Athletic Bilbao predicted XI vs Manchester United as experienced figure returns and trio miss out

Athletic Bilbao will be hoping to complete one of the greatest European comebacks of all time when they face Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night.

The Spanish side will make the trip to Old Trafford with the ambition of overturning a three-goal deficit, after falling foul of a first half blitz from United at the San Mames Stadium last week. Goals from Bruno Fernandes (2) and Casemiro ensured United were 3-0 up by the break.

If Athletic are to turn the tie on its head and reach the final in their own stadium later this month, they must become the first team in Europa League history to overcome a three-goal deficit in a two-legged tie when they have been the away team in the second leg.

Their hopes of pulling off a miraculous recovery have been made all the tougher amid the fact they will be without leading goalscorer Oihan Sancet and attackers Nico and Inaki Williams. The trio were left out of the 24-man squad that travelled to Manchester on Wednesday.

Sancet missed last week's first leg through injury, whereas the Williams brothers both started. It means Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde will have to make a minimum of three changes from last week's first leg amid Dani Vivian's suspension.

Starting between the posts, Julen Agirrezabala is expected to start in goal and continue as Athletic's first-choice goalkeeper in the Europa League. He has started 12 of their 13 games in the competition this season and has started every knockout game ahead of Unai Simon.

After being left on the bench for the weekend's goalless draw against Real Sociedad, captain Oscar De Marcos could return and start at right-back. Aitor Paredes is a logical replacement for the suspended Vivian and could partner Yeray Alvarez in the heart of the defence. The latter has started Athletic's last three Europa League outings.

The experienced Yuri Berchiche, who was an unused substitute at the weekend, could return and start on the left of the back-four.

Just as they did last week, Athletic could start with a sitting two in midfield of Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Mikel Jauregizar, meaning the latter could return to the starting XI in place of Benat Prados, who started Sunday's stalemate with Sociedad.

Often operating in a 4-2-3-1 system, Athletic are likely to deploy Alex Berenguer as Nico Williams' replacement on the left. He started as the No.10 against United last week but was forced to start from the flank against Sociedad.

With Berenguer facing the prospect of starting out wide, Unai Gomez could start as the No.10. Alvaro Djalo, who has started just twice in the Europa League this season, could operate from the right.

Maroan Sannadi, who joined Athletic from Alaves earlier this year, is expected to lead the line as he goes in search of a first Europa League goal.

Athletic predicted line-up: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Paredes, Alvarez, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Djalo, Gomez, Berenguer; Sannadi.

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