Europe’s second tier club competition features just two English teams this season, following West Ham’s failure to qualify. Manchester United are favourites to win the tournament, whilst Southampton are outsiders. Let’s look at their groups and some of the other teams who could contend in the latter stages of the competition.
Group A
Teams
Manchester United, Fenerbahce, FC Zorya Lyhansk, Feyenoord
This is by no means an easy group for Manchester United, with a daunting trip to Turkey to play Fenerbahce ahead. They do have one of the stronger squads in the competition, but Jose Mourinho has frequently dismissed and scorned this competition, so it remains unclear as to how much he’ll value being in this tournament.
Key Games
Feyenoord vs. Manchester United (15th September)
Manchester United vs. Zorya (29th September)
Manchester United vs. Fenerbahce (20th October)
Fenerbahce vs. Manchester United (3rd November)
Manchester United vs. Feyenoord (24th November)
Zorya vs. Manchester United (8th December)
Final Group Prediction
Manchester United, Fenerbahce, Feyenoord, FC Zorya
Group K
Teams
Southampton, Sparta Prague, Inter Milan, Hapoel Beer-Sheva
Southampton have got off to an inauspicious start in this season’s Premier League, but they’ll look to make an impact in the Europa League. Inter Milan are the group favourites, whilst Hapoel Beer-Sheva almost upset Celtic in the Champions League qualifying stage. The Saints should have enough to progress in this tournament however, and it should be something that they target.
Key Games
Southampton vs. Sparta Prague (15th September)
Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs. Southampton (29th September)
Inter Milan vs. Southampton (20th October)
Southampton vs. Inter Milan (3rd November)
Sparta Prague vs. Southampton (24th November)
Southampton vs. Hapoel Beer-Sheva (8th December)
Final Group Prediction
Inter Milan, Southampton, Sparta Prague, Hapoel Bee-Sheva
Best of the Rest
Any team who finishes third in their Champions League group can compete in the latter stages of the Europa League, but until that happens, here are some teams in other groups who could be serious contenders come the latter stages:
Olympiakos (Group B)
Zenit (Group D)
Roma (Group E)
Athletic Bilbao (Group F)
Ajax (Group G)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Group H)
Schalke 04 (Group I)
Fiorentina (Group J)
Villarreal (Group L)
Other Key Group Fixtures
Young Boys vs. Olympiakos (15th September)
Olympiakos vs. Young Boys (24th November)
Zenit vs. AZ Alkmaar (29th September)
AZ Alkmaar vs. Zenit (8th December)
Viktoria Plzen vs. Roma (15th September)
Roma vs. Viktoria Plzen (24th November)
Athletic vs. Rapid Wien (29th September)
Rapid Wien vs. Athletic (8th December)
Panathanaikos vs. Ajax (15th September)
Ajax vs. Panathanaikos (24th November)
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Braga (29th September)
Braga vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (8th December)
Nice vs. Schalke (15th September)
Schalke vs. Nice (24th November)
PAOK vs. Fiorentina (15th September)
Fiorentina vs. PAOK (24th November)
Steaua Bucharest vs. Villarreal (29th September)
Villarreal vs. Steaua Bucharest (8th December)
Words by @DominicTrant