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Amorim warns United: Bilbao masterclass means nothing without finishing the job

Manchester United stunned San Mamés with a 3-0 first-leg victory that left the Basque crowd in disbelief. Casemiro’s far-post header on 30 minutes broke the deadlock, and the game swung decisively five minutes later when Dani Vivian hauled down Rasmus Højlund, conceding a penalty and earning a red card. Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot and struck again on the stroke of half-time, capping a 15-minute burst that inflicted Athletic’s heaviest home defeat in more than a decade.

United enjoyed 72.6 percent possession, completed over 630 passes and directed seven shots on target while restricting their hosts to only three efforts of note. Yet they failed to extend the margin after the interval despite playing with an extra man for nearly an hour.

The performance contrasts sharply with their Premier League form, where they have already lost 15 of 34 matches, but they remain the only side unbeaten in European competition all season. History may favour them—every team that has won the first leg of a UEFA knockout tie by three goals away from home (133 out of 133) has progressed—yet Amorim was quick to sound a warning.

“You saw two matches: the first 25 minutes, then everything changed after the goal and the sending-off,” he said. “If they score first, it’s a different story. We must treat the return game as 0-0.”

Amorim singled out Højlund for praise, calling it “his best game under me” after the Dane won four aerial duels, made nine progressive runs and linked play with unusual assurance. Fernandes, meanwhile, raised his Europa League tally to seven goals in 12 outings—matching his best continental season.

With a potential final against Tottenham looming back in Bilbao on 21 May, United have one foot in the showpiece. Yet their coach’s message was unequivocal: complacency now could undo everything.

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