The 2025/26 Europa League is now underway, and the early odds suggest that we could have an English winner for the second consecutive season.
Neither the holders, Spurs, nor the runners-up, Man Utd, are in the competition this season, which means we will at least get two fresh finalists next May.
Who are the favourites to go all the way? Let's take a look.
Europa League winner odds – current leaders
Aston Villa 5/1
Aston Villa's surge in form in the Premier League last season came just a bit too late for them to finish in the top five and get Champions League football again, but a place in the Europa League is nothing to be sniffed at.
The Villains could end up looking at their Europa League qualification as a blessing in disguise, as they have a great chance of winning the competition, hence why they are the favourites with the bookies.
After a slow start to the season, the Villains have used the Europa League as a way back to form, winning both of their opening matches in the competition before succumbing to a shock defeat at the hands of Go Ahead Eagles on Matchday three.
That defeat hasn't really had an imapct on their qualification chances, though, and they should comfortably cruise through to the round of 16.
Porto 10/1
Like Aston Villa, Porto also won both of their matches in the Europa League so far this season, before falling to a surprise defeat in their third.
The Portuguese giants have a pedigree in this competition, having won it in 2003 and 2011, and in Francesco Farioli, they have one of the most highly rated young coaches in world football.
With qualification to the knockout stages almost a certainty at this point, how deep they go will depend a lot on who they draw from here on out.
Nottingham Forest 11/1
Nottingham Forest are the third favourites to win the Europa League despite only being on three points after three matches.
However, based on their performance and victory over Porto on matchday three, they do have the squad to go deep in this competition, particularly now they have a manager playing to the strengths of their squad again.
Ange Postecoglou was never a logical fit for Nottingham Foret but Sean Dyche fits like a glove. Whether he is capable of leading a team to European glory, is another question altogether, but one that we will get an answer to this season.
Our prediction
If we had to pick one team at this point, we would still back Aston Villa to win their first major European trophy since 1982 (we're not counting their Intertoto Cup win in 2001 in this category), doing something similar to what Tottenham managed last season. Therefore, don't expect much from them domestically!
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
GambleAware
Although Tottenham are still the odds-on favourites to win the competition at 9/2.
That’s odds against, odds on under evens