Match preview: Athletic Club v United
There can be no underestimating the importance of the game, nor the size of the task, as Manchester United take on Athletic Club in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
The stakes are so high going into the game at San Mames, as the Reds are targeting two trips to the Bilbao venue in May, with the ground also staging the final.
Athletic Club are currently fourth in La Liga and had no fixture this weekend, allowing them to fully prepare for what will be a tough test of Ruben Amorim's men.
Nonetheless, the incredible victory over Lyon in the previous round shows just how determined United are to win this trophy for a second time and earn a spot in next season's Champions League, despite the most challenging of campaigns.
Here is all you need to know about the big tie...
The first leg is being broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK, with kick-off at 20:00 BST.
Join us on MUTV for Matchday Live from 18:55 BST, where we'll have all the build-up from out in Bilbao, including the team news as it breaks.
Whether you're watching, listening or on the move, the United App is the place to be during the game itself, with radio commentary, updates from inside the ground, expert analysis and trending live stats.
Match highlights will be available from midnight.
TEAM NEWS
United have lost the services of the ever-reliable Diogo Dalot, due to a calf problem, but have seemingly emerged from a bruising encounter at Bournemouth unscathed.
Head coach Amorim has tried to carefully manage the minutes of his players and there are some key decisions to be made in the starting XI, including whether Noussair Mazraoui plays at right wing-back again.
Luke Shaw got a full 90 minutes under his belt following his first United start in more than a year.
Amad is hoping to return to training soon but Altay Bayindir, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez, Toby Collyer and Joshua Zirkzee have been out. Chido Obi, who came on as a substitute at the Vitality Stadium, is ineligible.
Athletic Club are unlikely to gamble on the fitness of Oihan Sancet, who was injured in the 1-0 win over Las Palmas last week. The early suggestions are their top scorer will be unavailable for the home leg and facing a battle to recover from the hamstring problem in time for the Old Trafford clash. Unai Gomez is set to be an option to replace him, after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the Las Palmas fixture.
Impressive Spain international Nico Williams is fit again, though, for Ernesto Valverde's men.
PAST MEETINGS
United have won only one of our four competitive clashes with Athletic Club, but it was a famous occasion.
The Busby Babes steamrollered the Basque side 3-0 in the European Cup in 1957, to overturn a 5-3 deficit from the first leg. Dennis Viollet, Tommy Taylor and Johnny Berry scored to set the tone for our unbeatable spirit in Europe, with that being our first foray into the competition.
The heroics played out at Maine Road but the dreams of lifting the trophy were dashed by another La Liga side, Real Madrid, at the semi-final stage.
Much more recently, in 2012, Marcelo Bielsa's side were one of the most impressive victors at Old Trafford in a European tie, when winning 3-2, despite Wayne Rooney scoring twice
Athletic Club got the job done in the Europa League second leg at home, winning 2-1, with Rooney again the man to find the net for the Reds, with a late long-range piledriver.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since their formation in 1911, Athletic Club have only fielded players born or formed in the Basque Country. This is a region encompassing seven provinces in Spain and France.
Their club colours of red-and-white stripes are based on Sunderland's kit, following the arrival of British sailors in the 19th century.
San Mames has a capacity of 53,331 and is a magnificent stadium, due to be one of the host venues of the 2030 World Cup.
Former Reds midfielder Ander Herrera had two spells with the club. The 35-year-old is currently playing for Boca Juniors in Argentina.
SEMI-FINALS
The other last-four game is between Tottenham Hotspur and Bodo/Glimt. Spurs are, like United, chasing European glory in the context of a below-par campaign and impressively defeated Eintracht Frankfurt in the previous stage.
Bodo/Glimt, who overcame Lazio in a penalty shootout, have a real romantic story behind their progress and, of course, were narrowly beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford earlier in the competition.
Thursday 1 May
Athletic Club v UNITED
Tottenham Hotspur v Bodo/Glimt
Kick-offs are at 20:00 BST.