Manchester United corner flag
Image Credits: GETTY IMAGES
The Europa League final will be an all-English affair as Manchester United take on Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday 21 May.
However, with both clubs languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the unusual pairing has drawn mockery from rival fans.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Some have labelled it an ‘El-Sackico’ between two sides far from elite European quality.
Still, excitement is building ahead of the showdown in the Basque Country.
Two thousand Manchester United without tickets expected at Bilbao
Daily Mail understands that Tottenham fans are set to vastly outnumber Manchester United supporters in the city.
While each club has received an official allocation of 15,000 seats for the 53,000-capacity San Mames stadium, it’s believed that an additional 15,000 Spurs fans without tickets will travel to Bilbao.
Compared to just 2,000 Manchester United fans making the trip without entry.
The novelty factor is seen as a key reason for the high turnout from Spurs fans.
This will be just their second European final since 1984, following the 2019 Champions League final.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Club officials from both sides held planning meetings across Friday and Saturday in anticipation of the travelling support and the challenges around crowd management.
Spanish police have stepped up security in response to past events, most notably the chaos at Wembley during the Euro 2021 final, when ticketless fans stormed the venue.
Bilbao officers visited Wembley recently to liaise with British counterparts and discuss implementing a similar “ring of steel” around the stadium’s perimeter.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Greater Manchester Police, the Met Police, and the UK Football Policing Unit will all be present in Bilbao.
They’ll be working closely with the Ertzaintza – the local Basque police force.
They have a reputation for taking a more low-key approach compared to other Spanish cities.
Both clubs are determined to avoid the kind of fan experience issues that plagued Champions League finals in Paris and Istanbul.
Separate fan zones will be created for both sets of supporters.
No problems are expected from locals, with the people of Bilbao widely regarded for their love of football and friendly hospitality.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!