2025년 유로파 리그의 시즌이 마무리되었습니다. 이번 결승전은 프리미어 리그에서 고전 중인 맨체스터 유나이티드와 토트넘 홋스퍼 간의 대결로 많은 축구 팬들의 이목을 집중시켰습니다. 두 팀 모두 리그에서 강등 위기를 겪으며 '파멸 전투'라는 별명을 얻게 되었지만, 유로파 리그 결승에 진출하며 새로운 역사를 썼습니다. 이제 아래에서 하나씩 확인해보겠습니다.

The Duel of ‘Dumb and Dumber’, Europa League Final Review

 

The 2025 season of the Europa League has come to an end. Amidst a flurry of articles and episodes, this final captured the attention of football fans as it featured a matchup between two struggling Premier League teams, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The two teams met in the final, positioned just above the relegation zone in the league standings, earning the nickname ‘Doomsday Battle.’

From Quarterfinals to Finals, Tottenham and Man U’s Journey

• Quarterfinals: European powerhouses like Athletic Bilbao, Rangers, Frankfurt, Lazio, and Lyon engaged in fierce battles. Tottenham dramatically defeated Frankfurt, while Man U overcame Lyon to advance to the semifinals.
• Semifinals: Man U triumphed over Bilbao, and Tottenham defeated Bodo/Glimt, securing their tickets to the final.
• Final: The 16th-placed Man U and 17th-placed Tottenham both struggled in the league this season but made it to the final of the Europa League.

Final Match, Man U’s Dominant Performance… Result: Tottenham’s Victory!

 

Throughout the match, Man U led in possession (73:27), shots on target (6:1), and corner kicks, but in football, goals are everything. Tottenham’s only shot on target and the decisive goal came from a clumsy situation where Johnson fell and pushed the ball in. Man U missed several crucial opportunities, and in stoppage time of the second half, they were thwarted by a save from Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario, leaving them disappointed.

Son Heung-min was substituted in the second half due to injury and focused on defense to maintain the team’s lead. Ultimately, Tottenham secured the result over the performance, lifting the European competition trophy for the first time in 41 years.

Tottenham, Europa League Champions and Champions League Qualification

 

With this victory, Tottenham secured a Champions League ticket for next season despite finishing 17th in the league. Even after losing in the final round, they redeemed everything with their Europa League win. Son Heung-min also finally washed away the sorrow of not winning and lifted his first trophy.

This season, where the strategy was to abandon the league and go all-in on the Europa League, was particularly worthwhile since the final opponent was Man U. In a matchup between two teams that had poor seasons, Tottenham emerged as the ‘less poor’ team, creating a delightful twist.

Summary in One Line

Tottenham completed a dramatic season by winning the Europa League, securing Son Heung-min’s first trophy, and earning a spot in the Champions League.