As in the Champions League, where PSG, Lens and Lille have already started the initial phase, no less than three French clubs appear in the Europa League: OM, OL and Stade Rennais. Three ambassadors who attack their continental campaign, this Wednesday and Thursday evening, on the lawns of Anderlecht, Sturm Graz and Besiktas respectively.
Opta, via its dedicated algorithms, has calculated for each of these teams the chances of qualification for the final phase of the competition, and even the consecration. Proof of the evolution of French football in recent years, Rennes is ahead of the two Olympics in terms of the most optimistic projections.
Bournemouth, a surprising favorite
If we are to believe the statistician’s data, the Breton club has no less than a 90.2% chance of getting past the league phase, and a 3.5% chance of winning the trophy. For comparison, Olympique Lyonnais has an 80.8% chance of continuing beyond the month of January, and a 3% chance of going to the end.
Washed out by a deadly summer, OM logically finds itself weighed down, still with a 77.5% chance of overcoming the first obstacles. But for only a 1.7% chance of winning. This is a far cry from the favorites Bournemouth, who have never played in the European Cup and have a 14.3 chance of success in the competition. This is ahead of Benfica (14%), Bayer Leverkusen (10.2%), Union Saint-Gilloise (8.6%), Sunderland (8.3%), Juventus (7.8%), Crystal Palace (7.3%) and AC Milan (5.4%).
