Only 16 teams are still vying for the Europa League crown and we’re here to help you pick the potential winners from the wannabes. Let us be your guiding light as we get stuck into the round-of-16 matches. Our predictions below are ordered from least to most favored by topbet.
Sparta Prague: 16th Favorites and Biggest Underdog (+4000)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
Sparta Praha’s midfielder Lukas Marecek (2ndR) celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg football match FC Krasnodar vs AC Sparta Praha in Krasnodar on February 25, 2016. (Photo credit: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anderlecht: Tied 14th Favorites (+3300)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
Anderlecht’s players celebrate after winning their UEFA Europa League football match against Olympiacos FC on February 18, 2016 in Brussels. (Photo credit: LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/AFP/Getty Images)
Sporting Braga: Tied 14th Favorites (+3300)
Prediction: Quarterfinal Loser
Sporting Braga’s forward Josue celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League second-leg round of 16 football match SC Braga vs FC Sion at the Braga Municipal stadium in Braga on February 24, 2016. (Photo credit:FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images)
Sporting Braga has a fairly good chance of upsetting Fenerbahce in the round of 16. Sporting Braga, in fourth place and 14 points behind Sporting Lisbon in the Primeira Liga, can set their eyes squarely on their forthcoming European tie. Still thought of as underdogs, we believe Sporting, a team without any domestic distractions, can overcome the Turkish giants. However, if the improbable does occur, Sporting Braga will be ousted from the quarterfinals in convincing fashion.
FC Basel: 13th Favorites (+2800)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
The referee shows a red card to Basel’s Swiss forward Breel Embolo (R) next to Basel’s Swiss midfielder Taulant Xhaka (L) and St Etienne’s French forward Kevin Monnet-Paquet (C) during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg football match between FC Basel and Saint-Etienne at the St Jakob Stadium, on February 25, 2016 in Basel. (Photo credit: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
The Swiss champs have won their league six years in a row and are, with a massive lead a top the Super League, all-but guaranteed yet another triumphant season on the domestic front. But the buck stops here in Europe for FC Basel. Basel, even with Sevilla entrenched in an epic battle for fourth place in the Primera Division, won’t have enough to upend last year’s Europa League winners.
Fenerbahce: 12th Favorites (+2500)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 25: Fenerbahce’s Robin van Persie in action during the UEFA Europa League, Round of 32 second leg match between Lokomotiv Moscow and Fenerbahce, in Moscow, Russia on February 25, 2016. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Fenerbahce has just about all it can handle in the Super Lig, currently trailing arch nemesis Besiktas by a single point for first. Side tracked and preoccupied, Fenerbahce will have trouble staying focused on their task at hand, Sporting Braga, in the Europa League. That reason alone will be enough to see Fenerbahce exit early from Europe.
Athletic Bilbao: Tied 11th Favorites (+1600)
Prediction: Quarterfinal Loser
BILBAO, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 25: Bilbao’s fans looks on before the UEFA Europa League Football round of 32 second leg match between Athletic Bilbao and Olympique de Marseille at San Mames on February 25, 2016 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Romain Perrocheau/Getty Images)
Athletic Bilbao is having an average season in the Primera Division. Lucky for them Valencia, their round-of-16 opponent and Spanish counterpart, is performing miserably and resides in the bottom half of the table. Athletic Bilbao will squeeze through in this cagey and dull tie.
Valencia: Tied 9th Favorites (+1600)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
Valencia’s players celebrate a goal during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 first leg football match Valencia CF vs SK Rapid Wien at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on February 18, 2016. (Photo credit: BIEL ALINO/AFP/Getty Images)
Epitomizing mediocrity, Valencia has played with a lack of desire and underperformed all campaign. Entrenched in the bottom half of the Primera Division, Valencia hasn’t shown the vigor, tenacity, confidence or self-belief required to make the quarterfinals of any European club competition. Look for Valencia, barring a turnaround of monumental proportions, to go bowing out of the competition to their Spanish rivals.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Tied 9th Favorites (+1600)
Prediction: Quarterfinal Loser
Shakhtars Facundo Ferreyra celebrates scoring the 0-2 goal with his team-mates during the UEFA Europa League, Round of 32 match football between FC Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on February 25, 2016. / AFP / SASCHA SCHUERMANN (Photo credit should read SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
One of Ukraine’s most storied sides, Shakhtar Donetsk is a proven European power. They can give every side in Europe trouble on any given day. Usually a part of the Champions League until the knockout stages, Shakhtar is a team to look out for. While we don’t think they’ll progress past the quarterfinal, we’re almost assured Shakhtar will brush by Anderlecht in the next round. Shakhtar could be a good team to place a long-shot wager on.
Lazio: Tied 6th Favorites (+1200)
Prediction: Quarterfinal Loser
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Felipe Anderson (L) with his teammates of SS Lazio celebrates after scoring the team’s third goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Olimpico on February 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Lazio hasn’t tasted European club football glory since the 1988-89 campaign and this trend is not about to change. Currently 8th place in Serie A, Lazio will be able to muster just enough to eliminate Sparta Prague in the next round. However, it won’t, by any means, be a whitewash. It will be a tight tie that sees Lazio progressing to the quarterfinal by the skin of their teeth. That will be the end of the line for Lazio’s current Europa League campaign.
