Manchester United will face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final after both clubs secured convincing semi-final wins on Thursday, May 8.
Tottenham defeated Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt 2-0 in the second leg, completing a 5-1 win on aggregate. The match, played in stormy weather in northern Norway, saw second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro seal the victory for the London club.
This result gives Spurs a shot at winning their first trophy since 2008 and a much-needed boost for manager Ange Postecoglou, whose job has been under threat due to poor domestic results. Despite sitting 16th in the Premier League, winning the Europa League would also secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United, on the other hand, had already booked their ticket to the final with a dominant 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Bilbao. The final is set to take place in Bilbao on May 21.
Tottenham have had the upper hand over United this season, beating them three times already in all competitions. But they come into the final with a poor recent record in finals, having lost their last four—most notably the 2019 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool.
The win in Bodo was a rare bright moment in Tottenham’s tough season. Bodo/Glimt, who became the first Norwegian side to reach a major European semi-final, had knocked out big teams like Lazio, Porto, and Olympiakos on their way. Even Norwegian royalty was present at the small 8,270-seater Aspmyra Stadium to witness the historic game.
Tottenham played with patience, sitting deep and countering rather than pushing forward aggressively. Solanke opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, reacting quickest to a headed pass from Cristian Romero. Just six minutes later, Porro’s curling cross drifted into the net, catching the goalkeeper off guard.
With that, Tottenham booked their spot in the final and gave their fans hope of ending a 17-year trophy drought.
The final now sets up a clash between two struggling Premier League giants, each desperate to end a disappointing season with silverware.
