It is arguably the biggest game of the season involving two Premier League clubs, and it’s probably unprecedented to say that about sides expected to finish in 16th and 17th place in the table with one game remaining.
Man United and Tottenham have had similarly dreadful seasons domestically, with their far superior finances than most other teams in the competition getting them to this point in the Europa League.
Many people make the Red Devils slight favourites. They are going for their third trophy in three seasons, while Tottenham haven’t won anything since the League Cup in 2008.
Spurs, however, have won all three previous encounters between the teams this season and will be confident of another victory, despite missing key midfielders James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall.
A Champions League place and an estimated £100 million boost are at stake.
Alex Ferguson (left) ahead of the UEFA Europa League final Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
21 May
7:52PM
16/17 - Tonight's UEFA Europa League showpiece is the first major European final competed between teams who both finished outside of the top-10 in the league. Undomesticated. #UELfinalpic.twitter.com/QBXohcmZ5L
Manchester United's Leny Yoro, left, and Tottenham's Dominic Solanke jump for the ball. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
21 May
8:23PM
21 mins: Not much has happened in the last few minutes.
United have controlled possession without really threatening.
As I type, Fernandes’s low cross is gathered by Vicario.
21 May
8:24PM
22 mins: United have had 66% possession so far.
Without their three more technical midfielders — Kulusevski, Bergvall and Maddison — Tottenham look content to let their opponents have the ball more than usual.
As they have more recently of late, Spurs have played a type of football different to what fans have been used to under Postecoglou and more akin to the style they played under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
But it’s paid off so far in a game of few chances.
United have dominated possession without doing much with the ball. They have created a handful of half-chances at best, with Diallo looking their biggest threat down the right.
21 May
9:05PM
The goal has been given to Brennan Johnson, despite some suggesting Luke Shaw got the final touch.
Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur wheels away in celebration. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
21 May
9:13PM
53 mins: Fernandes plays a dangerous through ball but Romero is alert to intercept.
Only Wolves and the three relegated teams have a worse defensive record than Spurs in the Premier League this season, but Postecoglou’s men have looked strong at the back tonight.
21 May
9:17PM
57 mins: There’s an increas ing sense that Tottenham are controlling this game without the ball.
United are dominating possession, but the North Londoners have seldom been troubled.
21 May
9:18PM
58 mins: Richarlison gets booked for cynically tripping Mazraoui.
From the ensuing free kick, Fernandes’ ball in causes problems, but Vicario keeps out Yoro’s effort from close range.
21 May
9:21PM
60 mins: It’s like an attack-v-defence training session at the moment.
Spurs are doing well to limit United’s chances, but can they sustain this approach for the 90 minutes?
21 May
9:22PM
63 mins: Udogie plays through Solanke on goal on the counter.
But the striker takes a heavy touch to allow the United defence to recover.
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As it happened: Man United v Tottenham, Europa League final
Man United 0-1 Tottenham
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It is arguably the biggest game of the season involving two Premier League clubs, and it’s probably unprecedented to say that about sides expected to finish in 16th and 17th place in the table with one game remaining.
Man United and Tottenham have had similarly dreadful seasons domestically, with their far superior finances than most other teams in the competition getting them to this point in the Europa League.
Many people make the Red Devils slight favourites. They are going for their third trophy in three seasons, while Tottenham haven’t won anything since the League Cup in 2008.
Spurs, however, have won all three previous encounters between the teams this season and will be confident of another victory, despite missing key midfielders James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall.
A Champions League place and an estimated £100 million boost are at stake.
It’s bound to be a fascinating affair.
Confirmation of the starting XIs below…
Tottenham and Man United fans ahead of the game at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao, Spain.
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Some pre-match reading for you…
We’re underway…
3 mins: Positive start for Tottenham.
They win a corner. But immediately, a free out is given as the ball is delivered, with Van de Ven penalised for knocking over Maguire.
4 mins: This time, United win a corner.
Maguire wins a header in the area, and Udogie nervously hacks it clear.
8 mins: It’s been pretty tight so far, with no clear-cut chances.
United are seeing more of the ball, with Tottenham happy to sit back to an extent and play on the counter.
9 mins: Good ball in by Porro.
Mazraoui is in the right place to get to the ball just ahead of Richarlison.
11 mins: Johnson bursts into the area with the ball.
The winger’s shot from a tight angle is parried away by Onana.
Moments later, a free kick is played in, and Richarlison’s shot is deflected out for a corner.
Good crossfield pass by Maguire to find Dorgu.
The full-back’s first-time cross is cut out by Romero.
16 mins: A Fernandes corner eventually falls to Diallo.
The attacker fires a powerful shot narrowly wide.
21 mins: Not much has happened in the last few minutes.
United have controlled possession without really threatening.
As I type, Fernandes’s low cross is gathered by Vicario.
22 mins: United have had 66% possession so far.
Without their three more technical midfielders — Kulusevski, Bergvall and Maddison — Tottenham look content to let their opponents have the ball more than usual.
28 mins: Udogie fires in a hopeful cross and Dorgu needlessly puts it out for a corner.
Both sides have had decent spells in the opening half hour.
30 mins: Diallo makes a purposeful run forward.
But Johnson is in the right place to cut out the cross.
32 mins: Diallo has looked lively, making a few exciting runs forward.
But the most recent instance ends with him ballooning a cross straight out of play.
35 mins: Diallo receives the game’s first booking.
