Expert Soccer Picks: UEFA Europa League Matchday 1, Top Games & Analysis

I think it’s fair to say that when it comes to European club tournaments, it is the Champions League that is the most coveted.

It is only the best of the best that make it into that competition, and while the other European tournaments don’t have the same allure as the Champions League, there are still some very good teams taking part, all of whom would love to add another trophy to their cabinet.

My Europa League Betting Analysis

The Europa League gets underway this week, and it will adopt a similar format to the big tournament, with each team playing 8 games (4 home and 4 away) in the league stage, with the top 16 teams moving on to the knockout phase.

Let’s look at some of the best games coming this week, with a very early betting prediction for the Europa League Final.

Dynamo Kyiv +265 vs Lazio -102

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany

While Kyiv is viewed as something of a longshot to win this tournament, they are a team that is always very tough to beat at home. This is definitely a tough start for Lazio, who are in as a bit of a dark horse in the Europa League, sitting just behind the favorites right now. Kyiv is unbeaten in their last 5 games, while Lazio are coming off a loss this weekend. This is not the first time that Lazio has made this trip, winning 2-0 in Kyiv back in 2018, and I think we might well see a similar type of result this Wednesday night.

Manchester United -350 vs FC Twente +770

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

Considered to be one of the favorites to win the Europa League, Manchester United will get their campaign started at home against Dutch side, FC Twente. You always fancy United at Old Trafford, but this is a team that has been struggling to consistently find the net, while looking shaky at times in defense. Given the Dutch connection in the United coaching and playing staff, I’m sure they will be quite familiar with this opponent, which should help them grind out a win in their tournament opener.

Nice +138 vs Real Sociedad +216

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Allianz Riviera, Nice, France

There are some pundits who believe that Real Sociedad are a good pick to win this tournament, and the bookies seem to agree, putting them in among the favorites heading into Matchday 1. They are off toa pretty poor start to the season, though, going winless thorough their last 5 games, with just 1 win to show for it. On the flipside, Nice are sure to be coming into this one on a high after their 8-0 win over St. Etienne this past weekend. This, though, looks to be a much tougher proposition, and I would not be surprised to see this one end in a draw.

Lyon -116 vs Olympiacos +290

When: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France

In terms of the odds to win the Europa League, both of these teams are sitting in the middle of the pack, so I think it’s fair to say that both have a shot at getting into the knockout phase of the tournament. Lyon has just 1 win in their last 5 games and has been rather leaky on the defensive side of the ball, surrendering 11 goals in those 5 games. Olympiacos has been playing well, but they saw a winless streak come to an end with a loss this past weekend. Lyon is going to need to find a way to tighten up at the back, but in reality, I think we get some goals in this one, with the home team edging it.

Roma -101 vs Athletic Club +270

When: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Roma, Italy

For me, this is one of the best games in Matchday 1, as I think both of these teams could potentially make some noise in this tournament. If you want to talk about experience at this level, you need to talk about Roma, who made it all the way to the Europa League Final in the 2022-23 season before losing to Sevilla. Roma has made a habit of tying games this season, but they are coming off a very decent 3-0 win this past weekend. Athletic Club is coming in hot, winning 3 in a row and 4 of their last 5, and looking good while doing so. Still, this is a tough road trip to begin the tournament, and I think they might be content with a draw.

Tottenham -699 vs Qarabag +1325

When: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 3:00 PM
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

While certainly not the most glamorous game on the Matchday 1 schedule, we do still need to talk about the current favorites to win the tournament. That would be Tottenham, who sit just ahead of Manchester United on the bookies board. Tottenham comes into this one on the heels of back-to-back wins, and I’m sure they will be happy to get things started with what looks to be a very winnable game. Qarabag are top of the Azerbaijan league and have done very well to be part of this tournament, but they are considered to be one of the biggest longshots, and I think they might be looking at a rough start in London.

Which 2 Teams Will Reach the Europa League Final?

It is, in my humble opinion, much too soon to be talking about a potential final matchup, as we have yet to see a ball kicked in anger in this tournament. As mentioned above, Tottenham (+450) will start things as the favorite, but their rather alarming lack of silverware makes them a bit of a risky pick. English sides tend to do well, so, despite their recent issues, Manchester United (+490) might be a good pick. I also like Roma (+790) to make a deep run, and as far as dark horse teams go, I would keep an eye on Lazio. We will be following this tournament from start to finish and will make some more predictions as things progress in the Europa League.

Odds to Win the Europa League 2024/25

• Real Sociedad +1025
• Athletic +1075
• FC Porto +1175
• Lazio +1400
• Galatasaray +1950
• Fenerbahce +1975
• Nice +1975

We are back! 🧡#UEL pic.twitter.com/m9u9gbI8er

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 23, 2024

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