UEFA Europa League Season Predictions 2025-26

The 2025-26 UEFA Europa League season is set to kick off on September 24. This will be the second season in which 36 teams compete, and there will be no traditional group stage.

Now, every match is even more critical, as a few points in the standings can determine whether a team will advance to the knockout stage. In total, teams will play 8 matches (4 at home and 4 away).

UEFA club tournaments are among the most popular for long-term betting. Betting sites offer a wide range of options, such as who will win the league, who will reach the final, and who will finish in the top 8 during the regular season, among others.

Bets on a place in the top 8 have a separate offer because the teams that finish in the top 8 places qualify directly for the round of 16 and do not have to play in the play-offs. We have selected a few long-term UEFA Europa League bets that we recommend you consider.

Last year, the UEFA Europa League debuted with a changed format, and 14 points were enough to take 8 place. Rangers, Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, and FCSB all collected 14 points, but only Rangers qualified for the top 8 because they had the best goal difference. Lyon collected 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss) and finished in 6 place.

In the summer, the French club had to say goodbye to several important players, but it is not surprising that they were unable to keep all their leaders. Rayan Cherki moved to Manchester City, Georges Mikautadze left for Villarreal, and Lucas Perri and Said Benrahma also left the team. With the money earned, Tyler Morton, Matt Turner, and Pavel Sulc were acquired.

Lyon began the French Ligue 1 season strongly, with 4 wins and 1 loss. With such form ahead of the UEFA Europa League matches, we can expect that points will not be shared.

On September 25, they will play away against Utrecht, and on October 2, they will host Salzburg RB at home. These 2 wins would significantly increase their chances of reaching the top 8, and winning both games is undoubtedly a realistic goal. Lyon’s full schedule for the regular season:

• vs Utrecht (away)
• vs Salzburg (home)
• vs Basel (home)
• vs Real Betis (away)
• vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv (away)
• vs Go Ahead Eagles (home)
• vs Young Boys (away)
• vs PAOK (home)

The most challenging game will be away against Real Betis, but they can fight for victory in every other match.

Looking at the main rivals who will also be fighting for a place in the top 8, the following stand out: Aston Villa, Porto, Roma, Real Betis, and Nottingham Forest. Even if Lyon fails to beat these teams, it will remain in 6 place.

Below them are many evenly matched clubs: Bologna, Celta Vigo, VfB Stuttgart, and Lille. Of all these teams, Lyon will only play Real Betis, while the other strongest team, Basel, will play at home.

Fenerbahçe Istanbul competed in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and came very close to qualifying. They played the first leg at home against Benfica, which ended in a 0-0 draw, and lost the second leg away 0-1.

The club did not qualify for the UEFA Champions League, but will compete in the UEFA Europa League, where it has a good chance of fighting for a place in the knockout stages. It would be a much bigger surprise if Fenerbahçe did not qualify for the knockout stages than if it finished the season in the top 8.

However, looking at the main rivals, the top 8 seems a bit too strong, but Fenerbahçe could realistically finish in 9th to 24th place during the regular season.

Last year was really tough for the club, but they managed to collect 10 points and finish in 24th place. This summer, the club retained its core and added the following players: Kerem Akturkoglu, Dorgeles Nene, Sofyan Amrabat, Ederson, Archie Brown, Marco Asensio, Milan Skriniar, and Nelson Semedo.

Fenerbahçe’s schedule will not be the easiest, but since they are not in the strongest group, it is no surprise that they will have to face higher-level clubs:

• vs Dinamo Zagreb (away)
• vs Nice (home)
• vs VfB Stuttgart (home)
• vs Viktoria Plzen (away)
• vs Ferencvaros (home)
• vs Brann (away)
• vs Aston Villa (home)
• vs FCSB (away)

Fenerbahçee has no shortage of ambition – a new president has been elected, and more attention should be paid to football.

Real Betis had an excellent season last year, losing only to Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League final and finishing 6 in La Liga.

This year, Real Betis is considered one of the strongest clubs in the UEFA Europa League, and it would be quite a surprise if they failed to finish in the top 8. The team’s budget is lower than that of the English Premier League clubs, but they are certainly capable of competing for the top spots.

In the summer, Real Betis sold 2 young talents, Johnny Cardoso and Jesus Rodriguez, but retained Antony, who has settled in well with the team. They also acquired Nelson Deossa, Natan, and Rodrigo Riquelme. It can be said that the core of the team has been preserved, and we can expect high-quality, high-level play.

In the first stage, Nottingham Forest will host a game at home, and later Lyon Olympique will also visit Seville. These 2 teams are the most vigorous opponents in the regular season, and both will be played at home. Other teams that Real Betis will play against are Ludogorets, Genk, Utrecht, Dinamo Zagreb, PAOK, and Feyenoord.

Last season, two English Premier League clubs played in the UEFA Europa League and both reached the final. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United finished third and fourth in the regular season, eventually meeting in the final.

Interestingly, the teams performed poorly in the domestic league, finishing 15th and 17th. Interestingly, in their last match, Aston Villa lost 0-2 to United away, which deprived them of the opportunity to finish the season in the top 5 and continue playing in the UEFA Champions League; Aston Villa ultimately finished the season in 6 place.

This season, Aston Villa stands out as one of the main favorites in the UEFA Europa League, and for good reason. Last year, the club reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, where they were defeated only by the eventual champions, PSG. In the summer, the club sold Jacob Ramsey, acquired Evan Guessand, signed Victor Lindelof, and loaned Harvey Elliot and Jadon Sancho.

The English Premier League season has started poorly – so far, only 3 points have been collected in 5 games, comprising 3 draws and 2 losses. A couple more poor rounds, and the team could be eliminated from Premier League competition, which would mean they would have to focus more on the UEFA Europa League.

Tottenham have already shown that it is possible to completely abandon the Premier League, win the UEFA Europa League, and earn the right to play in the UEFA Champions League.

Aston Villa has enough talent, and the schedule is certainly not the most difficult: Bologna, Feyenoord, Go Ahead Eagles, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Young Boys, Basel, Fenerbahçe, and RB Salzburg.

The 2025-26 UEFA Europa League promises an exciting season with 36 teams competing in a single-table regular season and high-stakes playoffs. Key favorites like Lyon, Real Betis, and Aston Villa are poised to challenge for top positions, while every match matters due to the closed league format.

With more diverse matchups and no group stage, bettors and fans alike can expect unpredictable outcomes, thrilling contests, and plenty of opportunities for strategic football betting throughout the season.