Manchester United are set to play a friendly against Basque side Athletic Club in Dublin on August 6 following a packed July that includes six pre-season games in Oslo, Edinburgh, New Jersey, San Diego, Houston and Las Vegas.
The game will be held at the Aviva Stadium, which seats 51,000.
United enjoy huge support in the Republic of Ireland and last played in Dublin in 2018, with Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring in a 2-1 win against Italian side Sampdoria. That year, a game featuring former United players also attracted a sell-out 45,000 crowd in Cork, which was held in honour of former player Liam Miller.
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, finished eighth in La Liga in 2022/23, missing out on European football by one league place having finished two points behind neighbours Osasuna, who also eliminated them in the Copa del Rey semi-final in Bilbao.
Athletic only dropped out of a European place on the final day of the season after a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid. They are managed by former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde.
Former United player Ander Herrera, 33, also plays for the club, as he did in 2012 when Marcelo Bielsa’s side beat United home and away to eliminate them from the Europa League. It remains one of the greatest performances by an away team in European football at Old Trafford.
United also played Athletic in a famous 1957 European Cup tie which will be remembered for a number of reasons.
The English and Spanish champions played the first leg in Bilbao. The January weather in northern Spain is known to be harsh and snow rendered Bilbao airport treacherous and deserted when United arrived.
Manchester United 2022/23 season ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED 2022/23 SEASON RATINGS: GOALKEEPERS: David de Gea 6.5: Started all 38 league games and kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper, made numerous key saves, yet his mistakes are highlighted more. His presence in the team now divides fans, as does whether he should sign a new contract or be moved on. AP -
Tom Heaton 7: Second-choice goalkeeper for much of the season, which frustrated him as he felt he deserved to play more. Always professional and valued in the dressing room, the 37-year-old played well in two League Cup games, keeping a clean sheet and helping United towards Wembley. Getty -
DEFENDERS: Aaron Wan Bissaka 7: Barely figured before the festive period when his United future looked bleak, especially after a horror opening 15 minutes in a Cadiz friendly. Much better as the season went on and became first-choice full-back again. Excellent defensively, can still be suspect with his final ball going forward. EPA -
Diogo Dalot 7: First-choice right-back in the first half of the season as he started the first 15 league games, the 24-year-old was suspended then injured in November and came back a lesser player in February. Signed a new contract last week, which he deserves, but the right-back position remains an issue for Ten Hag. AP -
Victor Lindelof 6.5: Injured at the start of season then unable to break into the side but then played in 90 minutes in all of the last nine games – and performed well. Needed when Martinez was injured and selected over Maguire by a manager who rates him. Getty -
Harry Maguire 6: His worst season at United and probably in his pro career. Lost his place after the Brentford debacle and played second fiddle to others but didn’t actually play badly when in the team. Always spoke in a dignified manner, but footballers like to play football and he’s not getting enough at United. Getty -
Lisandro Martinez 8.5: Superb first season in England for the Argentine World Cup winner. Hammered for his height after a walloping at Brentford, he proved just about every doubter wrong with his fearless performances. The 25-year-old fractured a metatarsal against Sevilla. How costly that would prove. Became a cult hero among fans. Getty -
Raphael Varane 8: World-class defender who, like Casemiro, won it all at Real Madrid and lives up to his status most weeks. Only worry is how many games he can play – 22/38 league games is hardly the rock to build a team on. Tactically and technically peerless, he’s also calm, fast, aggressive and comfortable against the best sides. Remains a key player for United. PA -
Luke Shaw 7.5: Raises his game when his position is under threat. He was deservedly dropped after the two opening defeats and had to work his way back into the side ahead of new signing Malacia. Became a key United player. Powerful and attack-minded, he also performed well as a central defender, but left-back is where he excels. PA -
Tyrell Malacia 6.5: New signing from Feyenoord who didn’t wait long to show what he could do. His lack of experience became apparent over games though and he lost his place to Shaw. A creditable first season and it is a positive that he’s there to push first-choice left-back Shaw. Getty -
MIDFIELDERS: Fred 7: Only 12 league starts for the Brazilian as Casemiro and Eriksen took his place. Became a key player coming off the bench, bringing energy and a surprisingly high six goals. Disappointing season for him, yet contained some of his greatest moments as a United player – a goal against Barcelona and another belter in a magnificent October match against Spurs. AFP -
Casemiro 8.5: One of the best midfielders in the world and how he showed it. A key player throughout the season, the cement between the bricks in the eyes of his boss. Brings balance, closes spaces, breaks up play, assists, scores and better than anyone in the air. His seven goals were a bonus. Will hopefully learn from the two silly red cards that cost him and his team in the spring. AFP -
Christian Eriksen 7.5: Impressive season for the creative Dane. It was interrupted after he picked up a serious injury in January, but thankfully returned from by April. A creator capable of passing between the lines, the 31-year-old only scored twice, but showed his value with 10 assists. Getty -
