Two teams placed 16th and 17th in the Premier League going up against each other in May is not an encounter that often piques much interest.

But Wednesday's Europa League final at Athletic Bilbao's iconic San Mames Stadium has taken on extraordinary importance for both Tottenham and Manchester United.

Having not lifted a trophy of any kind since Juande Ramos oversaw their victory over Chelsea in the 2008 EFL Cup final, Spurs are desperate for silverware.

Ange Postecoglou has cut a thorny figure for much of the season, and his future remains far from certain, but ending Tottenham's drought would make it all worthwhile for the Australian, who told reporters in September: "I always win things in my second year".

Ruben Amorim has been less bullish, describing his United team as the worst side in the club's storied history.

Wednesday's victors will seal Champions League qualification for 2025-26, with the financial rewards giving Amorim the chance to turbo-boost his United rebuild.

The losers will be left to face the uncomfortable reality of having endured their worst campaign in modern history.

Here, we delve into the best Opta insights ahead of the Europa League final.

What's expected?

This will be the sixth all-English final in the history of UEFA club competitions, with no other country providing as many finals between two of their clubs (Italy and Spain have had five apiece).

It will be the third of those to involve Tottenham, who beat Wolves 3-2 on aggregate in the 1972 UEFA Cup final and lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League showpiece.

And since the Europa League's 2009 rebrand, this will be the fourth final to be contested between two sides from the same nation, after 2011 (Porto 1-0 Braga), 2012 (Atletico Madrid 3-0 Athletic) and 2019 (Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal).

Tottenham have won all three of their meetings with United in all competitions so far this season; twice in the Premier League (3-0 away, 1-0 home) and once in the EFL Cup (4-3 at home).

The only opponent Spurs have ever won four games against in a single campaign were Manchester City in 1992-93, while the only side to beat the Red Devils four times in a single season were Everton in 1985-86.

United are also winless in their last six meetings with Tottenham in all competitions (two draws, four defeats). The Red Devils have never gone seven without a win against Spurs before.

However, a more positive omen could be that the teams have only met once previously in major European competition, in the 1963-64 Cup Winners' Cup last 16. United progressed 4-3 on aggregate over two legs under Matt Busby.

Many expect a close-run final, and the Opta supercomputer cannot split the teams.

Indeed, both Spurs and United lift the trophy in 50% of pre-match simulations apiece.

Spurs win in 90 minutes in 37.5% of scenarios, with United doing so in 35.2% and the remaining 27.3% going to extra time, and possibly penalties.

Despite the poor league form of both of these teams, an end-to-end final could be on the cards.

Only Athletic (30) have had more shots following high turnovers than both United (23) and Tottenham (22) in this season's Europa League, and the Red Devils are also joint-top in the 2024-25 tournament for direct attacks (32, level with Lyon).

Can Spurs end their long wait?

By the time Wednesday rolls around, it will have been 17 years and 86 days since Spurs last got their hands on silverware by winning the EFL Cup. Their last major European title, meanwhile, was delivered by manager Keith Burkinshaw in the 1983-84 UEFA Cup, 40 years and 363 days ago.

Victory here would make them just the second English club to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League three times, after Liverpool. Meanwhile, only Sevilla (seven) have won it more than three times.

However, they will have to overcome a host of injury problems if they are to end their long wait for glory, having lost creative midfielders Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall.

Kulusevski (11) and Maddison (10) are two of three Spurs players in double figures for assists in all competitions this season, along with Son Heung-min (11).

Son has provided Postecoglou with a boost, at least, having made his first start since recovering from a foot injury in Friday's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

The South Korea international has 11 goals in all competitions this campaign, with only Brennan Johnson (17), Dominic Solanke (15) and Maddison (12) netting more often for Spurs.

Much of the focus in the build-up to this final has been on Postecoglou, the first Australian manager to reach a major European final.

The last time a new nation had a manager reach a major European final for the first time was when Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost the 2021 Europa League final with United, versus Villarreal.

But if Postecoglou is to stand a chance of keeping his job heading into next season, then surely a victory is required.

Amorim's chance at early glory

United have not won in eight league games and, like Spurs, can finish no higher than 14th in the Premier League.

In contrast to their drab league form, United have had a thrilling route to the final, with their stunning 7-6 aggregate win over Lyon in the quarter-finals a particular highlight.

The Red Devils have scored 35 goals (with one of those being an own goal) in this season's Europa League; the only sides to score more in a single UEFA Cup/Europa League campaign are Borussia Monchengladbach in 1972-73 (36), Porto in 2010-11 (37) and Chelsea in 2018-19 (36) – the latter duo won the trophy.

United also remain the only unbeaten side in major European competitions this season, winning nine and drawing five of their 14 Europa League games. 

Head coach Amorim has repeatedly said that lifting the trophy will not solve United's long-term issues, but he may need the credit that a victory would give him, having managed just 0.92 points per game in the Premier League since taking charge.

Amorim could become only the third manager to win a major trophy in his first season in charge of United, after Jose Mourinho in 2016-17 (EFL Cup and Europa League) and Erik ten Hag in 2022-23 (EFL Cup).

He also could become only the third coach to win a major European title with an English club while aged 40 or younger, after Howard Kendall (1984-85 Cup Winners' Cup with Everton, 38) and Gianluca Vialli (1997-98 Cup Winners' Cup with Chelsea, 33).

This will be United's ninth major European final, with only Liverpool (15) reaching more among English clubs.

However, they have failed to win three of their last four such finals – versus Barcelona in the 2008-09 and 2010-11 Champions Leagues and Villarreal in the 2020-21 Europa League – winning the other 2-0 against Ajax in the 2016-17 Europa League.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham - Dominic Solanke

Many of Solanke's best moments have come in this competition, with the former Bournemouth forward having scored in the quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt and in both legs of their semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.

Solanke has also scored in each of his last four games against United in all competitions (five goals).

Since Alex Ferguson left the Red Devils in 2013, only one player has scored in five or more consecutive appearances against them, with Mohamed Salah doing so in six from January 2021 to March 2023.

Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes

If United are to triumph, it will surely be down to Bruno Fernandes to inspire them.

The United captain has the most total goal involvements of any player in Europa League history, with 46, and his 19 assists are also a competition-high.

This season, only Lyon's Rayan Cherki (12) has been involved in more Europa League goals than Fernandes (seven goals, four assists). The only player to be involved in more for an English club in a single campaign in the competition was Olivier Giroud for Chelsea in 2018-19 (11 goals, four assists).