Villarreal: Tied 6th Favorites (+1200)
Prediction: Europa League Winner
Villarreal’s midfielder Samuel Castillejo (C) celebrate with teammates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Villarreal CF vs Levante UD at El Madrigal stadium in Vila-real on February 28, 2016. (Photo credit: JOSE JORDAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Spanish Primera Division, Villarreal is playing some inspired football of late. With no hope of winning their domestic league and, barring an earth-enveloping implosion, a slim chance of being pipped for third, Villarreal has all-but qualified for next season’s Champions League and can focus their sites solely on the Europa League. This is bad news for everyone else. They’ll oust Bayer Leverkusen in a tightly contested affair and eventually outlast Borussia Dortmund in an enthralling Europa League final. This is, at +1200, an excellent bet so take while the odds are still in the bettor’s favor.
Bayer Leverkusen: Tied 6th Favorites (+1200)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
MAINZ, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 28: Roberto Hilbert of Bayer Leverkusen reacts during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer Leverkusen at Coface Arena on February 28, 2016 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Bayer Leverkusen is in a dogged fight to claim the all-important final Champions League place for next season. They currently sit in sixth place, a mere point behind Borussia Monchengladbach for the coveted fourth spot. Their European aspirations for next year will lead to their Europa League demise. Villarreal will have just enough to nudge Leverkusen aside.
Liverpool: Tied 4th Favorites (+1000)
Prediction: Semi-final Loser
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 01: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool with Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground on March 1, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
By no means have Liverpool been brilliant this season but nor have Manchester United, their Europa League round-of-16 opponent. Both teams are enduring disappointing seasons, Liverpool only two points away from dropping into the bottom half of the Premier League. To salvage their season, Liverpool must make a good account of themselves on the European stage, and this has to start by beating their bitter English rivals. Regardless of the outcome, expect two intense, highly competitive and electrifying European encounters.
Manchester United: Tied 4th Favorites (+1000)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on February 28 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
An injured Wayne Rooney spells disaster for Manchester United. Sure, he might make a miraculous recovery for their tie with Liverpool but his form will leave a lot to be desired. Rooney is often at his best in big games against English rivals but we think this will be too tall an order for the England captain, especially considering United is fighting for its Champions League lives. United sit three points adrift and need to concentrate on domestic soccer to have any chance of pipping City for fourth place.
Tottenham Hotspur: 3rd Favorites (+1000)
Prediction: Round-of-16 Loser
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Christian Eriksen of Spurs in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on February 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
To say matters in Premier League preoccupy Tottenham Hotspur would be the understatement of the century. Spurs have their sights set on winning the Premier League, which will mean an early exit from the Europa League. Combine their title aspirations with a matchup against Borussia Dortmund, who sit pretty in second place in the Bundesliga, and you only have one outcome. Spurs won’t go marching on.
Sevilla: 2nd Favorites (+650)
Prediction: Semifinal Loser
BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 28: Luis Suarez of Barcelona awaits a free kick execution during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Camp Nou on February 28, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Vladimir Rys Photography via Getty Images)
Sevilla are the defending Europa League champions for good reason. They have an outstanding team with the European pedigree to match. They won’t make it back-to-back Europa Leagues, but will fight gallantly until their semi-final exit.
Borussia Dortmund: 1st Favorites (+375)
Prediction: Finals Loser and Runners Up
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 28: Fans of Dortmund are seen during the Bundesliga macth between Borussia Dortmund and 1899 Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park on February 28, 2016 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund is having a superb campaign. They’re guaranteed second place in the Bundesliga and can concentrate all their efforts on bringing home European glory. Dortmund will have their hands full with Spurs in the round-of-16, but will advance by the smallest of margins. Only a surprise final defeat at the hands of Villarreal will tarnish Dortmund’s otherwise brilliant season.
UEFA Europa League Winner Odds 2016
1. Winner – Villarreal (Odds to win: +1200)
2. Runners up – Borussia Dortmund (Odds to win: +375)
3. Semi-finalist – Sevilla (Odds to win: +650)
4. Semi-finalist – Liverpool (Odds to win: +1000)
5. Quarterfinalist – Lazio (Odds to win: +1200)
6. Quarterfinalist – Shakhtar Donetsk (Odds to win: +1600)
7. Quarterfinalist – Sporting Braga (Odds to win: +3300)
8. Quarterfinalist – Athletic Bilbao (Odds to win: +1600)
9. Round of 16 – Tottenham (Odds to win: +1000)
10. Round of 16 – Manchester United (Odds to win: +1000)
11. Round of 16 – Bayer Leverkusen (Odds to win: +1200)
12. Round of 16 – Fenerbahce (Odds to win: +2500)
13. Round of 16 – FC Basel (Odds to win: +2800)
14. Round of 16 – Valencia (Odds to win: +1600)
15. Round of 16 – Anderlecht (Odds to win: +3300)
16. Round of 16 – Sparta Prague (Odds to win: +4000)