Tottenham vs. Man United score: UEFA Europa League final result, stats as Johnson wins Spurs a trophy at last

Kyle Bonn

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Tottenham vs. Man United score: UEFA Europa League final result, stats as Johnson wins Spurs a trophy at last image

In a match bereft of quality but full of suspense, Tottenham secured a triumphant end to a dismal season as they won a tense Europa League final 1-0 over Manchester United in Bilbao.

A late first-half goal from Brennan Johnson made the difference, helped immensely by a deflection off Luke Shaw.

Spurs enjoyed little to no dominance in any phase of the game, but to their benefit, neither did United. The Red Devils displayed a complete lack of cutting edge or creativity as they looked to use 72 percent of the game's possession to break Spurs down, but were wholly unable to do so.

Even so, Spurs were propped up by two memorable defensive plays, one by Micky van de Ven who astonishingly cleared a Rasmus Hojlund header off the line, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made a match-winning save with stoppage time winding down.

The victory marks a first trophy for Tottenham since 2008, and their first European silverware since 1984. In addition, Spurs have secured a massively important financial windfall as they qualify for next season's Champions League.

Questions will now be asked about both managers, with Ruben Amorim falling short in multiple arenas, and Ange Postecoglou now potentially with a reason to stay aboard next season.

JUMP TO: Full commentary and highlights | Team news and lineups | Final match stats

Tottenham vs. Man United: Europa League final score

 ScoreGoal scorers
Tottenham1B. Johnson (42')
Man United0–

Location: San Mames Stadium (Bilbao, Spain)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)

Starting lineups:

Tottenham (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Vicario (GK) — 23. Porro, 17. Romero, 37. Van de Ven, 13. Udogie (Spence, 90') — 29. Sarr (Gray, 90'), 8. Bissouma, 30. Bentancur — 22. Johnson (Danso, 79'), 19. Solanke, 9. Richarlison (Son, 66').

Man United (4-3-3, right to left): 24. Onana (GK) — 15. Yoro, 5. Maguire, 23. Shaw — 3. Mazraoui (Dalot, 85'), 18. Casemiro, 7. Mount (Garnacho, 72'), 13. Dorgu (Mainoo, 90') — 8. Fernandes, 16. Amad — 9. Hojlund (Zirkzee, 72').

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Tottenham vs. Man United stats

TottenhamStatMan United
3Shots16
1Shots on target6
1.01Expected goals0.85
27%Possession73%
115Accurate passes430
4Corners5
22Fouls10
3Yellow cards4

Tottenham vs. Man United live updates, highlights from Europa League final

FULLTIME: Tottenham 1-0 Man United

TOTTENHAM HANG ON TO WIN THE 2024/25 EUROPA LEAGUE TITLE!

It's a massive moment for Tottenham, who displayed grit and heart as they defended for their lives through most of the second half. Man United were miserable in the attacking third as they looked to break Spurs down, but Tottenham no doubt earned this title. The defensive interventions by Micky van de Ven and the goalkeeper Vicario were enormous moments in this match.

90+7 min: Chance, Man United! A TITLE-WINNING SAVE FROM GUGLIELMO VICARIO!!!! HE PARRIES AWAY LUKE SHAW'S HEADER RIGHT ON THE DOORSTEP WITH THE TIME WINDING DOWN!

Then on the ensuing corner, with Andre Onana up for it, Alejandro Garnacho's desperate side-volley hits the side netting! That's surely it!

90+6 min: Harry Maguire has gone down just a few feet from the left post as United desperately tried to get a shot on goal, but the referee waves away the protests! It looked speculative at best!

90+3 min: United have had nothing up front all half, and the start of stoppage time hasn't been any different. There's been absolutely nothing to trouble the Spurs lead.

88th min: Harry Maguire is booked after dumping Cristian Romero to the floor on an aerial duel, and it sparks a bit of a scuffle! This has been coming for a while, as the two had recently sparred in the Spurs penalty area. United look frustrated.

Spurs bring on two more substitutes, as Andre Gray and Djed Spence come on to replace Pape Sarr and Destiny Udogie. Kobbie Mainoo is the United player who enters as well, in place of Patrick Dorgu.

There are SEVEN minutes of added time, which is a surprise as there hasn't been too much to keep the second half from progressing! A yellow card is shown to Victor Lindelof on the bench for his angry protests at the fourth official.

84th min: A yellow card is shown to Joshua Zirkzee who commits a foul in his own half on Destiny Udogie. It's an awful decision from the referee as Zirkzee clearly won the ball, and it gives Spurs time to take the sting out of the game.

