Manchester United Holds Athletic Bilbao to a Draw in Thrilling Pre-Season Clash
Manchester United faced Athletic Bilbao in an exciting pre-season match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with kick-off at 4 pm. The Red Devils, who are gearing up for their 2023/24 Premier League campaign, looked to field a revamped team following their recent victory over RC Lens.
Manager Erik ten Hag fielded a strong starting lineup in their last game against Lens, which is likely to resemble their opening lineup against Wolves. However, for this Dublin clash, United made significant changes. Tom Heaton led the team as captain, with Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and Christian Eriksen also making the starting XI.
This match marked Manchester United’s eighth and final friendly of the summer, having won four out of the previous seven. The team aimed to secure another win to boost their confidence going into the Premier League season opener against Wolves next week.
In terms of the opposition, Athletic Bilbao finished in eighth place in La Liga last season but struggled towards the end. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Eibar in their recent match and sought an improved performance against the English giants.
Manchester United had a productive pre-season with an extensive schedule of friendlies, which concluded with this match against Athletic Bilbao. They faced one of the busiest pre-seasons in the Premier League, playing a total of 25 friendlies, including their recent 3-1 victory over Lens.
Erik ten Hag faced the task of fine-tuning his squad ahead of their opening fixture against Wolves, which will be broadcast live on talkSPORT. The United manager looked to get back on the winning track after a string of defeats during their USA tour, losing to Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Wrexham.
