We’re down to the last 32 of the 2020/21 Europa League and there are plenty of big names from around Europe in the frame, but the Premier League’s foursome will take some beating.
The Europa League 2021 betting odds here at SBOTOP predict a story of English success, with four of the six tournament favourites from England. Jose Mourinho knows how to win silverware and his Tottenham Hotspur are favourites to lift the trophy at odds of 6.00, with Manchester United close behind at 6.50. Arsenal are at 9.00 to triumph, while AC Milan fly the flag for Italy at 11.00 and then Leicester City and Napoli are at 13.00.
Dutch masters Ajax are dangerous opponents and they are at 15.00, Bayer Leverkusen are 17.00 and Villarreal 19.00. The rest are 20.00 or over.
The eventual winner will almost certainly come from that impressive list, so let’s take a look at where the big six are playing on Thursday.
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United
Dumped out of the Champions League by Red Bull Leipzig and Paris Saint Germain, 2017 Europa winners Manchester United are back in the competition, and with a top-four place far from guaranteed in the Premier League they are in it to win it. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team have a good chance of progressing deep into the competition but they face stiff competition in the Round of 32 against Real Sociedad. La Real are sitting fifth in the La Liga table, comfortably in a European spot and they pose a serious threat, with strikers of real calibre in Mikel Oyarzabal and Portu. United may also come across an old friend if Adnan Januzaj starts for Sociedad.
The Red Devils are at 2.01 to win, with La Real at 2.97 and the draw is 3.21.
Wolfsberger AC vs Tottenham Hotspur
On his return to the club Gareth Bale was welcomed like a long lost son, and a potential catalyst to inspire Spurs to long awaited league glory. Tottenham started the season well but Bale was limited to cameo appearances. The Welsh winger will make the Europa League 2021 news this week if he makes an appearance, and if he scores a winner he’ll write the headlines. Another player who has been out in the cold, Dele Alli, could also feature.
This looks like a relatively safe tie for Jose Mourinho’s Spurs who are at 1.38 to beat Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberg, but they can’t take it easy. Their hosts are no mugs, having seen off Feyenoord and CSKA Moscow at the group stage. Wolfsberg are available at 5.99 to spring a surprise or 4.26 to earn a draw.
Slavia Prague vs Leicester City
The Foxes will travel to the Eden Arena in Prague on the back of a spectacular victory over Liverpool, thanks to a late onslaught with three goals in the final 15 minutes. And, at odds of 2.13 they will fancy their chances over Slavia Prague. But their hosts won the Czech First League last term and at odds of 3.01 or 3.06 to draw they are in with a decent chance of progressing. 19 times winners of the Czech league, Slavia are serial players in Europe and this could be the tie of the round.
Crvena Zvezda vs AC Milan
This is a fascinating clash between in form Crvena and distracted Milan. The Serbian club is unbeaten in five and at 3.21 to win, whereas I Rossoneri have just lost their long-held top spot in Serie A, losing to Spezia on Saturday. Inter Milan have taken the lead and, with the Milan derby looming this weekend, the Italians have plenty on their plate. Zlatan Ibrahomivic has been rolling back the years and the super Swede will relish the chance to star in Europe. Milan are at 2.00 to take a first-leg lead.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action during Arsenal’s match against Leeds United
Benfica vs Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is struggling to find consistency in his Arsenal team who currently sit in tenth place in the Premier League. Last week they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa but recovered to beat Leeds United 4-2 on Sunday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick which will give him an enormous boost, while the Gunners come up against a Benfica side toiling in the Portuguese Primera Division, with one win in the last five and 13 points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon.
The loss of center-back Ruben Diaz to Manchester City hasn’t helped the hosts, and Arsenal are favourites to win at odds of 2.40, with Benfica at 2.62 and the draw at 3.01.
Granada vs Napoli
Spain meets Italy at the Nueva Estadio Los Carmenes, when one of the tournament favourites, Napoli, prepare to take on La Liga’s Granada. Gli Azzurri stunned Juventus at the weekend, taking all three points in the Serie A clash of the weekend thanks to a first-half penalty, brilliantly converted by Lorenzo Insigne; and they are fancied to win this tie at odds of 2.20.
Granada, currently eighth in La Liga and without a win in five, are at odds of 2.85 to win or 3.11 to draw and they might struggle to keep pace with the Italians.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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