Two goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro’s first one since October saw United put one foot in the Europa League final. Who saw this coming?

Not Athletic Bilbao, who finished with ten men following Dani Vivian’s sending off – and a mountain to climb back in Manchester next week. Ernesto Valverde’s ‘Los Leones’ (Lions) were made to look like cubs.

And in a stadium nicknamed ‘The Cathedral’, it was the hosts left praying for a miracle, to keep alive a European dream which is supposed to reach a finale in their own backyard later this month.
United might have been the only unbeaten team remaining in Europe this season. But make no mistake, this was the acid test of United’s bid to win the competition themselves.

Bilbao had the best defensive record in La Liga, and had won all six home games in the Europa League this season. And it wasn’t difficult to see how, considering the hosts also had the advantage of a rocking stadium which wasn’t for the faint-hearted.
You couldn’t hear yourself think inside the San Mames. The atmosphere was ferocious. Which was a problem for United, who had to work out a plan to head back to Old Trafford next week still in with a realistic chance of reaching the final.
But this would go on to become one of their most famous nights. Football is like a religion around these parts, where the entire city revolves around their beloved club. And the passion and intensity flooding down from the stands was in danger of engulfing Ruben Amorim’s men. It felt like the entire population was inside the stadium.

It took just seven minutes for Bilbao to almost open the scoring, when Alex Berenguer charged forward and forced a smart save from Andre Onana. Yuri Berchiche headed just wide from the resulting corner.

Inaki Williams should have scored, but headed over the top from close range following Berenguer’s cross, before Victor Lindelof almost gifted a goal to Nico Williams. Lindelof made amends, with a crucial block on his own line to keep out Berenguer’s strike.

United looked scared stiff when attempting to bring the ball out from the back, and were clinging on for dear life. Then all hell broke loose as United ripped the script to shreds, with three goals in 15 incredible minutes.

They went ahead when Harry Maguire turned into Lamine Yamal on the right, twisting and turning before delivering a cross which Manuel Ugarte flicked into the path of Casemiro to finish at the back post.

Then moments later, Vivian pulled down Rasmus Hojlund to concede a penalty and get himself sent off for preventing a scoring opportunity. Fernandes was the coolest man in Bilbao, slotting past Julen Agirrezabala to double United’s lead.

And United were in dreamland on the stroke of half time, when Fernandes charged onto Ugarte’s back heel to make 3-0. The entire night had been turned upside down.

This was now a golden chance for United to turn the screw – and come away with a lead even they couldn’t mess up in the return leg. Bilbao’s heads had gone. But United couldn’t take full advantage when they needed to.