Athletic Bilbao predicted XI vs Manchester United as experienced figure returns and trio miss out

Athletic Bilbao will be hoping to complete one of the greatest European comebacks of all time when they face Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday night.

The Spanish side will make the trip to Old Trafford with the ambition of overturning a three-goal deficit, after falling foul of a first half blitz from United at the San Mames Stadium last week. Goals from Bruno Fernandes (2) and Casemiro ensured United were 3-0 up by the break.

If Athletic are to turn the tie on its head and reach the final in their own stadium later this month, they must become the first team in Europa League history to overcome a three-goal deficit in a two-legged tie when they have been the away team in the second leg.

Their hopes of pulling off a miraculous recovery have been made all the tougher amid the fact they will be without leading goalscorer Oihan Sancet and attackers Nico and Inaki Williams. The trio were left out of the 24-man squad that travelled to Manchester on Wednesday.

Sancet missed last week's first leg through injury, whereas the Williams brothers both started. It means Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde will have to make a minimum of three changes from last week's first leg amid Dani Vivian's suspension.

Starting between the posts, Julen Agirrezabala is expected to start in goal and continue as Athletic's first-choice goalkeeper in the Europa League. He has started 12 of their 13 games in the competition this season and has started every knockout game ahead of Unai Simon.

After being left on the bench for the weekend's goalless draw against Real Sociedad, captain Oscar De Marcos could return and start at right-back. Aitor Paredes is a logical replacement for the suspended Vivian and could