It’s for a blatant tug on Udogie’s jersey as the full-back runs away from him.
36 mins: Porro has a free kick in a decent position, but his delivery is poor and it fails to beat the first man.
This game could do with a goal, it’s a little cagey and low on attacking quality.
40 mins: Diallo attempts a shot at goal, but a deflection off Richarlison takes the sting out of it.
The United winger took a knock as he shot there, but it looks like he’ll be alright to continue.
TOTTENHAM 1-0 MAN UNITED (JOHNSON 42)
43 mins: Tottenham are ahead out of nothing.
Sarr puts in a dangerous cross and the deflection it takes sees it creeps into the net.
It’s hard to judge on replays whether Johnson or Shaw gets the final touch.
45 mins: United almost respond immediately.
Casemiro plays through Fernandes, but Van de Ven does well to get his body in the way of the midfielder’s shot.
There will be two minutes of first-half stoppage time…
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-1 TOTTENHAM
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
So it’s been a scrappy first half.
As they have more recently of late, Spurs have played a type of football different to what fans have been used to under Postecoglou and more akin to the style they played under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
But it’s paid off so far in a game of few chances.
United have dominated possession without doing much with the ball. They have created a handful of half-chances at best, with Diallo looking their biggest threat down the right.
The goal has been given to Brennan Johnson, despite some suggesting Luke Shaw got the final touch.
The second half has begun…
48 mins: Diallo’s cross finds Højlund, but it’s slightly behind the striker, who can’t get the necessary power into his header.
Moments later, Van de Ven gets booked for clattering into Højlund.
53 mins: Fernandes plays a dangerous through ball but Romero is alert to intercept.
Only Wolves and the three relegated teams have a worse defensive record than Spurs in the Premier League this season, but Postecoglou’s men have looked strong at the back tonight.
57 mins: There’s an increas ing sense that Tottenham are controlling this game without the ball.
United are dominating possession, but the North Londoners have seldom been troubled.
58 mins: Richarlison gets booked for cynically tripping Mazraoui.
From the ensuing free kick, Fernandes’ ball in causes problems, but Vicario keeps out Yoro’s effort from close range.
60 mins: It’s like an attack-v-defence training session at the moment.
Spurs are doing well to limit United’s chances, but can they sustain this approach for the 90 minutes?
63 mins: Udogie plays through Solanke on goal on the counter.
But the striker takes a heavy touch to allow the United defence to recover.
66 mins: Tottenham are forced into the game’s first change.
Richarlison has picked up a knock and is replaced by Son Heung-Min.
68 mins: Big chance!
Vicario drops a routine free kick, Højlund heads it goalwards, but Van de Ven makes a magnificent goal-line clearance.
71 mins: Man United make their first changes.
Garnacho and Zirkzee are on. Mount and Højlund go off.
Another big United chance!
Mazraoui’s cross finds Fernandes. But the Portuguese international can’t find the target with his diving header.
74 minutes: United are getting closer.
Garnacho runs at the defenders, but his low shot is parried out for a corner by Vicario.
76 minutes: Shaw goes down under a challenge by Porro.
Initially, it looks like the referee has given a penalty, but he’s actually pointing for a goal kick.
It looked like the tackle was outside the area anyway.
78 mins: Tottenham make a defensive change.
The goalscorer Brennan Johnson is replaced by a centre-back, Kevin Danso.
It means Spurs will play a back five.
81 minutes: It feels like Tottenham are hanging on at this stage.
They’re offering very little threat on the counter and have more or less shut up shop.
84 mins: Zirkzee gets booked for taking down Udogie on the counter-attack.
Some of the Spurs players, notably Solanke, look exhausted.
Meanwhile, for United, Dalot has replaced Mazraoui.
85 mins: Son curls in a free kick, and it narrowly eludes the onrushing Danso.
That’s one of the few times Tottenham have got into the United area since half-time.
89 mins: It’s gotten to the point where Maguire is playing as a makeshift centre forward.
It really is desperation time from a Man United perspective.
Showing his frustration, Maguire has just received a yellow card for taking Romero out in the air.
90 minutes: Spurs make a double change.
Archie Gray and Djed Spence replace Sarr and Udogie.
90 mins: United also make a change.
Mainoo is on for Dorgu.
There will be seven minutes of stoppage time…
93 mins: Spurs are slowing the game down at every opportunity.
Son has just won a free kick just inside the United half.
95 mins: Danso makes a great defensive header to clear from a dangerous Diallo cross.
It’s backs-to-the-wall stuff for Tottenham.
As I type, Yoro blazes a shot well over the bar.
96 minutes: Penalty claims as a United player goes down in the box but it’s waved away.
97 mins: Vicario makes a great save to deny Shaw’s header.
97 mins: United have one last chance with a corner.
FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 1-0 MAN UNITED
So that’s that.
Tottenham will play Champions League football next season and net £100 million.
It’s their first trophy win since the League Cup in 2008 and it means Ange Postecoglou again wins something in his perfect season.
Without three key technical midfielders, Spurs were forced into playing a style widely different to have usually been under Postecoglou.
But it worked, as an unspectacular but defensively sound performance saw them over the line.
For United, it’s the worst moment of an extremely disappointing season.
They probably didn’t do enough to win the game.
They dominated possession, and Spurs survived a few nervy moments late on, but ultimately they had no answer to the North Londoners’ conservatism.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
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Liveblog Minute-by-Minute Soccer Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur