If you look at this year’s UEFA Europa League, the first favorites have to be the Premier League greats Manchester United and Arsenal. Looking at their strength and quality of the squad, it’s easy to predict them for the trophy, but….just look at the last 10 years in this competition and everything will be clear – in Europa League, the favorites almost never win.The wait is over! Europa League football is back!Pick 2 teams to win 🔮👇#UEL— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 8, 2022 During the last decade, only Manchester United (2017) and Chelsea (2013, 2019) have won the competition, while all other winners were ‘outsiders’ like Sevilla (4 times), or Villarreal or last year’s surprise Villarreal. So, we have to think twice before being sure that the English clubs will just easily stroll in this competition. On the other hand, this season, more than ever, squad depth will play a big role as all group stages will have to finish by November, before all competitions are stopped and the World Cup starts.Like a proud fatherThis competition interruption, caused by FIFA will also put bigger clubs at risk, since their star players will be tired in time to get back to their domestic and European leagues, so smaller teams with no (or little) internationals will have the advantage in later stages, due to their more rested players. Also, when the elimination starts in spring of 2023, bigger clubs will probably face decisive Champions League battles in their own league, meaning the Europa League will be sacrificed.Someone’s made a big mess!Eintracht Frankfurt were the surprise victors last season, beating Rangers in a breathless final in Seville, and it is notable that the last four winners of the trophy all began the campaign in the Europa League group stage, rather than dropping out of the Champions League. The last club to fall out of Europe’s elite club competition and go on to win the Europa League was Atletico Madrid in 2018.The most decorated clubs in #UEL history! 🙌@Swissquote || #UELformguide pic.twitter.com/d80xIyos3M— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 6, 2022 So, apart from Manchester United and Arsenal, there are other favorites, like Roma, Betis, Lazio and Monaco. From the ‘dark horses’ category nobody should count out German clubs Frieburg and Union Berlin, and a perspective young club like Rennes will be interesting to watch too. Arsenal, off to a fine start in the Premier League, have landed in a Champions League group in the sense that all three opponents dropped out of the qualifying rounds of that competition. The final of this year’s Europa League will be at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 31, 2023.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEThursday
