After the victories of PSG and RC Lens, against Slovan Bratislava (6-1) and Slavia Prague (2-3), and the infuriating defeat of Losc against Real Betis (2-3), last week in the Champions League, the Europa League opens. On Wednesday, OL, lost from the C1 play-offs, begins with a shock in the den of Anderlecht, while Stade Rennais is also traveling to Austria to face Sturm Graz. Thursday evening, OM will be in Türkiye to challenge Beskitas, three days before a Classic against PSG at the Vélodrome.
The field for the second European Cup is once again very strong, with three English clubs in the running. It is precisely the Bournemouth of Eli Junior Kroupi (for the moment unavailable) and Benfica who are the favorites of Football Rankingswith a 14% chance of winning before the start of the competition. Projections then give Leverkusen at 13%. A little further, we find Juventus, Crystal Palace and Sunderland at 8%. Yes, there are some great teams!
Difficult journey for OM
This promises to be more difficult for Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais, who are given a 3% chance of lifting the trophy on May 26 in Frankfurt, just behind Adrien Rabiot’s AC Milan, at 4%. Of course, all of these estimates are likely to change over the coming months with the fall results.
Worse for OM, the Marseille club is not part of this top 10 favorites for the Europa League. Bruno Genesio’s team, which could field substitutes in the first matches, will have to stock up on points by facing Besiktas, Olympiakos, Sturm Graz, Leverkusen, Levski Sofia, Celta de Vigo, Celtic and Anderlecht. The top 8 will be difficult to reach. The Phocaeans could finish 11th according to Football meets datawhich will give them a difficult play-off against Crystal Palace and a possible round of 16 against Juventus or Sunderland.
