It’s starting to hot up in Europe’s second tier. For a start, take a look at our Europa League 2025 betting. I bet you didn’t imagine that, as it stands, Spurs would be the tournament favourites. Or, for that matter, that Manchester United would be second favourites.
On saying all of that, big spending English clubs should be in contention for some Euro silverware and those two clubs have a real pedigree on the continent.
Look a little further down the list and, hot on the heels of the English duo, you can see Athletic Bilbao, Lazio, Real Sociedad and Roma – all regulars in this competition and capable of winning football matches at the highest level.
With Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Porto among the other sides in the mix, there is no question that the Europa League appears wide open for those seeking to emulate super La Dea and Ademola Lookman after Atalanta’s impressive triumph in Dublin last season.
That was a game in which previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen were one game from history. And with both sides at Europe’s top table this season, eyes are firmly gazed elsewhere and, potentially, a new name on the trophy.
As for the new look format, this SBOTOP writer’s views are well known – too much football, extra fatigue and injuries and a competition tilted towards the bigger clubs.
That’s not to say I’m not excited by the prospect of Europa League 2025 highlights mind.
Just to remind you at this stage, ahead of the resumption of the competition next week, the top eight teams in the standings (following eight matches each) will advance directly to the last 16, while those sides finishing in ninth to 24th positions will contest the knockout phase play-offs.
Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium will host the showpiece in May – how the Basque club would love to be at their own party – but there’s a lot of football to be played first.
A number of stats may interest you after six of the eight group games.
So far, there have been 304 goals with Lyon and Galatasaray leading the way with 15 apiece. Roma have enjoyed the most possession in matches, just ahead of the Turkish league leaders. Man Utd, Lazio and Porto have been most accurate with their passing. What will surprise you is that Latvian outfit, RK FRS, who currently top their domestic league, have been the most successful side from a tackling perspective, that Union Saint-Gilloise, currently third in the Belgian Pro League, have recovered possession more than anyone else, and that Dynamo Kiev’s goalkeeper, Georgiy Bushchan who has played in most of their games, has been called upon regularly and made more saves than any of his compatriots.
Given his side are bottom with six defeats from six, just one goal scored and 15 conceded, will, of course, mean that statistic will not shock you too much.
All those stats reflect the very differing nature of the teams competing in the tournament but, as it stands, there is still the realistic proposition that some regular European participants may not make the final cut.
Besiktas are not faring as well as their Super Lig counterparts and currently sit in 28th place in the Europa League table so are in real danger of missing out. Fenerbahce (21st) and Porto (18th) should be fine but, again, could fall short on an automatic last 16 spot, while even Roma in 14th, now managed by fans’ favourite Claudio Ranieri, need a bit more as they look to go one better than 2023 when they lost the final to Sevilla in a penalty shoot-out.
What to lookout for next week I hear you ask, well a mouthwatering ‘Battle of Britain’ clash between Manchester United and Rangers at Old Trafford, the sides in seventh and eighth spots (the final two automatic qualifying positions) and separated by just a point; a meeting between two Euro regulars in FC Porto and Olympiakos with both needing the points; a trip to Fenerbahce for fourth placed Lyon and table toppers Lazio hosting Sociedad.
Then, a week later, on January 30, just how important could clashes be between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt – will they still have their super Egyptian Omar Marmoush by then? – and the meeting between Ajax and Galatasaray in Holland.
All remains to be seen but, you can be pretty sure, Thursday nights could be about to become lively again.
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