The new format of the Europa League, like that of its sister competition, the Champions League, seems to have been quite successful. The overall level, compared to previous editions, has not dropped, even though there is no longer relegation from the most important competition. It is no coincidence that the final was played by two big Premier League clubs, Tottenham and Manchester United, who had the opportunity to “save” their respective seasons and make up for the disaster in the league.
The Spurs won 1-0, thanks to a lucky deflection in one of the ugliest finals ever, perhaps due to the tension that the two teams carried with them. The 2025-2026 edition kicks off as usual in the middle of summer with the first qualifying rounds.
Among the clubs involved in this round is Celje, who reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League last season: Albert Riera’s men failed to get the better of Fiorentina but still made a good impression (losing 2-1 in the first leg and drawing 2-2 in the return leg in Florence). They are favorites to qualify against Sabah of Azerbaijan, although it will not be easy to take all three points away from Azerbaijan against a team in good form that has scored five goals in its last two friendlies: we predict at least one goal for each side.
Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca also shone in their preseason friendlies and seem to have something extra compared to Serbia’s Partizan, who have been disastrous in their three tests so far (three defeats out of three for the Belgrade club).
Sheriff Tiraspol should also take advantage of home advantage: the Transnistrian team’s greater international experience will make the difference against the Kosovans of Prishtina.
Legia Warsaw are dreaming of another run like last year’s. The Poles, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Conference League by Chelsea, should have no trouble beating the Kazakhs of Aktobe. A goal fest is also on the cards in the match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Ilves: the Ukrainians will get the better of the Finns by a likely large margin.
The match between Levski Sofia and Hapoel Be’er Sheva is more evenly balanced: we slightly favor the Bulgarians, who have been impressive in preseason (four wins out of four) and have a few more individual talents than the Israelis.
Europa League: possible winners
AEK Larnaca (in AEK Larnaca-Partizan)
Sheriff Tiraspol (in Sheriff Tiraspol-Prishtina)
Matches with at least three goals in total
Sheriff Tiraspol-Prishtina
Legia Warsaw-Aktobe
Shakhtar Donetsk-Ilves
Europa League: the match with at least one goal per team
Sabah-Celje
Odds comparison
AEK Larnaca’s victory is quoted at 1.67 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.65 on Snai. The “Goal” sign in Sabah-Celje is quoted at 1.77 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.73 on Snai.
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