Europa League Preview

Defending champions Atletico Madrid are the 12/1 (general) favourites to lift the Europa League this season, can the Spanish side claim this trophy for the third time in four years?

Atletico are the 1/4 (general) favourites for a group that features Czech side Viktoria Plzen (10/1-BetVictor), Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv (10/1-general) and Portuguese newcomers Academica Coimbra (16/1-Coral). It seems like an easy route to the knockout stages for the Spaniards.

Three English sides will hope they can get their name on the trophy. Liverpool are 6/4 (william hill) to come top of their group (Group A). The Merseysiders (along with Juventus and Inter) are the most successful side in the history of this competition securing three trophies. Alongside Liverpool are the big spending Russians Anzhi Makhachkala (9/5-188Bet/Coral), Italian side Udinese 4/1 (You Win) and Young Boys of Switzerland 20/1 (188Bet/You Win). Newcastle are 5/4 (bet365/boylesports/paddy Power) favourites to win Group D. The nearest challenge to the Magpies is likely to come from Bordeaux who are 7/4 (general), Belgians Club Bruges are 8/1 (william hill) with Martimo 10/1 (general). The third English side are Tottenham and they are 5/4 (Skybet/boylesports/BetVictor) to win Group J. Italian side Lazio are likely to be their closest rivals and they are 9/4 (sportingbet) to win the group. Greek side Panathinaikos are 5/1 (general) to finish top and Slovenian side Maribor are the 16/1 (general) outsiders.

Group C is headed by French side Marseille at 6/4 (general) while Germans Borussia Monchengladbach are expected to be the nearest rivals at 15/8 (Coral). Turkish side Fenerbahce will be dangerous opponents at 7/2 (BetVictor/ladbrokes/You Win) and Cypriots AEL Limossol are the outsiders at 16/1 (sportingbet). The market for Group E is headed by German side Stuttgart who are 4/5 (boylesports) ahead of Danish side FC Copenhagen at 6/1 (BetVictor). The other two in the group are Romanians Steaua Bucharest (15/2-bet365/BWin/188Bet) and Norwegian side Molde (9/1-Coral). One of the stand out ties of the round is the clash between Dutch side PSV and Italian ide Napoli. In terms of group betting Napoli are 11/8 (BetVictor) to claim Group F while PSV are 15/8 (bet365). Ukranian side Dnipro will cause a few problems at 8/1 (Coral) while Swedish side AIK are 12/1 (You Win) to emerge as group winners. Group G has Sporting Lisbon as 6/4 (BetVictor) favourite which seems generous when some firms are as short as 10/11. Swiss side Basel (9/4-You Win), Belgians Genk (8/1-bet365) and Hungarians Videoton (14/1-bet365/william hill) are unlikely to cause them too many problems. Italian giants Inter feature in Group H and bookmakers make them 3/4(Sportingbet) favourites. Rubin Kazan at 11/4 (Coral) are expected to run them close. Partizan Belgrade at 11/1 (general) and FK Neftchi at 25/1 (bet365) are the other sides in the group. Group I looks a cracker as Lyon 6/5 (general) take on Spaniards Athletico Bilbao (6/4-BetVictor). Sparta Prague are 12/1 (Sportingbet) and Hapoel Shmona are 25/1 (Sportingbet/188bet). In Group K Bayer Leverkusen are the 5/4 (general) favourites from FC Metalist who are 13/8 (boylesports), Rosenborg are 9/1 (BWin) and Rapid Vienna at 11/1 (bet365/188Bet). Bookmakers really do not know what to make of Group L and have Hannover as slight favourites at 2/1 (Boylesports) over FC Twente at 11/5 (Boylesports) and Spaniards Levante 9/4 (general). Swedes Helsingborg are the 11/1 (betfred) outsiders.

Thursday 20th September is the date to note as that is when things get underway.

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03/09/2012     © Frixo 2024