The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League is kicking off tonight, launching the debut of the competition’s new league phase format. With 18 matches scheduled across Wednesday and Thursday, teams from all over Europe will battle it out as they begin their quest for a place in the competition’s final in May in an attempt to earn continental glory.
The opening round of the 2024/25 Europa League is already set to deliver a number of thrilling encounters between some of Europe’s top clubs, showcasing intense battles and high-quality football. Meanwhile, several of the tournament’s favourites will also be looking to produce a statement performance, aiming to set the tone for the rest of the competition and establish themselves as serious contenders.
Some of the standout matches in the opening round include Nice facing Real Sociedad and Galatasaray taking on PAOK, while Manchester United will meet Dutch side Twente. Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce will compete against Union St. Gilloise, Ajax are set to host Besiktas and Roma are set to go head-to-head with Athletic Bilbao. Finally, French giants Lyon are going to face Olympiakos and Tottenham are set to meet Qarabag as they attempt to get off to the perfect start.
Many of those mentioned teams will back themselves to progress into the final at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao in May 2025, with their sights set to ultimately lifting the Europa League trophy.
Some of the teams have naturally emerged as bigger favourites to eventually triumph, and in this section, we will take a closer look at the top contenders:
Tottenham Hotspur @5.25
Ange Postecoglou has already stated his desire to win a trophy with Spurs this season, declaring that he has historically always won a trophy in his second season at a club throughout his career.
His side will certainly have a chance of achieving exactly that in the Europa League this year, boasting one of the strongest squads of any in the entire tournament.
Despite facing a challenging start to the 2024/25 campaign, earning three wins and two losses in their first six fixtures across all competitions, their star-studded squad, featuring talents such as Heung-min Son, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Cristian Romero, has the potential to outclass any opponent in the latter stages of the tournament.
Manchester United @5.75
Manchester United have faced two wildly opposing English Premier League finishes under Erik ten Hag’s management, placing third in his first campaign before recording a dismal eight-placed finish last year – their worst-ever Premier League finish.
Despite the mixed league performances, ten Hag has led Man United to a trophy in each of his two seasons, winning the EFL Cup in 2022/23 and the FA Cup in 2023/24. The EFL Cup victory notably ended the club’s six-year trophy drought, showcasing the manager’s fantastic ability to deliver silverware at the highest level.
Man United will once again aim to secure silverware this season, positioning themselves as one of the strongest contenders of any in the competition. With a wealth of talent, including stars like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Matthijs de Ligt, they boast a highly skilled squad capable of beating any of the other teams.
Galatasaray @20.00
Galatasaray could be one of the tournament’s major underdogs this season, quietly building a squad full of stars that have previously competed in Europe’s biggest and most illustrious teams.
In addition to the likes of Mauro Icardi, Hakim Ziyech, Dries Mertens and Davinson Sanchez, Galatasaray amazingly acquired the services of Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen on a loan deal for the season.
Osimhen, who has scored 50 goals in his last 103 appearances across all competitions in club football, could prove the difference when the Turkish giants come up against some of the more talented squads later in the competition, providing the type of cutting-edge and ruthlessness in front of goal that can help his team eventually lift a trophy.
Check out the most markets in Nigeria for every Europa League match this week!
