Tottenham v Man Utd: Prediction, free tips and bet builder as Europa League trophy puts gloss on awful season

The final the big cheeses at UEFA didn't want. Two truly dreadful English teams, with under-fire managers kicking lumps out of each other in what everyone expects to be an awful final.

Yes, the Europa League has a potential death or glory feel about it.

The winner collects a trophy, a Champions League place and the manager might even keep their job. But the loser will likely be sent to the gallows and the wailing from their fanbase will go through the roof.

Both sides will be desperate for the victory. Tottenham haven't won a major trophy in 17 years. They’ve lost five of their last six finals and stumbled into this one off the back of 21 Premier League defeats.

Manchester United at least have a recent bit of silverware in the cabinet, but they've been nearly as terrible in the Premier League with 18 defeats across the season.

The positives for both sides have been in Europe, with Ange Postecoglou's Spurs beating AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt in the knockouts, with Dominic Solanke leading the charge, with five goals and four assists in Europe.

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United team are unbeaten in 14 matches, scoring 35 goals and eliminating the likes of Lyon and Athletic Bilbao. Fernandes leads the way with seven goals and four assists.

This is just a dressed-up Premier League match, in a warmer city with cheaper tapas. Crucially Tottenham have already beaten United three times this season and that could be a big factor. Then you've also got Postecoglou's bold claim he 'always wins things' in his second year in charge.

Here are our favourite betting tips as Tottenham and Man Utd go head-to-head in the Europa League final on Wednesday night. You can have a flutter on our final selections with our friends at Betway.

Tottenham v Man Utd bet builder

Both teams to score -  3/4

Tottenham to lift the trophy - 21/20

Correct score 1-1 in 90 minutes - 11/2

Solanke to score - 11/4

Fernandes to score or assist - 13/10

Over 5.5 cards - 11/8

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

Both teams to score

Both sides have struggled for consistency and could cancel each other out in Bilbao, especially as they'll both be crapping their pants about making a mistake.

Three of the last four Europa League finals have finished 1-1 and gone to penalties, so that outcome is very much in play here.

With both teams capable of scoring and neither fully trusted to defend, both teams to score looks like the safest bet.

Correct score 1-1 in 90 minutes

A correct score of 1-1 in 90 minutes makes a lot of sense, given we are expecting a cagey game and neither side are in great shape in front of goal - neither side has scored in the last two.

The last time both sides met in February, Tottenham claimed a 1-0 win, but United could have easily grabbed an equaliser if Garnacho had been a bit more clinical.

Tottenham's other victories this season - 4-3 in the Carabao Cup in December and 3-0 at Old Trafford can be chalked off as misleading. Both sides have been struggling for goals in recent weeks and one of those games was back when Erik ten Hag was in charge of United.

Tottenham to lift the trophy

Spurs winning all three meetings with Man Utd this season will give them extra confidence and that could help them sneak across the line in extra-time.

We wouldn't be surprised if this one ended in penalties.

Fernandes to score or assist

The Man Utd captain is currently the joint-top scorer in the Europa League and has 19 goals and 16 assists across all competitions this season.

Without him, Man Utd could have been looking at a proper relegation dogfight in the Premier League this side and he will be at the centre of everything his side does in Bilbao.

He's scored seven in his last eight Europa League appearances this season, but given the nature of this clash put in a bit of safety into the bet by making it a score or assist.

Solanke to score

Dominic Solanke has netted in each of his last four Spurs starts and is 13/2 to open the scoring.

He's got five goals in the Europa League this season from 12 games and has also scored three in the last three against Man Utd.

Over 5.5 cards

Two English sides and a card happy German ref this already sounds like the recipe for a petulant evening in northern Spain.

Spurs and United have seen this bet land in two of their three encounters this season, with the Carabao Cup game serving up six yellows and the 3-0 near the start of the season eight, including a red for Fernandes.

Ref Felix Zwayer averages 5+ per game in Europe and over 5.5 cards have succeeded in four of the last six all-English UEFA clashes.

Noussair Mazraoui 1+ foul

Noussair Mazraoui has picked up two yellow cards in his last three, but we'll play it safe with just a foul for this bet builder. Let's not get too greedy now.

Most of Tottenham's threat comes from out wide and this will keep the Moroccan on his toes. He's committed five fouls in his last seven Premier League matches.

Tottenham vs Man Utd: How to watch and listen

Tottenham vs Man Utd will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate at 20:00 (BST) on Wednesday, May 21. Live radio commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live.