Manchester United may no longer hold a significant scheduling advantage over Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a potential showdown in this season’s UEFA Europa League final, according to recent reports.
The final lineup for the competition’s grand finale will be determined on Thursday night, as the semi-final second legs take place. Both United and Spurs are considered strong favourites to progress to the final, which is scheduled to be held at the iconic San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
Tottenham find themselves in a promising position heading into their second leg, carrying a 3-1 aggregate lead as they prepare to face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the return fixture. Meanwhile, Manchester United are set to host Athletic Bilbao, hoping to complete their job on home soil.
In the build-up to a potential all-English final, a major talking point emerged last week regarding the Premier League schedule. Initial reports suggested Manchester United would benefit from extra rest and preparation time before the final, should both English clubs progress. That edge was expected because United’s league match against Chelsea was already scheduled for May 16, while Tottenham were originally set to face Aston Villa two days later on May 18.
However, according to The Telegraph journalist Matt Law, that scheduling advantage has now been erased. In an update shared on social media, Law revealed that Tottenham’s match against Aston Villa is expected to be rescheduled to the same night as United’s clash with Chelsea—Friday, May 16, with a 7:30 PM kick-off. This adjustment means both teams would have identical recovery and preparation time ahead of the Europa League final.
Law stated: “Aston Villa v Spurs to be moved to Friday May 16, 7.30pm kick off. That means Spurs and Man Utd will have same preparation time for a Europa League final should they both get there. PL announcement expected today.”
This update could have a significant impact on how both teams approach their remaining fixtures, particularly with so much at stake in Europe. The Europa League not only offers a prestigious trophy but also a guaranteed place in next season’s UEFA Champions League—an objective both clubs are fighting to achieve.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, speaking ahead of his side’s crucial second-leg clash, acknowledged the challenges of balancing domestic and European competitions. He said: “We are losing games in the Premier League, but we are fighting for the Europa League so we need to accept that and to think about now Thursday which is the most important game for us. We know that we need to win and we need to fight to win this competition [the Europa League] to give something to our fans and to go to the Champions League.”
With the Premier League’s updated fixture schedule leveling the playing field, the focus now shifts entirely to the performances on the pitch. If both clubs do reach the final, fans can expect a thrilling contest between two Premier League heavyweights in pursuit of European glory.
