Manchester United are well on their way to the Europa League final after beating a 10-man Athletic Bilbao side 3-0 in an impressive semi-final first leg in Spain.
The Red Devils' worst ever Premier League campaign means they have long been expected to fail in Bilbao or fail. The final will be held at the Basque team's San Mamés stadium on May 21.
Athletic's hopes of winning a first European trophy on home soil appeared to be dashed when their energetic start to Thursday's fixture was followed by a first-half slump, with Casemiro's opener compounded by Daniel Vivian's red card for a foul on Rasmus Hjøjlund.
Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty and United's cool captain added a second before half-time at a turbulent San Mamés, where it looks likely Amorim's side will return later this month to face Budo/Glimt or, more likely, Tottenham.
Ahead of the match, the Portuguese admitted that success in the Europa League would not fix their season, but it would bring trophies and the necessary Champions League qualification for the team, which sits 14th in the Premier League table.
Athletic will need a miracle in Manchester next Thursday after a game full of hope and anticipation ended in a painful defeat.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
