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Ahead of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Pulse Sports revisit the previous instances in which clubs from England’s top division have tussled in title-deciding European matches.
Despite Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur enduring miserable league campaigns, the Europa League has offered much-needed cheer for supporters of both clubs.
While Erik ten Hag was jettisoned by the Red Devils in late October, Ruben Amorim, who took charge in November, has found respite on the continent, as evidenced by the Manchester giants entering another European final.
The Portuguese manager’s United side are languishing in 15th, one spot above Spurs, whom they face in May 21's decider in Bilbao.
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11:49 - 09.05.2025
Manchester United vs Tottenham: When is the Europa League Final?
The 2025 UEFA Europa League final is set to be an all-English showdown between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, with both teams looking to win this silverware and save what has been a poor 2024-25 season for these sides.
Ange Postecoglou's team have failed miserably to build on last season's fifth-placed finish, as they enter gameweek 36 in 16th, two places clear of the bottom three.
Although the North London club have been beaten 19 times in the top flight, only Galatasaray (3-2) and AZ Alkmaar (1-0) have defeated Postecoglou's team on the continent ahead of the forthcoming contest with United in a fortnight.
The final on May 21 will be the 11th time two teams from the same nation will face off in a European final and the fifth time involving clubs from England.
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Ahead of the decider to be held at Athletic Club's San Mames Stadium, Pulse Sports recollect the previous match-ups.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur (UEFA Cup, 1972)
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The inaugural UEFA Cup final in the 1971-72 season was an all-English affair between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That season’s two-legged final saw Spurs emerge victorious with a 3-2 aggregate score.
Martin Chivers was the hero for Spurs in the first leg at Molineux, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.
In the return leg at White Hart Lane, Alan Mullery's goal for the London club was cancelled out by Dave Wagstaffe's strike for Wolves, resulting in a 1-1 draw that secured the capital club’s first UEFA Cup title.
That season’s final was the first time two clubs from the same country contested the final of a major European club competition.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 on pens) (UEFA Champions League, 2008)
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The first instance of an all-English affair in a European Cup final occurred in the 2007-08 Champions League, as Manchester United and Chelsea locked horns in Moscow.
The contest held immense significance as it was the first time two clubs from England had reached the pinnacle of European club football in the competition's history.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for the Red Devils with a header in the 26th minute, only for Frank Lampard to equalise for Chelsea shortly before halftime.
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The second half and extra time failed to produce a winner, despite Didier Drogba's late red card for Chelsea.
The drama extended to a penalty shootout where, after Ronaldo missed his spot-kick and John Terry agonisingly slipped and hit the post with his potential winner, Edwin van der Sar's save from Nicolas Anelka secured the Manchester outfit’s third European Cup title.
Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal (UEFA Europa League, 2019)
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A second of three European finals involving Chelsea was held in the 2018-19 season, where the Blues defeated London rivals Arsenal 4-1 in Baku.
The 2019 final was the second instance of an all-English final in the UEFA Cup/Europa League and the first time two teams from the same city had competed for a major European trophy.
Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the Blues, followed by goals from Pedro and a brace from Eden Hazard.
Alex Iwobi scored a consolation goal for Arsenal, but it was not enough to stem Chelsea's dominant performance under Maurizio Sarri.
Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Liverpool (UEFA Champions League, 2019)
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Played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, the final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool highlighted the sustained strength of the Premier League, with two of its leading teams competing for the most coveted trophy in European club football.
With Chelsea and Arsenal facing off in the Europa League final, both continental club titles went to Premier League teams.
Liverpool, aiming for their sixth European crown, got off to a flying start when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty in the second minute after a handball in the box.
Despite Spurs’ efforts to find an equaliser, Liverpool remained resolute and were inspired by an Alisson Becker man-of-the-match performance.
The victory was sealed in the 87th minute when substitute Divock Origi fired home Liverpool's second goal, thereby sealing the Merseyside club’s only continental title under Jurgen Klopp.
Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea (UEFA Champions League, 2021)
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The trend of all-English Champions League finals continued in the 2020-21 season, as Chelsea faced Manchester City in Porto's Estadio do Dragao.
The 2021 final was the third instance of two English clubs contesting the Champions League final in a relatively short span, further solidifying the Premier League's status as a dominant force in European football.
Although the final was a tactical battle, it was a much improved spectacle from the all-English decider between Liverpool and Spurs.
The game was ultimately decided by a first-half goal from Kai Havertz, sealing Chelsea’s second Champions League/European Cup victory to follow the club’s 2012 success.
It was particularly noteworthy as Thomas Tuchel had only taken charge of the West London club in January 2021 after the departure of Frank Lampard.
However, the German tactician’s switch to a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 masterminded the Blues’ continental heroics.
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