Athletic Bilbao’s attempt to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Manchester United in the semi-final of the Europa League just got harder as the Spanish side will be without the Williams brothers โ Nico and Inaki โ for their trip to Old Trafford on Thursday.
Both Nico and Inaki were not included in Bilbao’s travelling squad for the second leg encounter in Manchester due to injury.
The Williams brothers started the first leg at San Mamรฉs last Thursday but were unable to stop Bilbao from falling into a 3-0 hole against United as a brace from Bruno Fernandes and a back post header from Casemiro gave the Premier League side a comfortable advantage.
Nico missed their La Liga match against Real Sociedad at the weekend, while Inaki was replaced by Alvaro Djalo about an hour into the match, which ended in a goalless draw.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง
Ernesto Valverde has called up 2๏ธโฃ4๏ธโฃ players for tomorrow’s clash with @ManUtd at Old Trafford.
โน Travel details ๐ https://t.co/bUwbP2KT8o#MUFCAthletic #AthleticClub ๐ฆ pic.twitter.com/jawQCRLAl7
โ Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) May 7, 2025
Bilbao will also be without top scorer Oihan Sancet, who also missed the first leg through injury. They will also be missing defender Dani Vivian, who was sent off in the first leg after receiving a red card for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund, which led to a penalty.
Ernesto Valverde has called upon 24 players for the fixture, with an improbable task ahead of the team, with the winners on aggregate to progress to the final, which will be played in Bilbao’s San Mames on Wednesday, 21 May.
