2020 Europa League Predictions, Odds & Picks

• The Europa League returns in August with 12 teams set to battle it out
• One-off matches will replace the usual two-legged contests from the quarter-finals onwards
• There are a host of contenders who will have designs on the trophy

The Europa League will resume next month in a different structure to that which we have grown accustomed to over the years. Six of the eight last-16 ties had already staged a first leg before football was shut down in March, and the second legs will take place at the home stadium of those teams who were away last time out. Two others did not get around to playing a first leg, so they will be decided with a one-off game at a neutral venue.

That is also how the remainder of the competition will play out from the quarter-finals onwards. Rather than the usual two-legged affairs, the last eight and last four will be played over 90 (or 120) minutes, with Germany set to host all remaining matches from the quarters onwards.

Sixteen teams are still in the competition at the time of writing, although that will be whittled down to eight after the first two days of the resumption. Representatives from 11 different European leagues remain, with England, Spain and Italy each providing two clubs and Germany supplying three.

The 16 teams still standing contain both European heavyweights and sides that are already in unchartered territory by simply taking part in the knockout stage. Not only will the winners receive a trophy, they will also qualify for next season’s Champions League if they have not already made it – so the competitors will not be short of motivation.

Europa League Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook on August 4. Click on the odds below to head to the sportsbook and place a bet.

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Europa League Predictions and Picks

Although Manchester United could easiprove too strong for the competition, it could be worth a punt on Bayer Leverkusen winning the Europa League. The German side are on the easier side of the draw and have a talented roster at their disposal.

Our Pick

Bayer Leverkusen (+700)

Favorites to Win the Europa League

Manchester United are heavy favorites to triumph. They have the strongest squad of the teams that remain, and a front five of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford will strike fear into the hearts of opponents. It is easy to see why United are so heavily fancied, but the low odds available on them mean there is better value to be found elsewhere.

Inter face a tricky test against Getafe in the last 16, but if they come through that they will expect to go far. Their manager Antonio Conte has tended to struggle in European competition, though, and Inter’s form since Serie A restarted in June has been patchy.

Bayer Leverkusen and Wolves are ranked equal in the betting odds. Wolves are tough to beat but will have to battle with fatigue having started their season over a year ago, while Leverkusen have the tools to go far if they can tighten up their backline.

Sevilla are Europa League specialists having won the competition three times in a row in 2014, 2015 and 2016. They are in good shape and ended the La Liga season strongly, going unbeaten in their final 15 games.

Underdogs to Win the Europa League

Shakhtar Donetsk are 2-1 up against Wolfsburg ahead of their second leg in Kyiv, and – on paper at least – have a favorable route to the semi-finals. Getafe, meanwhile, are an extremely difficult side to play against, but question marks remain over whether they have the attacking firepower to go all the way.

Roma have had a turbulent season, with inconsistency undermining their push for a top-four finish in Serie A. They have the talent in their squad to go deep in the competition, but getting past Sevilla in the round of 16 will not be easy.

Basel have one foot in the quarter-finals after a 3-0 first-leg defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt. They have not been entirely convincing since the Swiss league restarted, but their potential route to the semi-finals is not as daunting as others’.

Olympiacos and Wolfsburg just about squeeze into this category, although each has work to do to make it to the quarter-finals. Istanbul Basaksehir are available at the same price but look better placed to reach the last eight, with the Turkish champions holding a 1-0 lead in their last-16 tie with Copenhagen. A potential quarter-final clash with Manchester United is not what they were hoping for, though.

No Chance to Win the Europa League

If LASK Linz win this season’s Europa League, it would be one of the biggest shocks in soccer history. The Austrian team are 5-0 down to Manchester United from the first leg of their last-16 tie and need a miracle to even reach the quarters.

The situation is almost as bleak for Eintracht Frankfurt, who need to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Basel, while Rangers find themselves 3-1 down ahead of their return fixture with Bayer Leverkusen.

Copenhagen also have little chance of emerging victorious. They could feasily bounce back from a 1-0 first-leg loss to Istanbul Basaksehir, but they are unlikely to defeat Manchester United in the last eight.