Brennan Johnson’s first-half strike for Tottenham Hotspur at the Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao won the London-based club the 2024/2025 Europa League trophy.
The first major European title in the century for Spurs came at the expense of fellow English club Manchester United.
The two sides faced off not only for the trophy in the second-tier club competition in Europe but for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League as they finished outside the automatic qualification zone in the 2024/25 English Premier League.
While Ruben Amorim’s side are 16th on the log, Ange Postecoglou’s team is 17th on 38 and 39 points respectively.
Therefore, Wednesday night’s final had a lot at stake for the two English clubs.
After early pressure from the Red Devils, the table turned in favour of Spurs close to the end of the first half.
An attack launched five minutes before the interval saw Johnson directing into United’s goal a rolling ball, which appeared difficult for Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana to keep out.
That goal eventually became the winner as the two sides failed to score in the second half.
Injury-time pressure from Manchester United saw Luke Shaw’s header saved by Italian Guglielmo Vicario.
The loss sees Portuguese Amorim going trophyless while Manchester United have now lost their third consecutive European final.
