Tottenham Hotspur lifted their first European trophy in 41 years after edging Manchester United 1-0 in a tense UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday night.
Dubbed by some as a clash of underachievers, the all-English showdown delivered drama, intensity, and a hard-fought triumph for Ange Postecoglou’s men—capping a turbulent season with historic silverware.
Despite missing key players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski through injury, Postecoglou adapted his trademark ‘Angeball’ to a more pragmatic and disciplined approach. With a focus on defensive organisation and rapid counter-attacks, Spurs stuck to their plan and were ultimately rewarded.
The only goal came moments before halftime. Pape Sarr whipped in a teasing cross that Brennan Johnson latched onto awkwardly. The ball ricocheted off Luke Shaw and back to Johnson, who managed to bundle it past Andre Onana. Whether it was Johnson’s goal or a Shaw own goal remains debatable, but the result stood: Tottenham led 1-0 at the break.
United looked sharper in the second half and nearly found a way back into the game. Rasmus Hojlund had a golden opportunity after a poor clearance from Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario, but Micky van de Ven’s heroic goal-line volley kept Spurs ahead. Moments later, Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho came close, but Vicario redeemed himself with stunning saves to preserve the lead.
In the final minutes, United threw everything forward, with Casemiro going down in the box and Luke Shaw’s last-gasp header forcing another big save. But it wasn’t enough.
Tottenham held on through seven minutes of added time to secure their fourth win over Manchester United this season—and the most meaningful by far.
For Postecoglou, the victory marks a stunning achievement in just his second season, delivering European glory to North London and ending a decades-long continental drought.
UEFA Europa League Final – Bilbao
Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Manchester United
(Johnson 42′)
