Europa League 2019-20 Season Preview
Tournament Preview
The Europa League is often referred to as the secondary major club competition in European football, with clubs from all across the continent vying for European glory. With the added incentive that the winner of the competition will automatically qualify for the following season’s Champions League, the stakes in the Europa League have added significance. With the likes Chelsea, Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla all claiming the trophy in recent seasons, the competition continues to grow in stature. With teams from all over Europe featuring in the competition and sides dropping down from the Champions League in the knockout stages, the quality of football is always high and there is a wealth of markets for punters to exploit.
Betting Preview
Outright Winner
With a ticket to the Champions League on offer for the winner, there is plenty to play for in the Europa League:-
2017 champions Manchester United look off the pace domestically so may target the Europa League this season.
Last season’s runners up Arsenal carry plenty of goal threats and their manager Unai Emery is a perennial Europa League winner.
The Spanish giants last won the Europa League in 2016 and look to have a side well equipped to challenge once again this term.
Italian powerhouses Roma are enduring a tough time of things in Serie A but tend to play their best stuff in European competitions.
Porto have long played second fiddle in domestic football but have a strong side capable of doing some damage on the continent.
Group Winners
With 12 groups of teams in the opening rounds, there are plenty of sides that will fancy of progressing beyond the group stages:-
Group A
Sevilla – 0.12 – to win the group
Apoel Nicosia – 0.50 – to qualify from group
Spanish giants Sevilla always perform well in the Europa League whilst Apoel Nicosia have enjoyed some good results in both the Champions League and Europa League in recent seasons.
Group B
Dynamo Kiev – 1.00 – to win the group
Malmo FF – 1.50 – to qualify from group
Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev normally ply their trade in the Champions League and should have no issues here whilst Malmo should edge out Copenhagen and Lugano in a tight group.
Group C
FC Basel – 2.20 – to win the group
Getafe – 0.55 – to qualify from group
Swiss giants FC Basel are one of Europe’s most consistent sides and know what it takes in both the Champions League and Europa League whilst Getafe could be the season’s surprise package.
Group D
Sporting Lisbon – 1.30 – to win the group
PSV Eindhoven – 0.30 – to qualify from group
Sporting Lisbon have one of the most exciting young sides across European football and will fancy their chances of going all the way whilst PSV Eindhoven should have no issues qualifying here.
Group E
Lazio – 0.70 – to win the group
Celtic – 0.90 – to qualify from group
Italian powerhouses Lazio look well placed to qualify from a congested looking Group E whilst Scottish champions Celtic will be looking to use home advantage wisely in the group games.
Group F
Arsenal – 0.45 – to win the group
Eintracht Frankfurt – 0.30 – to qualify from group
2019 runners-up Arsenal look well placed to go one better this season whilst German side Eintracht Frankfurt could be one of the dark horses in this season’s competition.
Group G
FC Porto – 0.95 – to win the group
Feyenoord – 1.10 – to qualify from group
Porto have plenty of fire power and European experience that should hold them in good stead this season whilst Feyenoord should edge out Rangers and Young Boys in a high quality group.
Group H
CSKA Moscow – 1.40 – to win the group
Espanyol – 0.40 – to qualify from group
Russian giants CSKA Moscow continually go deep in European competitions and are always a difficult proposition whilst Espanyol should enjoy their European experience and get out of the group.
Group I
Wolfsburg – 0.95 – to win the group
Saint-Etienne- 0.50 – to qualify from group
German side Wolfsburg look to have the potential to go far in this season’s Europa League whilst Saint-Etienne should have too much about them for Gent and Oleksandria.
Group J
AS Roma – 0.75 – to win the group
Borussia Monchengladbach – 0.45 – to qualify from group
Italian side Roma will be one of the front runners as the overall winners of the competition whilst Borussia Monchengladbach have fared well in the Champions League in recent times.
Group K
Besiktas – 2.15 – to win the group
Wolverhampton Wanderers – 0.12 – to qualify from group
Turkish side Besiktas have a squad filled with quality and possess plenty of European knowhow whilst Wolves should enjoy their continental adventure under Nuno Esporito Santo.
Group L
Manchester United – 0.22 – to win the group
FK Partizan – 1.50 – to qualify from group
Tournament favourites Manchester United should have no issues progressing from Group L whilst FK Partizan are very difficult to beat in Belgrade and could be the surprise package in the group.
