UEL: Bilbao's tragedy is coloured red! United are knocking on the final's door!

Ahead of tonight's UEFA Europa League semi-final, Athletic Bilbao were 6/6 at home in the competition, with a crushing goal difference - 14-2. But then Man United arrived in town and destroyed Ernesto Valverde's crew - 3-0!

Everything fell apart for Bilbao between the 30th and 45th minute, as the Red Devils scored three times - over Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes (twice, once from the spot) - while the Basques' defender Dani Vivian received a red card!

After the break, United intentionally slowed down the rhythm, skilfully defending the advantage from the first half, while the final 15 minutes before the break will probably turn out to be decisive in the battle for the UEL final.

The fireworks at San Mames started almost instantly, as the opening ten minutes brought three decent chances. On one hand, Alejandro Garnacho scored, but his goal was disallowed for offside, and on the other Alex Berenguer and Inaki Williams threatened.

Red Devils flirting with Gyokeres?

The home crew wasted a massive opportunity in the 19th minute when Victor Lindelof blocked Berenguer's close-range effort near the goal line.

And that was pretty much the last Bilbao's attempt, as the Red Devils destroyed them by the break.

At the half-hour mark, following Harry Maguire's dribble magic - yes, you read it right! - and an ideal cross, Manuel Ugarte headed the ball to the far post, where Casemiro awaited it and smashed it into the net, giving United the lead.

However, seven minutes later, the Basques were definitely on the ropes. Dani Vivian pulled Rasmus Hojlund by the shoulder in the box, stopping him from receiving the ball in a fantastic goal-scoring situation. The VAR room intervened, Bilbao's defender was sent off and United got a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes sent home, doubling the EPL side's lead.

But that wasn't the end!

In the last minute of the opening half, the Portuguese scored the third goal for United, while Noussair Mazraoui hit the bar in added time. Still, the visitors had a massive 3-0 advantage at the break, stunning over 50,000 people at the packed San Mames.

After the break, Ruben Amorim opted to lower the pace, keep the fantastic lead his team had, and don't risk some Bilbao's counterattack which could have revived them. At an hour-mark, the entire stadium demanded a red card for Maguire, as he tackled Maroan Sannadi being the last defender, but VAR didn't react this time.

During the final quarter of an hour, the Red Devils had several more attempts over Patrick Dorgu, Fernandes, and Garnacho, but the half-time result did not change until the end.

Either way, with tonight's triumph, United practically secured another Europa League final, their third in the last eight years, where they'll probably face their EPL colleagues, Tottenham, which beat Bodo/Glimt at home 3-1.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - SEMI-FINALS

First leg

Thursday

Athletic Bilbao - Manchester United 0-3 (0-3)

/Casemiro 30, Fernandes 37 pen, 45/

Tottenham - Bodo/Glimt 3-1 (2-0)

/Johnson 1, Maddison 34, Solanke 61 pen - Saltnes 83/