Manchester United won their Europa League semifinal first leg against Athletic Club, boosting their chances of reaching the final.
The home audience was taken aback by United's brutal performance at San Mamés in Bilbao, where the final will be held later this month. United has rarely displayed this type of performance in 2024–25 and typically reserves it for Europe.
Athletic Club would have wanted to continue and win the trophy at home, but three goals in the first half destroyed them, and defender Daniel Vivian was also brought off for the home team during that time.
Before halftime, Casemiro gave United the lead, and Bruno Fernandes added two more goals. With two hits against the woodwork and many stops required from the home goalie, it might have been more.
In the end, United got off to a quick start, with Alejandro Garnacho's goal that was disallowed five minutes in possibly foreshadowing this. Despite having the ball in the net, the Argentine winger was flagged for offside, and the on-field judgment was upheld by a VAR check.
Following a period of athletic pressure during which Andre Onana made a stop against Alex Berenguer, headers from Iñaki Williams and Yuri Berchiche both missed the mark. Near the quarter mark, United's Victor Lindelof, expected to leave in summer, became the hero by stopping Berenguer's goal-bound attempt on the line.
United, who had remarkably escaped the assault in Bilbao, punished their hosts for failing to capitalize. After 30 minutes, Casemiro broke the tie with a close-range header, although Harry Maguire deserves a lot of praise for flicking the ball into the box after Manuel Ugarte had searched for it.
When United's advantage was swiftly increased, VAR was to blame. When checking the pitch-side monitor, the referee pointed to the spot and gave Rasmus Hojlund a red card when Vivian pushed him off balance, but he rejected giving a penalty in real time.
United was quickly cruising against 10 players after Fernandes scored from the penalty spot.
A superb stop denied Patrick Dorgu a 3-0 lead late in the first half. After Hojlund's effort, Ugarte seized the ball, and the skipper calmly finished past Agirrezabala, sealing United's dominance.
In the first half stoppage time, Noussair Mazraoui struck the crossbar from the outside of the box, and it might have easily been four as well.
VAR spotted a potential foul and red card for Maguire stopping isolated attacker Marwan Sannadi in the second half, angering Athletic as the numbers weren't even. The home team was furious, with sub keeper Unai Simon booked for protesting, though the ref took no action and VAR upheld the decision.
Athletic lost their minds after falling 3-0, facing elimination from a competition they hoped to win. United's best chances came after Yeray Alvarez was sent off for fouling Garnacho. Agirrezabala saved Casemiro's header, which hit the post a minute later.
Nico Williams dove in the box for a penalty. Agirrezabala denied Fernandes a hat trick and stopped Garnacho shortly after.