As Athletic Bilbao prepare to face Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final, football fans are revisiting a historic rivalry that has produced memorable European nights. This will mark the first competitive meeting between the two sides since 2012, and the latest chapter in a rarely told but thrilling story.
Head-to-Head Record
-
Total meetings: 4
-
Athletic Bilbao wins: 3
-
Manchester United wins: 1
-
Draws: 0
Despite Manchester United’s rich European legacy, it is Athletic Bilbao who have had the upper hand in this fixture, winning three of the four official encounters between the two clubs.
Historic European Encounters
1957: A European Classic
The first meeting came during the 1956–57 European Cup quarter-finals. Athletic Bilbao secured a thrilling 5-3 win in Spain, but Manchester United famously overturned the deficit with a 3-0 victory at Maine Road (Old Trafford’s floodlights were damaged at the time). That result sent the Red Devils through with a 6-5 aggregate win.
2012: Bielsa vs Ferguson
Over five decades later, the clubs met again in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League Round of 16. Under the tactical brilliance of Marcelo Bielsa, Athletic stunned United with a 3-2 win at Old Trafford, followed by a 2-1 triumph in Bilbao. Despite a brace from Wayne Rooney in the first leg, United were outplayed over both games.
Athletic eventually reached the final that season, knocking out the Premier League giants en route. Though they finished runners-up, their victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side remains a highlight in the club’s European history.
Now, with the clubs set to clash in the first leg at San Mamés, Athletic Bilbao once again stand in United’s way on the European stage. The La Liga outfit boasts a superior head-to-head record and home advantage, while Manchester United will be eager to rewrite history and reach another European final.
