The Europa League may not have the prestige of its more glamorous sibling, but it regularly hosts some of Europe’s top clubs.
Last season’s Europa League featured the likes of Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma and eventual champions Atalanta, and some of the continent’s big hitters will feature in the competition in the 2024/25 campaign.
The winner not only secures a European trophy and a welcome economic boost, but also secures their place in the Champions League for the following season. These are no prizes to be sniffed at and 36 sides will compete for them this term.
here they are 90 minutes favorites to win the new look Europa League – classified
A team that has proven itself on the continent, Olympiacos will be aiming to break the odds and claim another European trophy after last season’s Conference League triumph.
It was the first major international trophy in the club’s history and secured a place in the Europa League. With a taste for European success, experienced manager Jose Luis Mendilibar will target competition-winning stars with Sevilla in 2023.
Olympiacos are by no means favorites for the competition, but their success in the Conference League highlights their quality. The Greek side beat Aston Villa, Fiorentina and Fenerbahce en route to the trophy after exiting the 2023/24 Europa League group stage.
It was a tumultuous campaign for Lazio in 2023/24, but they still managed to qualify for the Europa League with a seventh-placed finish in Serie A. Their league form was disappointing, but they came in the semi-final of the Italian Cup and Champions League round of 16
They have lost some key players in the summer transfer window, including Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Luis Alberto, but the appointment of manager Marco Baroni and a wave of new arrivals will cheer Roma.
Lazio’s European record leaves a lot to be desired, but they are one of the strongest teams in the competition on paper.
Champions League regulars Porto have had to settle for a place in the Europa League in 2024/25 after a baffling Primeira Liga campaign. They couldn’t compete with Benfica and champions Sporting CP in the league, although they did get the Taca de Portugal.
However, they performed admirably in the Champions League. Porto qualified for the last 16 and were narrowly beaten by Premier League giants Arsenal on penalties.
Like Lazio, they have lost some vital squad members, with Pepe retiring and star striker Evanilson moving to Bournemouth. But the loan signing of Fabio Vieira from Arsenal and the acquisition of towering striker Samu Omorodion could help Porto push for Europa League glory.
Real Sociedad was another team that reached the knockout stage of the 2023/24 Champions League. The La Liga outfit topped their group ahead of 2022/23 finalists Benfica and Inter, but were destroyed by a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain side in the last 16.
The departures of Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino certainly make the club weaker, but they have managed to hold on to some key players elsewhere, most notably Martin Zubimendi amid interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona.
After finishing sixth in the League last season, the team from Donostia will be one of the favorites to reach the final stages.
Real Sociedad’s Basque rivals Athletic Club are also among the strongest teams in the competition, buoyed by their historic Copa del Rey triumph in 2023/24. Under Ernesto Valverde, they have proven to be a difficult side to conquer.
The club have never won a European trophy and will be hard pressed to do so this season given some of the impressive teams they will be competing against, but only Real Madrid conceded fewer goals than them in La Liga last season.
They are a tough side to break down and boast the likes of Nico Williams, Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet in the final third.
The departure of Jose Mourinho last season helped Roma turn a corner, with club legend Daniele De Rossi propelling the club forward after succeeding the Portuguese playmaker. The inexperienced manager transformed the club upon his arrival and helped them qualify for this season’s Europa League with a sixth-place finish in Serie A.
It also pushed them into the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they were unlucky to face a relentless Bayer Leverkusen side. They eliminated Arne Slot’s Feyenoord, Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and Italian rivals Milan en route to the final four.
Roma have made some impressive signings for 2024/25, notably Girona winger Artem Dovbyk. Matias Soule and Enzo Le Fee are other shrewd signings that could see Roma reach the final of another European competition after having done so twice under Mourinho.
TottenhamThe long wait for silverware – national and European – continued in 2023/24 during Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge. However, a positive transformation under the Australian has certainly brought them closer to ending their trophy drought.
While Spurs were disappointed to miss out on Champions League qualification last season, it could be a blessing in disguise. The Europa League gives them a real chance to win a European competition, something they haven’t achieved since 1984.
Juggling the Premier League and Europe can prove difficult, but Spurs’ high-octane approach could stifle the continent’s lesser sides. They have plenty of match winners capable of launching them to glory.
Manchester United have spent more seasons than they would have liked in the Europa League over the past decade, winning the competition in 2017 and reaching the final in 2021. Thanks to their FA Cup triumph last season, they will once again compete in the 2024/25.
And they will be considered most people’s favorites for the title given their impressive squad depth, star-studded array and expensive summer signings. Although they didn’t have a season to savor in the league last season, they have been cup contenders for the most part under Erik ten Hag (barring last season’s Champions League).
The Red Devils have the European pedigree to put them ahead of Tottenham in our shortlist.
