Manchester United v Tottenham live: Brennan Johnson gives Spurs lead in Europa League final

Europa League final: Manchester United 0 Spurs 1 (Johnson OG 42)

Man United: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Shaw, Dorgu; Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes (capt); Mount, Amad, Hojlund

Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero (capt), van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Bentancur, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Richarlison.

51 mins: Yellow card for van der Ven but smashing into Hojlund in the air. Surely some subs needed for United soon, Spurs’s defence dominant against their attack so far.

48 mins: Cross into Hojlund by Amad is just behind him, not much he could do about it as it goes well wide.

Uefa have given the goal to Brennan Johnson after review, good for Luke Shaw. Second half under way.

45 mins: United respond with an attack that leads to a Bruno shot in the box, which is blocked well. But heading into half-time behind it seems.

Half-time: Manchester United 0 Spurs 1

A low enough quality affair was punctuated at the stroke of half-time with an own goal by Luke Shaw and Tottenham lead at the break. All to play for in the second half now, United will have to do it the hard way again if they want to win the trophy.

GOAL FOR SPURS! Brennan Johnson gives Tottenham the lead, or so it seemed.

FIRST BLOOD SPURS! ⚽️

It's scrappy but they won't care! Brennan Johnson claims it as he takes full advantage of carnage in the box to put Spurs ahead in the Europa League Final 🤩

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/l5Jg9BgYgr — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2025

42 mins: Sarr with a great low cross to the corridor of uncertainty, Johnson makes a nuisance of himself and hits it back off Shaw and rolls into the corner of the net, Onana can’t get to it. Possibly an own goal. Poor goal for United to concede, scrappy, but Sarr’s cross caused havoc.

40 mins: Nearly a costly mistake for Yoro under pressure as he wanted to get back to the keeper but wasn’t happening and under high press. A scrappy game so far. Only player trying to make thing happen is Amad, who tries to dribble past and takes a weak low shot.

36 mins: Yellow card for Amad, who has had a good game so far, but pulled on Udogie’s jersey, can’t have many complaints.

31 mins: More nervousness by the United defence, as Dorgu puts the ball out for a corner despite having time. Shaw not happy. Great play by Amad, who takes of a few players and puts in a low cross, but Johnson blocks it. The fact a forward is in that position tells a bit about how Spurs have been getting numbers behind the ball.

27 mins: A slightly nervy start to the game by both teams, not a surprise really given the stakes.

Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison attempts a shot on goal. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

24 mins: Good long pass by Casemiro to Dorgu, who has been lively and a back post cross eventually falls to Amad who slips Bruno in but his shot is comfortably saved by Vicario. United growing into the game.

20 mins: Decent play by Spurs, Richarlison in for Sarr in the box, Shaw just gets it away though.

17 mins: Dorgu runs at Porro on the wing and falls over but no foul. United putting on pressure and then Maguire puts a great diagonal to Dorgu on the edge of the box who does really well to square the ball and Romero has to scramble to clear it out for a corner. Plenty of corners so far.

Then the best chance for United so far. Vicario flaps at it and it falls to Amad who shimmies for space and smashes it across the goal but just wide.

Man Utd's turn to go close 🤏

Amad drills it across goal but it flies inches wide of the far post!

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Hp499ghdb2 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2025

13 mins: Chances for Spurs. Johnson nips in from a Maguire pass and gets around the defender plays a low cross across the goal. Onana pushes it away well and then the shot is blocked. Another corner for Spurs.

Then indecisive defending by United, Casemiro kicks it off Mount and falls to Richarlison which Bruno blocks. United finally escape after Johnson fouls Dorgu in the air.

10 mins: Casemiro cleans up well after the ball fell to Richarlison charging towards the box. United have some possession but Spurs push up well and Johnson wins a throw in an attacking area.

Brilliant cross by Porro to the back post causes Onana concern and Mazroaui has to save the day with a crucial header, Richarlison was ready to pounce.

6 mins: Free kick for United is swung in by Shaw, Maguire wins a header at the back post and Udogie slices it out for a corner. Decent corner but doesn’t fall to anyone. Then a chance for United as Hojlund sneaks ahead of a hesitant Vicario and falls to Fernandes but he can’t find space to get it on target.

2 mins: Some early possession for Spurs and they try a long ball in behind to Brennan Johnson and Shaw kicks it out for a corner, looked to come off Johnson but it’s a break for Spurs. Porro delivers but free out as van de Ven fouls Maguire.

The players are coming out from the tunnel. Some atmosphere and spectacle. Kick-off is in a few minutes.

Some interesting team selections, particularly Richarlison starting instead of Son Heung-Min. Ballsy move by Ange. Amorim will play the usual 3-4-3 that is heavily reliant on Bruno Fernandes. Will Hojlund finally make an impact up front? Amad is back from injury and they will be looking for a big game from the ageing Casemiro, who is the ultimate big-game European player.

Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison warming up. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

The Manchester United brain trust is in attendance, as is legendary manager Alex Ferguson

Manchester United owners Avram Glazer, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe with chief executive Omar Berrada (left). Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Alex Ferguson (left) ahead of the UEFA Europa League final. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

And our boy Rory is there too:

Big Ange was not happy with a journalist at the press conference yesterday, “I’m not a clown”. It is rumoured that it could be Postecoglou’s final game as Tottenham boss, regardless of tonight’s result.

"I will tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be."

Ange Postecoglou responds to a report that he would be a 'hero or clown' depending on the Europa League final result.

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Lh0irPXe7O — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 20, 2025

It's all led to this.

Do us proud, Reds ✊#MUFC || #UELfinal — Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 21, 2025

Your Spurs team for the final 🫡 pic.twitter.com/xdlMEZzoOO — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 21, 2025

The teams are out: No Garnacho or Ugarte for United, no Maddison or Son for Spurs.

Jonathan Wilson on the Europa League final:

“That a final could comprise two such struggling teams is undeniably funny, but the game matters. For Tottenham, this could be a first trophy since 2008 and a first European trophy since 1984; for United, it could, inexplicably, be a third piece of silverware in successive seasons, and a seventh European trophy. Neither side will need reminding that their ostensibly more successful local rivals have won nothing this season."

[ Europa League final: Spurs and Manchester United’s struggles leave game meaning nothing and everythingOpens in new window ]

Some images of the raucous build-up to the game, including former Spurs player Sandro playing the guitar for some reason...

Former Tottenham Hotspur player Sandro plays guitar with the band on stage at the Ametzola Park fan zone in Bilbao before the UEFA Europa League final at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

A Manchester United fan with a painting of the badge on their head. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Manchester United fans in Plaza Nueva square in Bilbao. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, from Bilbao. Kick-off is at 8pm. There is a lot at stake here, with not only a trophy, which would be Spurs’s first since 2008, but Champions League qualification for two teams that have really struggled in the Premier League. At 16th and 17th place in the league, it’s not the strongest teams they’ve had in their history, to put it mildly, but it makes the game all the more intriguing.

The starting line-ups will follow when they are available, but for now here are the travelling squads. Which include previously injured players Joshua Zirkzee and James Maddison.

Tottenham squad:

Guillermo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Callum Olusesi, Damola Ajayi, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Mikey Moore, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Son Heung-Min, Mathys Tel, Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Dane Scarlett, Will Lankshear.

Manchester United squad:

Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Andre Onana; Harry Amass, Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Jonny Evans, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro; Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte; Amad, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee

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