlund operating up front and Amad Diallo expected to come off the bench, Amorim’s side look blessed in terms of attacking potential.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United Where to Watch (USA, Canada)

• Paramount+ (USA)
• DAZN (Canada)

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By Mohul Bhowmick

Updated: 19 May 2025, 19:19