Europa League Betting

The Europa League which is still fairly new in football terms, is the new expanded version of the previously known UEFA Cup. Styled in the a similar format to The Champions League, there's plenty of chances for teams to overcome a poor start and progress to the knockout stages.

The Likely Contenders

So many, in fact too many to mention and often the favourites in the betting for The Europa League don't seem to do too well. The 3rd placed teams in Champions League groups also join this competition after their group stages, which just makes betting on the outright market very difficult indeed. You can take a punt on one of the original teams, but then you run the risk of a big team having a poor show in The Champions League and coming in as short favourites. This has been highlighted perfectly by Man City and Man United failing to successfully negotiate the Champions League group stage and they now find themselves at the head of the Europa League betting.

Stoke were the only English side to progress from the group stages to the last 32, but a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Valencia leaves Man United and Man City to carry English hopes after respective aggregate victories over Ajax and last season's winners Porto took them into the last 16.

All matches lead towards this season's final which will be held on Wednesday 9th May at the National Arena, in Bucharest, Romania.

Europa League Last 16

Sporting Lisbon v Man City

FC Twente v Schalke04 (Aggregate 2-4)

Athletico Madrid v Besiktas (Aggregate 6-1)

Metalist v Olympiacos (Aggregate 2-2 Metalist win on away goals)

Man United v Athletic Bilbao (Aggregate 3-5)

Standard Liege v Hannover 96 (Aggregate 2-6)

Valencia v PSV Eindhoven (Aggregate 5-3)

AZ Alkmaar v Udinese (Aggregate 3-2)

Quarter Finals

Sporting Lisbon v Metalist (Aggregate 3-2)