The Europa League final will take place in Bilbao in just under 3 weeks time (Wednesday 21st May) but will the hosts Athletic Club grace their own party?

Athletic Bilbao are a shade of odds on (10/11) to take a first leg advantage to Old Trafford and they look decent value to pile more misery on Man United.

Currently sitting 4th in La Liga, Bilbao have a formidable home record (1 defeat in 17 League matches this season) and are unbeaten in 10 at San Mames. Champions League qualification is their own hands via their league position, but they are quite rightly dreaming about a European final in their own backyard.

United meanwhile need this desperately. Champions League revenue next season could help turbo charge yet another big summer recruitment drive, and it is clear this is a team in need of major surgery.

There have been glimpses of improvement for United in recent weeks. The remarkable extra time comeback against Lyon will long live in the memory, but their best work has come against 10 men in the last few matches.

United are unbeaten in 12 Europa League matches this season, but this is a big step up in class. They have shown that they can raise their game in important matches, but I think the best they can hope for here is to get out of Bilbao still in with a chance to perform some 2nd leg heroics at Old Trafford.

Match Result: Athletic Bilbao (10/11) – £20 Single

Player bets will follow after 7pm

7pm Update:

Here we go, i’m looking forward to this one and hoping to get over the recent poor run of form for the tips.

Player to be Carded:

Casemiro (15/8), Manuel Ugarte (2/1), Harry Maguire (12/5), Patrick Dorgu (3/1), Yuri Berchiche (13/5), Mikel Jauregizar (4/1)

£5 Singles

Player Shot on Target:

Alex Berenguer (4/5), Casemiro (11/4), Harry Maguire (4/1)

£5 Singles

Others

Over 2.5 Goals (5/4), Over 9.5 Corners (4/5)

£10 Singles

Summary:

£85 Staked across 12 tips. Good luck with your bets.

HT Update: Well that didn’t go as expected! United seem to have their name on the trophy.

4 of the 12 tips are in at HT and we have a minimum return of £68.25

Nothing doing in the second half. The match ended with 9 corners, so one short of a pay out there.

Totally mis-read the match result but still escaped with a loss of £16.75.