The stakes for Wednesday’s Europa League final are huge, as two of the Premier League’s bottom five hope to salvage their seasons.
The winner lifts a trophy, claims a Champions League spot for next season, plus a lot more flexibility in the transfer market this summer. The ramifications for the losing side will likely be seismic, leaving an uncertain future ahead.
The clash is an incredibly tough one to call. Manchester United head in as marginal 7/5 favourites to win in 90 minutes, with Tottenham priced at 7/4.
GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET
Europa League Final – Tottenham vs Man Utd
- Over 5.5 cards – 21/20
- Dominic Solanke to score first – 13/2
- Manchester United to lift the trophy – 31/40
- Manchester United to win on penalties – 21/2
Tension could spark a feisty affair
A glimpse at the To Be Carded market gives us a list of frequent foulers, with United’s Manuel Ugarte priced at 3/4 to receive a card in the game.
He will likely play alongside Casemiro in a midfield which matches up against the Spurs pairing of Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma. Given the familiarity between the sides and the enormous stakes, it’s easy to see cards piling up in this contest.
Referee Felix Zwayer dished out six bookings and a red in his only Europa League assignment this term. The German has averaged 5.1 cards per game in the Champions League, while also bandishing four red cards in that competition.
An all-Premier League game is likely to bring added physicality. Only five sides have been shown more bookings in the Premier League than United, while Spurs have made the fourth-most fouls. That makes over 5.5 cards the standout bet.
Could United suffer another slow start?
United have conceded first in three of their last five Europa League games, while fightbacks have been a key part of their run to the final.
Dominic Solanke helped Tottenham to Bilbao with goals home and away to Bodo/Glimt, while the forward has found the net in each of his last four starts for Spurs, including their 1-0 quarter-final win in this competition against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Solanke scored the opening goal at Anfield late last month against Liverpool, so he could get Spurs off to a strong start. He’s 13/2 to net the opening goal in Bilbao.
Can Spurs shake their reputation?
While there’s little between the pair in the betting for this game, there’s a huge difference in terms of their track records.
Even with Manchester United’s recent struggles, they’re aiming to lift a trophy for the third successive campaign. The Red Devils claimed glory in the EFL Cup in 2023, while they had to win the FA Cup last year just to qualify for this competition.
Tottenham blew a clear opportunity to finish fourth in the Premier League last term, slipping into the Europa League as a result. Their reputation for falling short in the big moments precedes them, having lost five of the six cup finals they’ve contested this century.
This United side have more experience of succeeding in big moments, while they’ve come through tougher tests to make it this far.
United’s ability to come from behind could help them edge this, while it’s hard to trust Spurs in the biggest moments. The Red Devils are the side to back to lift the trophy, but it isn’t likely to be easy. The fact that both under 2.5 goals and both teams to score are each odds-on points to a 1-1 draw.
Three of the last four finals have been decided on penalties after a 1-1 draw, so back United to win on spot kicks at a little over 10/1.
Get all the latest football betting odds here
GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET Offer
Sign Up Offer: Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
T&Cs: 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
