Update: Athletic Bilbao suspension latest as Man Utd clash takes twist with Europa League rule explained News

Manchester United have their eyes on Athletic Bilbao ahead of the Europa League semi-final at the beginning of next month

Athletic Bilbao somehow managed to avoid a nightmare suspension scenario in midweek ahead of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United next month.

While United qualified for the semi-finals the hard way, beating Lyon 5-4 on the night, 7-6 on aggregate in an astonishing extra-time, Bilbao completed their task much more comfortably. In front of a raucous home crowd, Athletic Club won 2-0 on the night and on aggregate to knock Rangers out of the competition and deny supporters an all-British semi-final.

Before the match, Bilbao were walking a suspension tight rope with no fewer than seven players at risk of being suspended for the first leg of the semi-final. Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Daniel Vivian, Yuri Berchiche, Maroan Sannadi, Andoni Gorosabel, Inaki Williams and Oscar de Marcos were all just a yellow card away from suspension.

Berichiche did not feature against Rangers due to injury so he was always going to avoid suspension, but the other six all featured in some capacity in the squad. Thankfully for the Basque club, none of them received another caution and they were able to avoid a ban for the first leg against United.

All yellow cards have now been wiped since the Europa League quarter-finals were completed. This means that none of the Bilbao players who are on two cautions, including Oihan Sancet who was booked against Rangers to move onto two, can be banned for the second leg if they are booked in the first leg.

Instead, the only way players can be suspended for the next match or final is if they receive either a straight red card or a dismissal for a second bookable offence. if a player is booked in the first and second leg of the semi-final, they will not be banned for the final should their team progress.

United were walking a tight rope themselves with Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro on Thursday but they both avoided bookings against Lyon and evaded a ban. Marcus Rashford and Matthijs de Ligt are also on two yellow cards in the Europa League but the former is not currently at the club and the latter was injured for the game against Lyon.

It means there will be no players suspended for the clash, with the first leg taking place at the Estadio de San Mamés on Thursday, May 1.

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