Diogo Dalot will come on for United as they need crossing abilities. Everything into the penalty area from deep has been left short. He replaces an exhausted Mazraoui.

Upon the restart of play, Harry Maguire has gone up front to play striker! Desperate times for Man United!

82nd min: Dominic Solanke nearly creates a counter-attack chance for Spurs all by himself, but it's cut down by an exceptional last-gasp tackle by a United defender once he'd fed Heung-Min Son on the break. United nearly punished for their desperation up front!

79th min: Ange Postecoglou has gone for the defensive hold with just 12 minutes remaining, as he brings on an extra defender in Kevin Danso to replace the goal scorer Brennan Johnson. United have poured on the pressure the last 15 minutes, and Spurs know they just need to hold on the rest of the way.

74th min: Chance, Man United! Alejandro Garnacho forces a save from Vicario! A low, scything effort from the left sees the Spurs goalkeeper dive down low to his left to prevent the ball from tucking inside the far post!

73rd min: Chance, Man United! BRUNO FERNANDES PUTS A DIVING HEADER WIDE! It's a difficult chance, but an open one, as the Man United captain has to lower his whole to the ground and redirect the ball on net, but he can't hit the target and pokes it the wrong end of the post!

71st min: Has Ruben Amorim left it too late? Finally the United boss makes his first two changes, with Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho coming on to replace Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.

68th min: Chance, Man United! MICKY VAN DE VEN WITH AN OUTRAGEOUS CLEARANCE OFF THE LINE! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PLAY!!!!!!

 Yves Bissouma is booked for delaying the restart after Son conceded a foul in midfield. Bissouma had bear-hugged Amad Diallo preventing him from taking the free-kick. Eventually, United swing the ball in from a central area, and Vicario comes off his line to punch but fails to make contact.

Rasmus Hojlund heads the ball towards the open net from 10 yards out, but van de Ven comes FLYING in out of nowhere and leaps to ninja kick the ball away!!! An outrageously athletic move from the Dutch defender, potentially a title-winning moment!!!

HIGHLIGHT: Watch van de Ven clearance in USA | Watch in UK

65th min: This game is screaming for Man United to make a change, as the Red Devils have been so far stifled by Spurs and their three defensive midfielders, which has forced United out wide on every buildup, to no avail.

Yet Ruben Amorim has inexplicably yet to budge on the touchline, even as Alejandro Garnacho's pace would be exactly what this game needs.

Instead, it's Ange Postecoglou who dips into his bench first, bringing on captain Heung-Min Son in place of a shattered Richarlison, who has also been booked and is therefore a prime candidate to be withdrawn. Richarlison's last action is to brilliantly dispossess Amad Diallo on the wing, an excellent shift from the hard-working Brazilian.

58th min: A yellow card for Richarlison has been coming, and there it is as he clips Noussair Mazraoui on the right flank.

United cause problems at the back for Spurs with the delivery in front of goal, as a diving Vicario is unable to get it clear, but the Tottenham defenders hoof it clear without any further danger.

55th min: Spurs have committed 15 fouls in this match to United's six, as they look to stifle the Red Devil buildup. It's worked to this point, as every time United break the Tottenham press, play is stopped by a foul. The referee can only do so much, and even when he starts letting the yellow cards flow, it won't change their approach.

49th min: Micky van de Ven is booked for putting an arm in the back of Rasmus Hojlund during an aerial duel. He's the first Tottenham player and second individual booked in this match by the German referee.

48th min: Chance, Man United! Rasmus Hojlund heads over! It's the first real involvement for the United striker, as he failed to adjust his body to meet Amad Diallo's cross. Diallo did very well to create space for himself on the right edge of the penalty area, but his delivery was not well placed, and Hojlund was unable to lead back far enough to get it on target.

2nd half kickoff: They're back under way for a massively tense final 45 minutes, with Man United looking for a way back level. No changes for either side, but it appears Ruben Amorim is readying players for action if things don't change soon after the break.

During the break, UEFA changed Brennan Johnson's goal to an own-goal, and then, inexplicably, back to a Johnson goal. It's quite clearly an own-goal, so it's a mystery what UEFA have seen, or what has them so confused, but either way, at the moment the goal is Johnson's to claim.

HALFTIME: Tottenham 1-0 Man United

A game playing out exactly as you'd expect between the 16th and 17th place teams in the Premier League with an enormous amount on the line.

Plenty of passion but hardly any quality, Spurs lead 1-0 at the break thanks to Brennan Johnson's late first-half opener that was helped into the net by Luke Shaw.

