England’s top clubs took commanding strides toward European finals on Thursday night as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea all secured impressive first-leg victories in their respective UEFA competitions.
Manchester United Cruise in Bilbao
Manchester United delivered a clinical away performance to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Spain, setting themselves firmly on course for the Europa League final. Goals from Casemiro and a brace from captain Bruno Fernandes secured the win against a Bilbao side reduced to 10 men early in the second half.
United dominated large spells of the match and showed composure under pressure in front of a passionate San Mames crowd. The result leaves Erik ten Hag’s side needing only to avoid a collapse in the return leg to book a place in the final, which will also be held in Bilbao — a rare quirk of the tournament setup.
The away end erupted at the final whistle, with United’s players making a point of thanking the travelling fans. BBC Radio 5 Live described the scenes as “wonderful” and “deserved for such a confident performance.”
Tottenham Take Lead but Bodo/Glimt Land Late Blow
In North London, Tottenham Hotspur earned a 3-1 victory over Norway’s Bodo/Glimt in a tie that remains finely balanced. Goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke put Spurs in control, but a late strike from Ulrik Saltnes gave the visitors a glimmer of hope heading into next week’s second leg in the Arctic Circle.
While Spurs fans will be pleased with the two-goal advantage, the late goal slightly dampened the celebratory mood. Former England goalkeeper Rob Green, on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, said, “This was a missed opportunity for Spurs to put the tie to bed.”
The artificial pitch and icy conditions awaiting Spurs in Norway will add an unpredictable element to the return fixture. However, with their attacking trio firing, Ange Postecoglou’s side remain favourites to advance.
Chelsea Dominate Djurgarden
Over in Stockholm, Chelsea ran riot against Swedish side Djurgarden, winning 4-1 and virtually booking their place in the Europa Conference League final. Goals from Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, and two from Nicolas Jackson put the Blues in firm control ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella likened Chelsea to a “Death Star” in the Conference League, wreaking havoc with their vastly superior squad depth and quality. The Premier League side, whose squad is valued higher than many entire leagues, proved too powerful for their Swedish hosts.
“This team is only getting more dominant,” Kinsella wrote, “and they’ve put one foot, both arms, and four of five toes into the final in Poland.”
Chelsea’s success in this competition may be tempered by the level of opposition they’ve faced, with Real Betis or Fiorentina likely to offer the stiffest challenge should they meet in the final.
Elsewhere in Europe
Real Betis edged Fiorentina 2-1 at home in the other Conference League semi-final. Robin Gosens came close to equalizing for the Italian side late in the match, but his header narrowly missed the target. The tie remains delicately poised.
Back in North London, concern briefly swept the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Bodo/Glimt’s only shot on target found the net, exposing Spurs’ vulnerability late on. One fan summed up the mood with a text to #bbcfootball: “Typical Spurs. Can’t kill a game.”
Looking Ahead
All three English clubs take strong leads into the second legs next week. While Manchester United and Chelsea appear to have one foot in their respective finals, Tottenham still have work to do in the cold of northern Norway.
Regardless, Thursday night was a celebration of Premier League strength on the European stage, with three dominant performances and the promise of more drama to come.
