Manchester United enjoyed their night in Bilbao so much that they will surely be coming back. They remain the only unbeaten team among the more than 100 that have played this competition over eight long months, and even if they do fall to a first in seven days’ time, the margin of this victory means they should still be there on its final game in this same arena, the season given meaning and potentially a triumphant end, the Europa League their elixir and their escape once again.
They came to the stadium everyone calls the Cathedral and defeated Athletic Bilbao so convincingly that the second leg carries little threat. No one had won here this year in Europe and Athletic had conceded just 10 times in all competitions; United scored three in a quarter of an hour, an opening goal from Casemiro and two from Bruno Fernandes ending this before half-time. All the more so because the second came from the spot, accompanied by a red card for Dani Vivian, infuriating the home supporters and virtually ensuring that they will not play the final they host on 21 May.
Ultimately this was an efficient, impressive performance in which United looked something like the team they are supposed to be: one that can win a European title that has become their salvation and a glimpse, perhaps, of future hope, not least as it would give them Champions League access. One that ended up looking on a different level to their opponents, even if it hadn’t started that way.
In fact, Athletic began well, forcing the first corner and the first roar inside 90 seconds. United’s early possession was not so much a platform for them to do something as for Athletic to, ready to asphyxiate their opponents and accelerate with the robbed ball.
That front-footed approach, though, did expose them to the ball behind and just four minutes in, Manuel Ugarte released Alejandro Garnacho to finish. That was offside, but it was also a warning, an invitation to United to seek the same wing.
André Onana had to save from Alex Berenguer, Iñaki Williams headed just over and when the Ghana international then raced up the right and pulled back, Victor Lindelöf made two decisive interceptions – the second on the line with Berenguer shooting from five yards.
That should have been the opener; instead, having resisted the pressure, it was United who got it just before the half hour. Ruben Amorim admitted that the first 25 minutes were not the same as the rest, the game changing with the opening goals and the red card.
The first goal was made by United’s unlikely hero doing unlikely things, more unlikely even than last time. Harry Maguire, the emergency striker who had completed that astonishing comeback against Lyon, smacking in a header on 121 minutes, now went all Stanley Matthews. If that had been latter-day Ronaldo, this was more like his teenage incarnation.
Faced by Mikel Jauregizar on the right, Maguire turned one way and the next, went past his man and delivered the cross. Ugarte headed it on and, at the far post, Casemiro arrived to nod into the net.
United doubled their lead two minutes later, and in a way that gave them even more of an advantage than the goal they scored. Again, it started on the right, where United had always identified opportunity.
When the ball from Noussair Mazraoui came across the six yard box, Rasmus Højlund went down. Vivian accused him of diving but the defender was protesting too much. Højlund may have been quick to go to ground but there had been a clear hand on his shoulder and when the referee Espen Eskås came back from the VAR screen he pointed to the spot and pulled out a red card, double jeopardy doing for Athletic.
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Vivian departed, Fernandes rolled in the penalty and this, it seemed, was done. Iñaki Williams did bend a shot wide but Athletic appeared gone and United added a third. Højlund scrambled for the ball, Ugarte provided the clever flick and Fernandes ran through to finish high. The lead might even have extended still further before half-time, when Mazraoui smashed one off the bar.
The protests which accompanied them off at the break increased early in the second when the referee was called to the screen to have another look at Maguire pulling down Maroan Sannadi.
He, though, decided that was no red card, any tiny hope that the numbers might be evened out – and a comeback would start – snuffed out. Instead, United controlled this, never in danger. They managed it with a certain comfort, a sense of superiority, and the threat, if not the need, of extending the lead still further.
There was another penalty appeal from Højlund, tangling with Yuri Berchiche. Ugarte and Casemiro both took aim from distance and the Brazilian put a header against the post. The frequency increased in the final 10 minutes, Julen Agirrezabala saving from Garnacho and Fernandes before Fernandes headed over and Højlund’s shot didn’t find the target.
Iñaki Williams had gone sprinting up the pitch, the noise from San Mamés rising as he ran, but Athletic were exhausted, defeated, and those chances were a reminder that this could still get worse.
For Manchester United, despite not adding the fourth, the night in Bilbao could hardly have been any better, and they will surely be back.