Both teams had bursts of positive play, but the lack of quality was exceedingly evident as fouls came flying in all over the pitch and creativity was at a minimum. United are glaringly lacking a quality striker, as Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo have nobody to aim at in the penalty area. Spurs have done well on the counter, but look less than convincing at the back.

Plenty more to play for here in Bilbao, the second half should be just as entertaining!

42nd min: GOAL! TOTTENHAM! SPURS GO IN FRONT IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL!!!! IT'S BRENNAN JOHNSON WHO POKES THE BALL PAST ANDRE ONANA!

It's a clunky goal perfectly fitting for this match, as Johnson bundles home a deep cross from Pape Sarr on the left, with the ball clipping off Luke Shaw on its way through, which may have confounded Onana through it all.

This has, for the moment, been given as a goal by Johnson, but it's likely to be changed to an own-goal eventually, as Johnson's redirect was not remotely on target, and was instead directed in off Shaw's forearm.

HIGHLIGHT: Watch Tottenham goal in UK | Watch in Canada | Watch in Australia

Watch Tottenham goal in USA:

35th min: As you might imagine in a game with such high stakes and high emotions, there has been a lot of fouling, giving German official Felix Zwayer a ton of work to do. The first booking of the match is shown to Amad Diallo, after he grabs a fist full of Destiny Udogie's shirt with Spurs on the run.

There will likely be a good bit more of that physicality across the 90 minutes. United's second-best creative player being shown a yellow card so early is a real problem for United, and now Ruben Amorim must sort out how long he gives the young winger before protecting him from a second offense.

28th min: Both teams have looked shaky dealing with crosses and other deliveries in and around the penalty area, this time with Patrick Dorgu chesting a ball out of play to concede a corner despite no opponent even remotely in the vicinity.

Spurs waste the chance, as Pedro Porro's delivery falls to Richarlison near the far post but he fails to collect it cleanly.

16th min: Chance, Man United! AMAD DIALLO FIRES JUST WIDE! A Man United corner is sailed to the far post, where it's touched away from immediate danger by Vicario. The ball falls to Diallo at a tight angle, and he takes a touch past a defender and rifles a vicious shot on goal!

It flashes just past the far post, not very far off at all! He's only missed by inches! SO close!

HIGHLIGHT: Watch Amad Diallo chance in UK

11th min: Chance, Tottenham! A ball over the top unlocks the Man United back line down the right Spurs flank, and Brennan Johnson does extremely well to get the ball towards net along the end line. His tight-angle shot was never going to beat Andre Onana at the near post, but it gave Spurs a great chance as Onana's save fell to Pape Sarr outside the top of the penalty area in space.

Sarr has a whip on the volley, and the effort was pacey, but it's blocked by a Man United defender out for a corner! A good opportunity early on!

6th min: A corner for Manchester United is dealt with very poorly by the Spurs defense, with Guglielmo Vicario forced to awkwardly turn the ball out of play around the corner of the post for another corner.

While Tottenham clear the initial delivery on the follow-up set-piece, they make a meal of the recycle and Man United nearly catch Vicario off his line, but Bruno Fernandes is closed down by three defenders and unable to put an effort on the empty net!

Kickoff: They're under way in Basque country! So much to gain for the winner, and consequently SO much to lose for the side that comes up short. Buckle up, we've got a European final to play!

Tottenham vs. Man United: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: With the opening whistle right around the corner, here's a closer look at what's at stake for each club tonight, aside from the obvious: a trophy.

The prize money is paramount for both clubs moving forward, but it's not just what they can directly earn from this match that's got both sides salivating. Instead, it's the potential Champions League windfall that could be earned by victory tonight, as the winner will qualify directly to next year's league phase.

The guaranteed total from that achievement nearly matches what these clubs earned through their entire Europa League journey this season, and there's even more on the table should they perform in UEFA's top competition next season!

MORE: A full breakdown of the Europa League prize money and what the winner will earn in the Champions League

30 mins to kickoff: Even as Ruben Amorim has sledged his team all season long through their domestic struggles, saying he's never sure which Man United team will show up at any given stage, he's told the TNT crew on site that he's "really confident" in his players before this game.

45 mins to kickoff: The key to this game could be the physicality in midfield that Man United possess between Casemiro and Mason Mount, while Tottenham lack the same brute force to keep up. Even United have lacked physicality at times this season — Manuel Ugarte pointed towards that as a factor for their domestic struggles — but Spurs are totally devoid of such qualities themselves.

