Man Utd player ratings vs Athletic Club: Mason Mount dazzles with brilliant brace as Hojlund & Casemiro contribute in thrilling comeback win—setting up an all-English UEL final against Spurs
Mason Mount, Manchester United’s £60m forgotten man, reignited his Red Devils career with a crucial goal in a dominant 4-1 victory over Athletic Club, securing their place in the Europa League final with a commanding 7-1 aggregate win.
Despite carrying a healthy lead from the first leg, United looked far from comfortable for long stretches. A stunning strike from Mikel Jauregizar—exploiting hesitant defending from Harry Maguire—put the hosts behind early, and they struggled to find rhythm in the second half. However, Ruben Amorim’s triple substitution sparked a revival, with Mount at the heart of United’s resurgence.
The midfielder’s equalizer, a beautifully curled effort reminiscent of Federico Macheda’s iconic 2009 strike against Aston Villa, settled Old Trafford’s nerves. But rather than sitting back, United surged forward, turning the tie into a rout and booking their spot in an all-English final.
Casemiro broke the deadlock before Hojlund doubled the advantage, with Mount capping off his superb substitute appearance by lofting home a spectacular late strike from distance. The victory sets up a final showdown against Tottenham at San Mamés, where both clubs will look to salvage disappointing seasons by securing Champions League qualification.
Sportpredictpro now evaluates each Manchester United player’s performance from Old Trafford…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (6/10):
Provided unexpected composure on an otherwise shaky night for United. Commanded his box well, opting to catch crosses he’d typically punch away. Blameless for the conceded goal.
Victor Lindelof (4/10):
Never settled, making reckless tackles and frequently caught out of position. His vulnerability raises concerns ahead of the final – Amorim will need stronger defensive options.
Harry Maguire (5/10):
Costly errors led to the opener, though he recovered with some crucial interventions. His inconsistency remains evident, yet United desperately need him fit for the final.
Leny Yoro (6/10):
United’s most composed defender who also contributed going forward. His Pique-esque runs from defense played a key role in Mount’s decisive goal.
Midfield
Noussair Mazraoui (6/10):
Had moments of solid defending mixed with lapses in concentration. An early yellow card for an elbow forced his substitution, making way for Shaw.
Casemiro (5/10):
Far from his commanding first-leg display. Looked sluggish in challenges and received a booking for a mistimed tackle on Djalo.
Manuel Ugarte (4/10):
Sloppy in possession, frequently surrendering the ball in dangerous positions. His disappointing outing ended with a 62nd-minute substitution.
Patrick Dorgu (6/10):
A positive presence on the left flank, combining well in attack. Delivered an excellent pass that Garnacho failed to capitalize on and had strong penalty appeals after a challenge from Gorosabel.
Attack
Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):
Full of energy as always but wasteful in key moments. Denied twice by Agirrezabala – first to a through ball then in a one-on-one. His biggest miss came just before halftime when he chipped wide from a great position.
Rasmus Hojlund (7/10):
Worked hard up front without much threat until sealing the win with a simple finish from close range.
Bruno Fernandes (7/10):
Started quietly but became more influential as the game progressed. His assist for Casemiro’s goal set a new Europa League record (19 assists).
Subs & Manager
Mason Mount (10/10):
Exactly the game-changing performance United envisioned from their £60m signing. His stunning equalizer calmed the nerves before he took complete control – capping his night with an outrageous chip after some dazzling footwork.
Luke Shaw (6/10):
Brought much-needed stability after coming on.
Amad Diallo (7/10):
Injected pace and directness that terrified Athletic’s defense, creating the assist for Hojlund’s clincher.
Harry Amass (N/A):
Joined the attacking onslaught late on.
Kobbie Mainoo (N/A):
Entered at the ideal moment.
Ruben Amorim (9/10):
Masterful substitutions that completely flipped the momentum in United’s favor.
