Athletic Bilbao’s Sancet Ruled Out of Europa League Clash Against Manchester United
Athletic Bilbao will be without their leading goalscorer, Oihan Sancet, for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Manchester United.Manager Ernesto Valverde confirmed the news ahead of the highly anticipated match.
Sancet was subbed off during the first half of Bilbao’s recent 1-0 victory over Las Palmas. While he will miss the initial contest at Estadio de San mamés, there remains a possibility of his return for the second leg at Old Trafford.
Sancet’s Absence a Blow to Bilbao’s Attack
The absence of Sancet is a significant setback for Athletic Bilbao. His contributions in the Europa League have been crucial to their success this season.
Manchester United Look to Capitalize
Manchester United will be looking to take advantage of Sancet’s absence as they aim to secure a crucial away victory. However,a preview suggests that despite their Premier League struggles,Manchester United has been a force in Europe [[1](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/europa-league/preview/preview-athletic-bilbao-vs-man-utd-prediction-team-news-lineups_571457.html)], showcasing a potent attack.
Valverde Faces Tactical Challenge
Valverde now faces a tactical challenge in reshuffling his attack to compensate for Sancet’s absence. The team will need to find a way to overcome this hurdle if they hope to gain an advantage heading into the second leg.
Athletic Bilbao’s Sancet Ruled Out; Valverde challenges Key Players Ahead of Manchester United clash
Athletic Bilbao will be without midfielder Oihan Sancet for their upcoming match against Manchester United. The La Liga side’s coach, Ernesto Valverde, confirmed Sancet’s exclusion at a pre-match press conference Wednesday, stating, “He’s ruled out for tomorrow. We’ll see what happens next. We’ll go for what will work for us.” Valverde is calling for his “big players” to step up as they face Ruben Amorim’s side in the highly anticipated match.
Goalkeeper Decision a Secret
Valverde remained tight-lipped regarding who will start in goal for Bilbao. Julen Agirrezabala has featured prominently in their recent European run, but Unai Simon remains a strong contender. When questioned, Valverde responded, “I don’t know who United’s goalkeeper will be, and I’m not going to tell them [ours].” This adds an element of suspense to the team selection ahead of the crucial fixture.
valverde Urges Star Players to Shine
Anticipation surrounds the match, with Valverde expressing his eagerness for his key players to rise to the occasion. “Big games are when big players emerge,” he stated. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and also the game. I hope we can score goals as we’re all really excited about this game and we’re going to try to do our best.” His comments highlight the meaning of the game and the team’s ambition to perform well.
Manchester United’s Potential Squad Boost
Manchester United may be reinforced by the inclusion of Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt. Both players reportedly trained with the squad, raising hopes that they could feature in the match against athletic Bilbao.
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how will Athletic Bilbao cope with Oihan sancet’s injury in attack?
Athletic bilbao vs. Manchester United: Europa League Semi-Final Clash
The upcoming Europa League semi-final between Athletic Bilbao and Manchester United is shaping up to be a thrilling encounter. Hear’s a breakdown of what to expect:
Key Storylines
- Sancet’s Absence: athletic Bilbao will be without their leading goalscorer,Oihan Sancet,for the first leg due to an injury [[1](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/europa-league/preview/preview-athletic-bilbao-vs-man-utd-prediction-team-news-lineups_571457.html)]. This is a notable blow to their attack.
- United’s Advantage: Manchester United will look to capitalize on Sancet’s absence. Despite some Premier League struggles, they have a strong European record.
- valverde’s Challenge: Athletic Bilbao’s manager, ernesto Valverde, faces a tactical challenge in reshuffling his team to compensate for Sancet’s absence.
- Goalkeeper Mystery: Valverde is keeping his goalkeeper selection a secret, adding suspense to the match.
- Key Players to Step up: Valverde is calling on his key players to perform well in this important match.
- United’s Potential Boost: Manchester United could be reinforced by the return of Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, who are reportedly back in training.
Q&A: Unpacking the Athletic Bilbao vs. Manchester United Match
To further understand this exciting matchup, let’s address some key questions:
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When and where is the first leg being played?
The first leg will be played at the Estadio de San Mamés. The match is scheduled for Thursday, May 1st, 2025, at 16:00 (ARG, URU), 15:00 (local time).
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Who is Oihan Sancet, and why is his absence critically important?
Oihan Sancet is Athletic Bilbao’s leading goalscorer, making his absence a significant setback for the team’s attack. His contributions have been crucial to their Europa League success this season.
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What tactical adjustments might athletic Bilbao make?
With sancet out,Manager Valverde must reconfigure his attacking strategy,which includes finding other players to step up and fill the void left by Sancet’s injury. The team will need to find a way to overcome this hurdle if they hope to gain an advantage heading into the second leg.
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What’s the latest on Manchester United’s squad?
Manchester United might be boosted by the return of Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, who have reportedly returned to training and could be available for selection [[1](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/europa-league/preview/preview-athletic-bilbao-vs-man-utd-prediction-team-news-lineups_571457.html)].
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What are the managers’ expectations?
Valverde is eager for his key players to rise to the occasion. He expressed his eagerness for his key players to rise to the occasion.”Big games are when big players emerge.”
With key players missing and tactical battles brewing, this Europa League semi-final promises to be a compelling contest. Don’t miss the match to see how the action unfolds!
