We have analysed the European pedigree of Manchester United and the home record of Athletic Bilbao to see which one of these teams would be ideal for Tottenham should they reach the Europa League finals.
Tottenham Hotspur fans will already have one eye on the future, and while the mantra of taking one game at a time rings true in football, there is no denying that attention is starting to drift towards a potential Europa League final. Especially when the finish line is so close.
Should Tottenham manage to edge past Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals, the reward would be a showdown against either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao in the final.
Both sides present very different challenges – Athletic Bilbao would have the advantage of playing the final at their home ground, while Manchester United, for all their current struggles, still carry European pedigree.
The question then becomes: who would be the better final opponent for Tottenham? When comparing cup final records, it actually paints an intriguing picture that may surprise a few Spurs fans.
Tottenham have better cup final win rate than Manchester United
Despite Manchester United boasting a much greater haul of trophies over the decades, Tottenham actually edge them when it comes to cup final win percentage.
| Manchester United | Tottenham |
|---|---|
| 40 Cup final appearances | 22 Cup final appearances |
| 24 Wins | 15 Wins |
| 15 Losses | 7 Losses |
| 60% Win percentage | 68% Win percentage |
While United have far more final appearances and victories in total, Spurs have won 68% of their finals, compared to United’s 60%.
Of course, in recent years, Tottenham have failed to win any of their last two major cup finals both in the Carabao Cup and the UCL. However, the stats prove that when Spurs reach the final stage, they tend to deliver.
Indeed, Jamie Carragher does not agree with these stats; Carragher believes that, should Tottenham get to the Europa League finals, they would suffer a defeat regardless of their opponent.
Bilbao’s home dominance could pose problems for Spurs
As for Athletic Bilbao, their biggest strength lies in their imperious home form. In the Europa League this season, they have been flawless at San Mames – winning all four home matches in the group phase and carrying that form into the knockouts.
Their dominance at home has been one of the major reasons behind their impressive European run, and playing the final at their own stadium would only make them even more dangerous.
It is tough to call, but based on form and records, Manchester United would likely be the preferred opponent for Tottenham.
Spurs have already beaten United three times this season, while Bilbao, currently flying high in La Liga, sat in fourth, would present a much sterner test.