The Europa League quarter-finals finished in a blaze of glory with teams throwing everything at the chance to book their semi-final spot.
Three British clubs – Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers all still had a chance to make the final four, but it was never going to be straightforward for them.
Athletico Bilbao, with the promise of a final in their home stadium, were on the charge and looking to overcome their Scottish opponents, while Serie A side Lazio had a mountain to climb against Bodo/Glimt.
Should Spurs’ European campaign be ended at the hands of Frankfurt, the inevitable sacking of Ange Postecoglou seems on the horizon.
And for United, they had to win to keep their chances of a spot in Europe next season alive.
Read on to see how the matches unfolded.
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 (2-0) Rangers
🔥 SEMI-FINALISTS 🔥
Goazen, Athletic!
💭 @EuropaLeague 🧡#UniqueInTheWorld 🦁 pic.twitter.com/YTcuuDVCaQ
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) April 17, 2025
Athletic Bilbao booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Rangers.
The Spanish side dominated from the outset and were finally rewarded on the stroke of half-time when Oihan Sancet coolly converted a penalty after Maroan Sannadi was brought down in the box.
Rangers goalkeeper Robby Kelly was sent the wrong way as Sancet’s composed strike gave Athletic a deserved lead.
Despite a more spirited second-half showing from Rangers, who struck the post through Nicolas Raskin and forced a couple of saves, it was Athletic who struck a second.
In the 80th minute, Oscar de Marcos floated a delightful cross to the back post, where Nico Williams escaped his marker and nodded in the second goal, sealing the tie.
Rangers boss Barry Ferguson made several substitutions to chase the game, including the introductions of Danilo and Igamane, but clear chances were hard to come by.
Athletic, meanwhile, managed the closing stages with composure, and ultimately their class was enough to get over the line.
Frankfurt 0-1 (1-2) Tottenham
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/ddZQ5LXDLd
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 17, 2025
Tottenham sealed their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 1-0 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt, winning 2-1 on aggregate.
In a tense and often frantic contest at Deutsche Bank Park, Spurs soaked up early pressure and struck the decisive moment just before half-time when James Maddison was taken out by goalkeeper Santos.
After a VAR check, a penalty was awarded and Dominic Solanke converted.
Frankfurt responded after the break, creating a string of chances, with Rasmus Kristensen and Fares Chaibi both testing Guglielmo Vicario, who produced an outstanding save to preserve Spurs’ lead.
Ange Postecoglou’s side shifted into survival mode late on, bringing on defensive reinforcements and withstanding relentless pressure in added time.
Despite being under siege for much of the second half, Tottenham showed resilience and discipline to hold on.
The win takes them into their first Europa League semi-final in over a decade, with Ange Postecoglou’s job safe, for now.
Lazio 3-1 (3-3) Bodo/Glimt (Bodo/Glimt win on pens)
Si va ai rigori #LazioBodo#UEL#AvantiLazio
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) April 17, 2025
Lazio and Bodo/Glimt played out an unforgettable Europa League quarter-final that went the distance, ending in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
Lazio, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, roared back at the Stadio Olimpico with goals from Castellanos, Noslin, and Dia – whose 99th-minute header gave them a 3-2 aggregate lead.
But substitute Andreas Helmersen equalised late in extra time for Glimt, forcing penalties.
In the shootout, both sides traded blows and misses. Lazio’s Tchaouna and Noslin failed from the spot, while Glimt’s Hauge and Berg also squandered chances.
Ultimately, Sondre Brunstad Fet, Brede Moe, and Patrick Berg converted for Glimt, with Guendouzi Lazio’s only scorer before Castellanos blasted over the bar to confirm Bodo/Glimt’s progression.
Manchester United 5-4 (7-6) Lyon
Into the semi-finals!#MUFC || #UEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 17, 2025
Manchester United pulled off one of the most remarkable European comebacks in their history, defeating Lyon 5-4 at Old Trafford to win 7-6 on aggregate and reach the Europa League semi-finals.
The Red Devils looked to be cruising after first-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot gave them a 4-2 aggregate lead.
But Lyon fought back, with Tolisso, Tagliafico, and Cherki scoring in a devastating 15-minute spell to turn the tie around in extra time.
Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty appeared to seal United’s fate at 6-4 on aggregate.
Yet the hosts refused to die. A penalty won by Casemiro and calmly converted by Bruno Fernandes reignited hope, before substitute Kobbie Mainoo’s composed finish brought United level on aggregate at 6-6 with just minutes to play.
Then came the moment of magic. Deep into stoppage time, Casemiro floated in a perfect cross, and Harry Maguire rose highest to bullet a header past Perri, sending Old Trafford into raptures and United into the final four.
