Manchester United are aiming for their sixth European title when they face fellow Premier League underdogs Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Let's take a look at how they managed to make it to the final, which will take place in Bilbao on May 21.
Group stage: Manchester United third out of 36 teams, 18 points
United made a poor start to the group stage under a new squad under Erik ten Hag, whose previous club Twente sensationally drew 1-1 at Old Trafford in September. Harry Maguire's late goal gave the No. 10 Red Devils a 3-3 draw in Porto before Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce held them to a 1-1 draw in Turkey. Following Ten Hag's resignation, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy ended United's 380-day wait for European glory by beating PAOK 2-0 at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim in charge for the first time in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over eventual semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt. United then won 2-1 away to Viktoria Plzen and at home to Rangers, and also won 2-0 in Romania against FCSB to avoid the play-offs.
Round of 16: Real Sociedad 1-1 (a); 4-1 (h); 5-2 on aggregate
In San Sebastian, United failed to convert a positive performance into victory when Joshua Zirkzee put the visitors ahead, but Mikel Oyarzabal equalised from the penalty spot after VAR ruled Bruno Fernandes had handballed. Bruno's hat-trick in the return inspired a comfortable win over 10-man Real Sociedad. Oyarzabal's second penalty of the tie left United uneasy before the captain completed the treble, scoring from a Diogo Dalot assist.
Quarter-finals: Lyon 2-2 (a); 5-4 (ext. time) (h); 7-6 on aggregate after extra time
Andre Onana endured a dreadful first leg in France, where his verbal spat with Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic ended with him conceding a Thiago Almada free-kick too easily. Leni Joro and Zirkzee gave United the lead, but the goalkeeper, under pressure, saved for Ryan Cherki, who equalised in injury time. The return leg at Old Trafford proved an unlikely slog. First-half strikes from Manuel Ugarte and Dalot put United in control, but the visitors scored four goals in quick succession. Goals from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico quickly sent the match into extra time, with Lyon kicking off despite Tolisso's sending-off for two yellow-card offences, as Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette rocked the hosts. But Amorim's men did not waver: after a penalty from Fernandes in the 120th minute, Kobbi Mainu equalised the score, and soon Maguire scored the winning goal with a header.
Semi-finals: Athletic Bilbao 3-0 (a); 4-1 (h); 7-1 on aggregate
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
