Man United to face Tottenham in Europa League final

Tottenham Hotspur have kept their hopes of ending a 17-year trophy drought alive after booking a place in the Europa League final with a 2-0 victory over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt on Thursday.

The North London side progressed with a 5-1 aggregate win and will now meet Manchester United in the final in Bilbao on 21 May.

Despite a turbulent season and mounting pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou, Spurs overcame harsh weather conditions in Norway to secure the crucial win. Goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro in the second half proved sufficient to see them through, following their 3-1 advantage from the first leg.

While Tottenham’s domestic form has been disappointing, currently sitting 16th in the Premier League table, success in the Europa League would not only end a lengthy trophy drought but also secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Postecoglou, whose future remains uncertain despite the club’s European run, had earlier in the campaign asserted that he always wins a trophy in his second year at any club he manages.

Tottenham have already defeated Manchester United three times this season across various competitions and will hope to continue that form in Bilbao. However, their last four finals have all ended in defeat, including the 2019 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool and three League Cup losses in 2009, 2015, and 2021.

Bodø/Glimt, the first Norwegian club to reach a major European semi-final, had defied expectations to reach this stage by overcoming clubs such as Lazio, Porto, and Olympiakos. Playing in front of a small home crowd and in challenging weather conditions, the Norwegian side could not produce another upset.

Pedro Porro came close early on with a free-kick, while Bodø’s Patrick Berg almost scored from a dangerous set-piece. Spurs, however, adjusted their strategy, opting for a cautious, counter-attacking approach. The plan paid off when Solanke capitalised on a header from Cristian Romero to break the deadlock in the 63rd minute, with Porro doubling the lead just six minutes later as his cross unexpectedly found the net.

The result provides Tottenham with a significant morale boost in what has been a challenging campaign, as they look forward to the opportunity to lift their first European trophy since the 1984 UEFA Cup.