Alan Shearer has backed Tottenham to beat Manchester United in a penalty shootout in the upcoming Europa League final.
The struggling Premier League clubs meet in Bilbao on Wednesday night with a major trophy and Champions League football on the line.
Spurs go into the game sitting 17th in the Premier League and without a Premier League win since early April.
Ange Postecoglou’s side have lost 21 of their 37 league games this season but have managed to put their dismal domestic form to one side in Europe.
In a favourable Europa League run, Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo-Glimt to reach the May 21 final.
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It is a similar story for a Manchester United side who last tasted victory in the Premier League in mid-March.
Embarrassing results in the league have not stopped United from reaching another major final, with Ruben Amorim’s side beating Real Sociedad, Lyon and Athletic Bilbao on route to the showpiece event.
Revealing his prediction for the intriguing Europa League final, ex-England striker Alan Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘Who would you say are favourites? Tottenham because of their record against Man United this season?
‘They have both been rotten in the Premier League yet one of them is going to be playing Champions League football next season.
‘My prediction is 2-2 or 3-3 after extra-time and Tottenham to win on penalties.’
As Shearer mentioned, Spurs have already beaten Manchester United three times this season and Gary Lineker believes it will be number four on Wednesday night.
‘Talk about a huge game for both clubs,’ the outgoing Match of the Day presenter said.
‘The winner gets Champions League and a trophy and the loser gets nothing.
‘Man United seem to win trophies even when they’re not very good. They’ve done that over the last few years, whether they can sustain it I don’t know.
‘I think it’s really tight, it could be anything, but I’m going to go for Spurs. We’ve seen a lot of teams that haven’t won for ages win stuff this season so maybe that will work on their favour. But it could easily go to extra-time.’
In better news for Manchester United, Micah Richards believes it will be the men in red lifting the Europa League trophy and has backed Bruno Fernandes to ‘make the difference’.
‘I think in the Europa league, Bruno has been exceptional,’ he said. ‘I think it could come down to a big moment where he steps up so I’m going for United, just.
‘Bruno this season, amongst all the nonsense and bad performances, really has stepped up and I think he’s the man to make the difference on the final. I’m going for a 1-0 United win.’
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