© Imago
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 6
Athletic Bilbao wins: 3
Draws: 0
Man Utd wins: 3
Despite their glowing continental record, Manchester United have actually lost three out of six UEFA matches against Athletic Club to date, with their first win coming way back in February 1957.
That home success in the second leg of a European Cup quarter-final saw the Red Devils overturn a 5-3 deficit to win 6-5 on aggregate at Manchester City's Maine Road - the floodlights were damaged at Old Trafford.
Then, some five decades later, the pair were drawn together again, this time in the Europa League's last 16.
Though Wayne Rooney bagged a brace, second-half strikes by Fernando Llorente, Oscar de Marcos and Iker Muniain saw the Basque club triumph 3-2 in England, before a 2-1 home win sealed their progress.
Under maverick coach Marcelo Bielsa, who got the better of United's legendary boss Alex Ferguson in both legs, Athletic eventually reached that season's final but could only finish runners-up.
More recently, a 2023 friendly was set to produce another victory for the La Liga side, as rising star Nico Williams seemed to have scored the winner, before Facundo Pellistri netted an 89th-minute leveller in Dublin.
Then, in the first leg of their 2024-25 Europa League semi-final, United stunned San Mames with a 3-0 victory, inflicting Athletic's heaviest home defeat for five years.
Casemiro headed home the opener before more drama unfolded five minutes later: Dani Vivian was sent off and Bruno Fernandes subsequently converted a spot kick. The Red Devils' skipper added his second soon after, effectively wrapping up a memorable away win.
Man United were trailing in the second leg at Old Trafford courtesy of a first-half strike from Mikel Jauregizar, but four goals in the final 20 minutes from Mason Mount (2), Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund fired the Red Devils to a 4-1 second-leg win and a 7-1 aggregate triumph, which sealed their spot in the Europa League final.
Last six meetings
May 08, 2025: Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Bilbao (Europa League Semi-Final Second Leg)
May 01, 2025: Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Manchester United (Europa League Semi-Final First Leg)
Mar 15, 2012: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Manchester United (Europa League Last 16)
Mar 08, 2012: Man Utd 2-3 Athletic Bilbao (Europa League Last 16)
Feb 06, 1957: Man Utd 3-0 Athletic Bilbao (European Cup Quarter-Final)
Jan 16, 1957: Athletic Bilbao 5-3 Manchester United (European Cup Quarter-Final)
Jonathan O'Shea
