The action has heated up in the Europe League with the tournament currently moving to the round of 32 stage this month when well-known teams from Eurpe’s top football leagues are set to battle for dominance. A few of these teams have drop out from the Champions League and are aiming their frustrations at the Europa League as a consolation prize.
Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in their national leagues and cup competitions and the selecting committee also can choose certain clubs based on their popularity or promise a well. The winner of the UEFA Europa League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup, and since the 2014–15 season the winner of the UEFA Europa League also qualifies for the next edition of the UEFA Champions League. The winner enters at the group stage.
The title has been won by 28 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The most successful club in the competition are Sevilla with five titles and the current champions are Manchester United after defeating Ajax in the final to win the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.
Although to win the Europa League is certainly prestigious, it is definitely Europe’s second-tier competition and features teams who either couldn’t make the Champions League or got dumped out of it in the early stages. Clubs can qualify for the Europa League with a high placed finish in the Premier League or by winning the FA Cup or League Cup, and the side that lifts the trophy is now rewarded with a place in the following season’s Champions League.
Who is expected to Raise the Trophy This Year?
Atletico Madrid became the tournament favorites when they dropped out of the Champions League group stages. They drew Kobenhavn which looks to be an easy draw. If Atletico builds some momentum from this win, thy will be tough to beat.
Arsenal progressed through to the knockout stages of the Europa League after a campaign that saw them finish at the top of their group. This gave them Ostersund who is considered an easy draw in the next round. However, Arsenal’s path to the final has been made harder with a number of high-profile teams dropping into the competition after being eliminated from the Champions League. Still they remain the tournament favorites
Other potential winners include German Bundesliga fan favorites Borussia Dortmund who drew a tough Atalanta club, and Italian club Napoli who also feel out of the Champion’s League competition group stages.
The odds makers give Atletico Madrid a 4/1 odds of winning the title, while Arsenal receives a 6/1 odds of winning. Both Borussia Dortmund and Napoli have 10/1 odds. Betting on the tournament on top online betting sites like betolimp.com has been brisk and promises to pick up are we move through the elimination stages and get closer to picking a champion.