Harry Maguire channeled his inner Lamine Yamal to set up Manchester United's opening goal against Athletic Bilbao in a stunning 3-0 victory in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final on Thursday night, May 1, 2025. The centre-back, known more for his defensive prowess, surprised everyone with his unexpected attacking flair, proving crucial for his team as they took a significant step towards the final.
After his dramatic 121st-minute winner against Lyon in the quarter-finals, Maguire showcased his skills once again, this time as a makeshift winger. In a moment that left fans and commentators alike in awe, he twisted and turned past his marker on the right wing before delivering a perfectly timed cross. This set up Casemiro, who headed home to give United the lead just before the half-hour mark.
Maguire's dazzling display drew comparisons to the young Barcelona sensation, Lamine Yamal, who had impressed just a day earlier against Inter Milan. TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher quipped, "Maguire... not the most orthodox of right wingers but he's done well over there. It's a great cross, it's a great chance, it's 1-0 to Manchester United." His performance was further praised by former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who exclaimed, "Wow. I tell you what, he'll have to go and renegotiate his contract as an attacking player the way he's going!"
The first half saw a flurry of goals from United, with Bruno Fernandes finding the net twice, including one from the penalty spot, to give his side a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime. Maguire's contribution was pivotal in setting the tone for the match, as he was not only instrumental in the opener but also demonstrated a remarkable passing accuracy of 97.1% throughout the game.
Reflecting on his performance, Maguire admitted he enjoyed stepping up in an unexpected role. "It was nice to do a bit of dribbling and put in a great cross," he said after the match. "We had a lot of bodies in the box, so they must have trusted me to get that cross in. It was a nice feeling, and Casemiro put it in the net. It was a great header in the end."
United's manager, Ruben Amorim, also heaped praise on Maguire, calling him a "good winger" and highlighting his ability to bounce back from difficult moments. "Sometimes there are moments in life, and Harry has had difficult moments where everything he did was wrong. Now everything he does is good for the team, so he has to enjoy it," Amorim remarked.
As the match progressed, the home crowd at San Mames was loud and intense, but United managed to weather the storm. Maguire noted, "The first 20 minutes was difficult. The crowd was super loud, the intensity was high. They came after us, and we looked a little bit nervous at times, but we knew we'd get our chances."
The victory puts United in a strong position ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford next week, where they will look to secure their place in the Europa League final, which will also be held at San Mames on May 21. Maguire acknowledged the pressure that comes with being favorites, stating, "All the pressure will be on us now; everyone will expect us to go through, so we need to prepare well, and if we do, we will give ourselves a great opportunity to reach the final."
Fans were quick to take to social media to celebrate Maguire's unexpected brilliance, dubbing him "Harrydinho" in reference to his skillful play. One fan humorously remarked, "Yamal who? Sir Harry Maguire!" while another joked, "Harry Maguire is our Best CB, RWB, and ST. What a player!"
With the match concluding at 3-0, United now have one foot in the final, but as Maguire pointed out, the tie is far from over. "It's been a great night for us, but one foot in the final, it's still not done," he cautioned. The anticipation builds as the Red Devils prepare for what promises to be an electrifying second leg at Old Trafford.
