UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League is the second most prestigious European football competition after the Champions League. Clubs from all around Europe can qualify for the Europa League through domestic league and cup performances.

The Europa League is a re-branding of the old UEFA Cup and this season is the first one to take on the new format. Shakhtar Donetsk are the current holders after beating Werder Bremen in last seasons final, the last UEFA Cup final.

Qualification for the Europa League is decided by UEFA co-efficients, which means that teams from countries with better previous performances will be able to qualify for a better entrance round in the competition than a club from a worse performing league. Generally, the higher an association is ranked in the UEFA co-efficients, the later its clubs start in the qualification, however every team except the title holder has to play at least one qualification round.

The competition itself begins with 12 groups of four teams with each team playing each other in the group twice. The top two teams from each group make the knockout stages and are joined by the eight third placed teams from the Champions League. The competition then progresses in much the same way as the previous format, with 4 rounds of two-legged knockout rounds followed by a Final held at a pre-selected neutral venue.

This season, it is possible to bet on the outcome of individual games, with the competition in the knockout stages. Betting on the overall outcome of the competition is also possible at all major bookmakers and online.

Having been unsuccessful in qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, Liverpool are current favourites to win the Europa League. Last seasons UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk are also in the running with the bookmakers.

UEFA Europa League betting