EL Final Preview 25 – Spurs or Man Utd?
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United face each other in the EL Final on Wednesday, May 21. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming final!
In contrast to poor respective league campaigns (17th and 16th respectively at the time of writing), the two English sides have miraculously found form in Europe to reach the final this season. Perhaps the carrot of a CL place for the winner next season has forced their hand to focus on this tournament rather than aim for a mid-table league finish.
The final will be held at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain at 21:00 (CET). United have recent history of playing at this stadium, having defeated Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final of this competition just a few weeks ago.
And it’s difficult to predict whether this will be an ‘all out’ affair, with both sides desperate to save their season with a trophy and CL place next season. Or whether both sides will bring their appalling league form into the match with the stakes so high. Let’s take a dive into how the game may play out with this EL final preview.
Route to the Final
Both performed well in the league table stage of the competition, with United finishing third and Spurs fourth. United were the only unbeaten team in that phase, winning five and drawing three of their eight matches (18 points). They finished one point above Tottenham, whose 17 came from five wins and two draws (one defeat).
In the knockout stages, both received a bye and entered the Round of 16. Ange Postecoglou’s side would overcome AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate with a 3-1 victory in the second leg at home to secure victory. Ruben Amorin’s team would beat Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate with a 4-1 victory at home in their second leg.
The quarter-finals saw the London outfit overcome Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 with a 1-0 away victory in the second leg to secure their passage to the last four. United, meanwhile, required a dramatic second leg to overcome Olympique Lyonnais, with a 5-4 victory in the dying moments to secure a 7-6 aggregate win at home.
The semis posed tests for both English clubs, but they both passed these with ease. Spurs faced a tricky Scandinavian opponent and record a 5-1 victory over both ties, with United hitting seven goals in total past Bilbao to secure a 7-1 aggregate win, including three at the venue of the upcoming final.
Tale of the Tape
League form has been shocking from both teams, which makes the match-up between the two very intriguing, especially for bettors. Those looking at the latest Tottenham vs Man Utd odds will want to consider how both have been playing recently.
Postecoglou’s side has two wins, two draws, and one defeat in their last five matches. Amorin’s side has essentially given up on their league performances at this point, although their record in their last five matches is poor, having lost three matches and won 2.
Still, the EL form suggests that neither team will be easy to walk over. Amorin’s Red Devils remain unbeaten and are top scorers in the competition this year, while Spurs have lost twice across the entire competition.
Head-to-Head
Regarding past meetings between the two sides since 2010, United have the edge. They have 15 wins across all competitions, with the North Londoners enjoying 11 (seven draws). However, this past season, Postecoglou’s men have won each of the three meetings between the two so far.
When looking at the Tottenham vs Man Utd odds for this game, expect goals. In the three games played, 11 goals were scored, although the last fixture saw the Londoners win 1-0.
Son, Kulusevski, & Solanke Bring Creativity & Firepower
Tottenham’s Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski enter the game as doubts, as they have both picked up injuries recently. The South Korean captain has been nursing a foot injury for the last month, but managed to feature for 30 minutes at the weekend as he recovers. The Swede had to be removed early from that game with knee trouble, making him a concern despite being called a “knock”.
Still, should both be available, they will threaten the defence of United. Both players are incredibly skilful with the ball, being able to run at the defenders with pace. This could challenge whoever Amorin starts wide at the back, as both like to cut on the inside and beat their man.
Add in the prolificacy that Dominic Solanke has enjoyed in his debut season across all competitions, the frontman will be an aerial and central target for his teammates. He has 13 goals so far, with five in the EL from 12 matches, including four assists. With Kulusevski’s three assists and one goal, as well as Son’s three goals and one assist, Spurs could find a way to get past United’s leaky defence (18 conceded in Europe).
Fernandes, Højlund, & Garnacho Real Attacking Threat
In this year’s competition, Amorin has some of the most productive players in terms of attacking stats, and they must perform once again if they are to win. Bruno Fernandes has been one of the top performers. He is the joint-leader in most goals scored (seven), while he is tied-fourth for most assists (four). He has been a consistent leader for the team and will have to be at his very best if they are to come away with the title.
However, he is going to need help. Alejandro Garnacho is tied with him in this aspect, making him a real attacking threat in the wide areas of the pitch. The Argentine winger can go off the boil a little at times, but if he can find his level of creativity, he could pose Spurs’ defence plenty of problems with his trickery.
The Red Devils will also need Rasmus Højland to perform. Despite struggling in the league, he has performed well in Europe throughout the season. He has six goals (tied fourth) and has two assists, making the Dane a real threat for the Tottenham defence, despite only conceding 13 in this year’s competition.
Predicted Team News & Line-Ups
Both teams have notable injuries ahead of this tie. Tottenham will be without James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall, while United will miss Joshua Zirkzee and Lisandro Martinez. United could also be without Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt, with each defender registered as doubtful.
Tottenham Predicted Starting XI: Vicaro; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bissouma; Johnson, Son; Solanke.
United Predicted Starting XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Garnacho, Fernandes; Højlund.
(Selections made based on the players listed as doubtful being fit.)
Cup Final Odds
The Tottenham vs Man United odds are extremely close, highlighting how tight this contest is expected to be. The following has been made available (correct at time of writing):
Spurs (2.95) – Draw (3.30) – Man Utd (2.50)
Amorin’s side is being favoured slightly by the sportsbooks to become the 2024/25 EL champions.
Last Updated: 20.05.2025