Scott McTominay 6.5: Started season well, but lost his place in the side to Casemiro, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Aged 26, United could get a significant fee for him and that could happen this summer. A good Premier League standard footballer who could perform at a top-half side every week. A world-class midfielder for Man United? That would bring a different answer. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes 8: Started in an incredible 58 games and remained mostly injury-free. Moany and motivated, he scored an impressive 14 times (and picked up 12 yellow cards). A versatile leader who takes responsibility, he was comfortable with the penalty in the FA Cup final and likely to be United’s captain next season. PA -
Marcel Sabitzer 6.5: A January loan from Bayern Munich to cover for the injured Eriksen, Sabitzer’s two first-half goals against Sevilla were his highlight, but, like his time at the club, they didn’t have a happy ending. Missed the final games of the season to injury, but professional throughout. Leaves with best wishes. Reuters -
ATTACKERS: Jadon Sancho 6: Started well but then had an awful game in Europa League in Cyprus where he looked shot of confidence. Left out of the side, sent to the Netherlands to get him back into a place where he could play for Manchester United again and that happened. Is it unrealistic to expect much more than six league goals and three assists from a player who promised so much and cost so much? No. Getty -
Antony 7: Arrived with a huge fee from Ajax. Started 39 games and scored eight goals. Needs to score more, assist more, be less predictable and be a greater danger closer to goal. PA -
Cristiano Ronaldo 5: Didn’t want to be at the club but sent mixed messages to Ten Hag who asked him straight. A negative influence in the dressing room and the mood (and results) improved when he departed. Featured in 16 games and scored three. One of the greatest players ever, just not this season. PA -
Marcus Rashford 9: The 30-goal tally says it all. Where would United have been without those goals from a team over-reliant on a player who plays out left. Despondent last season, a full pre-season and a manager right behind him helped him perform all season. Needs a goalscorer alongside him and he could be even better. Player of the season. Getty -
Antony Martial 6: Eleven league starts isn’t enough. Nor is it surprising for a player whose career is badly afflicted by injury. The maddening thing is that when he plays United look a better side with him linking plays and his nine goals from only 17 starts across all competitons is no bad statistic. Getty -
Alejandro Garnacho 8: Breakthrough star who gets fans off their seats. Scored five goals, most notably the winner at Fulham in the final game before the World Cup finals. He’s not short of confidence and still has much to learn but he’s only 18 and has plenty of time to do that. Getty -
Facundo Pellistri 6: Started only one game and came on in nine others – where he usually made an impact by running at opponents and crossing. The Uruguayan international, 21, is a bright prospect. PA -
Wout Weghorst 6: He huffed and he puffed and he brought the ball down, the January loan signing was a goalscorer who doesn’t score, but he was affordable, gettable and fitted into Erik ten Hag’s system when he needed a striker after the departure of Ronaldo. Far from the standard of a top United striker, but he was available when others weren’t. EPA -
MANAGER: Erik ten Hag 8: Impressive first season for the Dutch manager with a trophy and a third-place finish. Going out limply to Sevilla stung, but he handled the big decisions well, especially concerning Ronaldo. A disciplinarian with a human touch, he’s no-nonsense and comfortable with the demands of being in charge of a huge club. Needs to be backed so he can continue to improve United. PA
“My impression of Spain being sun and sand were based on holiday posters at railway stations so I was surprised that it was freezing,” recalled defender Bill Foulkes. “It was our first season in Europe and we were unbeaten until Bilbao gave us a real going over in front of 60,000. The pitch wasn’t good, it was covered in slush and mud and it got worse as the game continued.”
Quicker and fitter, Athletic hit United with three goals in the first half, then scored two more after a Tommy Taylor and Dennis Viollet-led United comeback in the second-half. Billy Whelan breathed some hope to make it 5-3, but United were outclassed.
“Bilbao had the best centre-half I’d ever seen, Jesus Garay,” recalled Foulkes. “He was so good that he kept Tommy Taylor quiet for most of the game and I’d never seen anybody do that.”
However, manager Matt Busby was confident he could overturn the deficit in the second leg.
“Matt instilled in us a confidence that made us think we could still handle them back in Manchester,” said Foulkes.
“But first we had to get back. There had been a snowstorm and players had to brush the wings clean of snow so that we could take off.”
That memory was accompanied by disturbingly prophetic pictures of United players clearing snow off the plane for the return flight to Manchester, which included a bumpy refuelling stop in the Channel Islands.
The second leg was on February 6, 1957, exactly a year before the Munich air disaster. Old Trafford had no floodlights so the game was held at Manchester City’s Maine Road. Seventy thousand packed the banks of terracing in the stadium, the atmosphere superb, the play frenzied.
United needed an early goal but it didn’t come and little wonder the visitors were determined to hang on.
United looked doomed, especially as the tough Basque side were playing with an extra defender. The consensus that English football was somehow superior to anything continental Europe could offer had been shattered, but Viollet put United ahead just before half time. In the 70th minute Taylor made it 2-0 to level the scores 5-5 on aggregate.
Five minutes from time one of United’s greatest victories was confirmed when Johnny Berry scored from a Taylor cross. United won 6-5, with Athletic captain Piru Gainza acknowledging that: “They play with such passion we were simply overwhelmed.”