1 hour to kickoff: The narrative behind both clubs this season has been remarkably similar — domestically putrid but strong in Europe. Both managers acknowledged this fact before the match, in a show of mutual candor.

Ange Postecoglou seemed slightly reluctant to admit this fact, but did indeed acknowledge that both clubs have had difficulties at various stages, while Ruben Amorim was more up front with his assessment by saying they are both "struggling" this season.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Lineups are in! Tottenham's midfield looks thin, as there is no James Maddison and no Lucas Bergvall, two injured players who were instrumental in reaching this final. However, as those absences were expected, the surprise here is that Heung-Min Son is not in the starting lineup, left instead on the bench as Richarlison and Brennan Johnson flank No. 9 Dominic Solanke.

For Manchester United, there are two real surprises. First, Luke Shaw is fit enough to start at the back, while in midfield Mason Mount starts over Manuel Ugarte.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: Even with so much riding on this European final, the general feeling is that likely tonight's result will have little effect on either manager's job status. It's been widely reported that Ruben Amorim will stay on at Manchester United regardless of whether the Red Devils triumph today or not, while it's expected that Ange Postecoglou is likely leaving Tottenham whether or not they win.

Our very own Joe Wright has explained why he believes that Amorim deserves far more scrutiny than he's received, saying "There's only so long you can walk towards a cliff edge." It's very much worth your time ahead of kickoff.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: We are still 30 minutes from official team news, but there is a report that Leny Yoro will start for Man United at the back. While this was expected, it also wasn't fully confirmed yet as he has been struggling with a slight injury in recent weeks, so his return is welcome.

2 hours to kickoff: The tension promised to be oozing throughout this European final could be felt even the day before, as Ange Postecoglou had a testy moment in his pre-match press conference.

The Tottenham boss took issue with the phrase "hero or clown" used by a Spurs writer in a pre-match article to describe the huge gap in fallout from each potential result in this game. The narrative will be vastly different between win or lose, but Postecoglou was not thrilled with being potentially painted as a "clown."

It's been a long and arduous season, and both Spurs and United are feeling the pressure of that.

Tottenham vs. Man United kick off time

The 2025 Europa League final kicks off from the San Mames Stadium on Wednesday, May 21 at 9 p.m. local time in San Sebastian, Spain. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

 DateKickoff time
USA/CanadaWed, May 213 p.m. ET
USA/CanadaWed, May 2112 p.m. PT
UKWed, May 218 p.m. BST
AustraliaThu, May 225 a.m. AEST
IndiaThu, May 2212:30 a.m. IST

Tottenham vs. Man United lineups, team news

Spurs captain Son Heung-min made his first start since recovering from a foot injury in last Friday's defeat to Aston Villa, but has surprisingly been left on the bench while Richarlison and Brennan Johnson start flanking striker Dominic Solanke.

Ange Postecoglou's main concerns come in midfield, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall all ruled out.

The picture is far rosier at centre-back. Despite both missing large chunks of the campaign, influential duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are ready to start.

Tottenham starting lineup (4-3-3): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie — Sarr, Bissouma, Bentancur — Johnson, Solanke, Richarlison.

Tottenham subs: Austin (GK), Whiteman (GK), Spence, Davies, Danso, Gray, Ajayi, Moore, Odobert, Tel, Son, Scarlett.

Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee all took part in team training on Tuesday before the United squad flew to Bilbao, and they were all in contention to be involved in the game. That said, Zirkzee was always unlikely to be fully fit after battling a hamstring injury sustained last month that was expected to sideline him for the rest of the season, and is not in the matchday squad.

Matthijs de Ligt had hoped to recover from a knee problem, but he was not included in the travelling squad.

Amad Diallo and Mason Mount have each given Amorim's support attacking options a boost in recent weeks and are vying to start, with both included in the lineup while Manuel Ugarte has been left on the bench.

Much-maligned striker Rasmus Hojlund has scored six goals in the Europa League this season, two more than he has managed in the Premier League in 2024/25.

Man United starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana (GK) — Yoro, Maguire, Shaw — Mazraoui, Casemiro, Mount, Dorgu — Fernandes, Amad — Hojlund.

Man United subs: Bayindir (GK), Amass, Dalot, Evans, Heaven, Lindelof, Collyer, Eriksen, Mainoo, Ugarte, Garnacho, Zirkzee.

Tottenham vs. Man United live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions:

 TV channelStreaming
USATUDN, UniMasFubo USA, Paramount+, Vix
Canada —DAZN
UKTNT Sports 1discovery+
Australia —Stan Sport
India —JioTV, Sony LIV

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Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.