Williams brothers join Oihan Sancet in missing Athletic's Man Utd trip

Nico Williams and Inaki Williams have joined Oihan Sancet on the sidelines for Athletic Bilbao ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Manchester United.

Ernesto Valverde's Athletic face a mammoth task if they are to reach the Europa League final at their home stadium at San Mames, having lost 3-0 at home in the first leg.

In all major European competitions, only one side has ever won the first leg of a two-legged knockout tie away from home by three or more goals and failed to progress.

Maccabi Tel Aviv are the only team to do so, winning 4-1 at Olympiakos in the 2023-24 Europa Conference League last 16, then losing 6-1 at home after extra time in the second leg.

Athletic's hopes of replicating Olympiakos' fightback have now suffered a major blow, with their top three scorers from this season all absent from their travelling party.

Sancet, who has 17 goals in all competitions this campaign, missed the first leg through injury and has not recovered in time to travel to Manchester.

Nico Williams – one of the stars of Spain's Euro 2024 triumph – played 79 minutes in the first leg but has been dealing with a groin issue, and he missed their goalless draw with rivals Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday.

He has not been named in Athletic's 24-man squad for Thursday's second leg, with his brother Inaki Williams also left out after suffering from a hamstring issue.

Both Williams brothers have 11 goals apiece in all competitions this season, with Nico adding nine assists and Inaki recording seven.