Ange Postecoglous side were touted, along with United, as one of the favourites when they began Europes second-tier club competition with a 3-0 home win against FK Qarabag in September.
Both duly reached the final, despite being involved in what looked like an ignominious race to the bottom during a Premier League campaign in which they have lost a combined 39 games.
With one game left Tottenham are 17th with 21 defeats, the same number they suffered in 1976-77 when they were relegated.
Humiliating as that has been for manager Ange Postecoglou and his players, the slate will be wiped clean for 90 minutes in northern Spain as Tottenham seek a first trophy since 2008 and their first European silverware since they won the UEFA Cup, the predecessor of the Europa League, 41 years ago.
Victory would also catapult Tottenham back into the Champions League, the competition they reached the final of in 2019 only to suffer heartbreak against Liverpool in Madrid.
