The second most important UEFA competition, the Europa League starts today under the same new format as the Champions League: there will be 36 teams and two games more than before, there are no group stages anymore, and each side will play eight fixtures against eight different teams, half at home and half away, to determine their position in the table. There will also be a brand new play-off phase, with the sides finishing ninth to 24th in the table to battle it out for a spot in the last 16 along with the top eight clubs. The clubs who don‘t make it in the Champions League won‘t be going to the Europa League anymore. And who will win the competition this season? According to Opta‘s supercomputer, it won‘t be Manchester United.𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 🔮Who will win the UEFA Europa League in 2024-25? The Opta supercomputer has answered that very question.Read below to find out its justifications ⬇️🔗— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 24, 2024 The Red Devils are not even among the top three favourites, and the computer gave them a lowly sixth position in their table of predictions, with a 7.1 per cent chance of taking home the trophy. Tottenham is in a better position (fourth) while the likes of Porto, Athletic Bilbao and Slavia Praha(!) are considered to be the teams with the most chances of winning the trophy which Manchester United won in 2017 with Jose Mourinho as the manager. The Red Devils came back to the finals in 2021, only to be beaten by Villarreal.The new ‘Sancho case’ in the making?As for United, they start their campaign at home against Twente, a team very close to Eric ten Hag‘s heart, since it‘s the club where he started his career. But the Dutch coach, even thou he didn‘t said so directly, thinks that Manchester will win this game, since he already felt sorry for having to ‘hurt‘ his former club.”FC Twente has brought me a lot. I was put through their academy, I was part of the generation of the first youth team when the youth competition was started up again after many years, so for me there is a great deal of history there. I would have preferred to play against someone else. It is not nice to have to hurt something you love” said Ten Hag.In the end, money talks: if €2m was not enough, €3m+add-ons will do the workIt’s completely expected that Ten Hag will shuffle his starting 11 as there has long been an unwritten rule that the top English clubs don’t take the Europa League too seriously. It’s clear that United can’t count on four defenders—Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelöf, Luke Shaw, and Tyrell Malacia—so the biggest mystery is who the back four will be. It’s expected that Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, and young Toby Collyer, will line up in front of Onana. There are also questions in midfield: will Casemiro start, or maybe even Mason Mount? Hojlund made his recovery but he is likely to start from the bench and Zirkzee will probably lead the line again. Or will it be Marcus Rashford?UEFA Europa League Round 1Wednesday19:45: (1.48) AZ Alkmaar (4.40) Elfsborg (6.75)19:45: (4.10) Bodo (3.50) Porto (1.90)22:00: (2.35) Anderlecht (3.40) Ferencvaros (3.25)22:00: (3.35) Dynamo Kyiv (3.40) Lazio (2.30)22:00: (1.58) Galatasaray (4.10) PAOK (5.70)22:00: (4.10) Ludogorets (3.50) Slavia Praha (2.00)22:00: (1.27) Man.Utd. (6.25) Twente (9.50)22:00: (2.40) Midtjylland (3.60) Hoffenheim (2.80)22:00: (2.45) Nice (3.15) Sociedad (3.30)Thursday19:45: (1.60) Fenerbahce (3.90) St.Gilloise (6.00)19:45: (2.40) Malmo (3.45) Rangers (3.15)22:00: (2.00) Ajax (3.60) Besiktas (4.00)22:00: (2.15) Roma (3.45) Ath.Bilbao (3.70)22:00: (1.53) Braga (4.20) Maccabi T.A. (6.25)22:00: (1.35) Eintr.Frankfurt (5.00) Plzen (9.00)22:00: (1.60) FCSB (3.90) Rigas (6.00)22:00: (1.90) Olympique Lyon (3.60) Olympiakos (4.50)22:00: (1.15) Tottenham (8.00) Qarabag (16.0)***odds are subject to change***
