How Athletic Club got on ahead of second leg

The result edged fourth-placed Athletic closer to securing Champions League football for next season for the first time since 2014/15, after being held in the Basque derby at the Reale Arena - where the Reds also drew earlier in our European campaign.

The scoreline was 1-1 on United’s visit in the Round of 16 in March, before we ran out 4-1 winners in the second leg in M16 to prevail 5-2 on aggregate.

In a game of few chances on Sunday evening, Athletic only had three shots at goal and came closest to scoring when Alex Berenguer’s long-range strike was gathered by La Real stopper Alex Remiro.

Head coach Ernesto Valverde made seven changes from the side beaten 3-0 by United in last week’s first leg at San Mames - one fewer than Ruben Amorim made for our Premier League outing at Brentford.

Like the Reds, Athletic also opted to rest some key players with the upcoming game in mind. Influential Spain winger Nico Williams was not in the matchday squad, while goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala and captain Oscar de Marcos were unused substitutes.

Dani Vivian, who was sent off in the first leg against United, did play in defence against Real Sociedad as he will be suspended for the return clash at the Theatre of Dreams.

United are in pole position to advance to the final on Wednesday 21 May, after Casemiro’s header and Bruno Fernandes’s brace clinched a stunning victory in Bilbao last Thursday evening.

However, the Lions - who have now gone seven away league games without a win - will be supremely motivated to turn the tie around and reach the showpiece which is being held at their home ground.

Follow all the build-up to the season-defining showdown this week on ManUtd.com and in the United App.