Tottenham booked their place in the Europa League final with a clinical 2-0 win at Bodo/Glimt, completing a 5-1 aggregate triumph.
Despite sitting 16th in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s men silenced critics, with Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro scoring to set up a showdown with Man United.
Follow BRG365 for Tottenham’s final build-up!
Spurs Seal Bilbao Showdown
After a 3-1 first-leg lead, Tottenham controlled the Arctic Circle return fixture, shrugging off injuries to James Maddison and Son Heung-min.
Bodo/Glimt, unbeaten at home in Europe since October 2023, threatened early with Patrick Berg’s free-kick, but Guglielmo Vicario made key saves to keep a clean sheet—their first in 11 away European games.
The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Cristian Romero nodded Mathys Tel’s corner into the six-yard box, and Dominic Solanke prodded home.
Pedro Porro then sealed the win with a 70th-minute cross that looped over goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, capitalizing on defensive confusion.
“Professional, composed—exactly what we needed,” Postecoglou said of his side’s performance, which marked their biggest European semi-final aggregate win (5-1) since 1984.
Key Stats
-
Tottenham’s 5-1 aggregate win is their largest in a major European semi-final.
-
Ange Postecoglou is the first Spurs manager to reach a European final since Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.
Player Ratings (2nd Leg vs Bodo/Glimt):
-
Guglielmo Vicario – 7.5/10
-
Cristian Romero – 7.8/10
-
Pedro Porro – 8.0/10 (Scored a goal)
-
Dominic Solanke – 7.7/10 (Scored a goal)
-
Mathys Tel – 6.9/10
Postecoglou Defends Final Aspirations
Ange Postecoglou fired back at skeptics after Tottenham reached their first European final since 2019, insisting their league struggles shouldn’t overshadow their continental form.
“It’s going to upset a lot of people,” the Australian said, referencing debates over whether Spurs or Man United “deserve” the trophy.
“We’ve earned the right to be here,” he added, noting Tottenham’s 14-game Europa League campaign included wins over AZ Alkmaar and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The manager dismissed links between domestic and European form: “If reaching a final was easy, why don’t top-three teams do it every year?”
Trophy drought ends here
Tottenham’s trip to Bilbao on May 21 will be their sixth European final and first Europa League showpiece since 1984 (as Uefa Cup winners).
A win would end a 17-year trophy drought, their longest in 140 years, and secure Champions League qualification—a vital boost for a squad decimated by 29 injury absences this season.
Postecoglou, who won trophies in his second season at Celtic and Yokohama F. Marinos, refused to downplay the final’s significance: “This club needs this.
The supporters have waited too long. We’re not here to make up numbers.”
The Australian’s pragmatic approach—prioritizing clean sheets and controlled possession in knockout rounds—has paid off, with Spurs conceding just four goals in 14 Europa League games.
Their semi-final record against Man United? Three wins in four meetings this season, including a dramatic Carabao Cup comeback in December.
Final Stakes
Both clubs view the final as a lifeline:
-
Champions League qualification for the winner
-
Financial salvation: Spurs’ £850M debt vs. United’s FFP constraints
-
Legacy redemption: Tottenham’s last UEL triumph was 1984; United seek first since 2017.
Postecoglou remained defiant: “We’ve earned this. Let them fear we might actually win it.”
