Europa League Odds at the Start of the Season – A Complete Guide
At the beginning of every Europa League season, bookmakers publish odds for who will win the trophy, which teams are favourites, and which long shots might defy expectations.
Looking back at these odds tells us not only what people expected, but also allows us to measure surprises, over- or under-performers, and where value was missed.
In this article, we’ll revisit what the Europa League odds at start of season looked like, see which teams were fancied from the off, how the market shifted, and what lessons bettors might draw from hindsight.
Why Review the Early Odds?
Before diving into numbers, it’s worth asking: why do we care what the Europa League odds were at the start of the season?
- They capture initial expectations from bookmakers & betting markets (who bring together data, history, squad strength, transfers) before the competition really begins.
- We can compare those expectations with how the season actually unfolded—were the favourites justified? Did any ‘outsider’ go far?
- For bettors, it helps understand where value was early; often, the best returns came from backing teams that were underrated.
Typical Favourites at the Start of the Europa League
Although the exact teams change year by year, certain profiles are nearly always at the top of the betting market when the odds are released.
- Big-name clubs who miss out on the Champions League: Think of sides like Liverpool (in 2023/24), Manchester United (previously), or AC Milan. When such giants are in the Europa League, they tend to be instant favourites.
- Spanish sides: La Liga clubs have historically dominated this competition, with Sevilla being the standout (a record number of titles). Bettors know Spanish teams often take the tournament seriously, so bookies adjust their odds accordingly.
- Bundesliga and Serie A contenders: German and Italian teams also regularly feature in the latter stages, adding depth to the favourites list.
At the start of the season, the market usually has three or four standout clubs priced below 10/1, with a cluster of others between 12/1 and 25/1.
What the Odds Looked Like at Season Start
The Europa League, whilst not being prized quite as much as the Champions League, does still have its own lore and prestige – and of course for the winners it’s a path into the Champions League itself for the following season.
Every year the Europa League is very competitive and most of the teams in the competition will be going all out to win it.
Here were the odds at the start of the season on 19th September 2025, after the qualifying rounds were completed but before the Europa League proper kicked off on 24th September 2025 (best odds available from more than one bookie):
- Aston Villa: 13/2 (or 7.5 in decimal odds)
- Roma: 10/1 (11.0)
- Porto: 11/1 (12.0)
- Nottingham Forest: 11/1 (12.0)
- Bologna: 11/1 (12.0)
- Real Betis: 14/1 (15.0)
- Lyon: 16/1 (17.0)
- Celta Vigo: 16/1 (17.0)
- Lille: 22/1 (23.0)
- Stuttgart: 25/1 (26.0)
- SC Freiburg: 25/1 (26.0)
- Nice: 28/1 (29.0)
- Basel: 30/1 (31.0)
- Fenerbahce: 33/1 (34.0)
- Celtic: 33/1 (34.0)
- Feyenoord: 35/1 (36.0)
- Salzburg: 40/1 (41.0)
- Braga: 40/1 (41.0)
- Utrecht: 50/1 (51.0)
- Panathinaikos: 70/1 (71.0)
- Rangers: 70/1 (71.0)
So it’s an open betting market this season, as you would expect. The Premier League’s Aston Villa were starting favourites at 13/2, perhaps to be expected given Unai Emery’s formidable record in the competition.
After that a host of teams were available at around the 10/1 mark, including Roma, Porto, Nottingham Forest and Bologna.
As ever there are constant changes to the odds as the league phase develops and some teams dominate whilst others struggle.
And of course, the competition is always shaken up by the entrance of teams dropping out of the Champions League, which we delve into further below.
The Impact of Champions League Dropouts
One of the quirks of the Europa League is that teams knocked out of the Champions League group stage join the competition in the knockout rounds. This can dramatically shift the betting landscape.
Punters looking at Europa League odds at start of season should bear this in mind: the initial favourites might not remain so if a European heavyweight like Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, or Juventus falls into the mix later.
Because of this, some bettors prefer to wait until after the Champions League groups conclude before committing heavily. Others, however, see opportunity in backing a team early, knowing their odds will shorten if they qualify smoothly from the Europa League groups.
Value Missed / Value Found
From reviewing past odds, several themes emerge for bettors trying to spot value early in the season:
- Ignore name alone: Some clubs with big names but weaker squads or managerial / transitional issues were over-valued in early odds. Betting purely on prestige often led to disappointment.
- Undervalued depth: Clubs with deeper benches and better rotation often performed better than many anticipated. Those were sometimes priced more generously (i.e., their odds were longer) and offered value.
- Momentum & form matters: Those teams coming off good domestic seasons, or making smart transfers, often improved over the odds. In contrast, clubs going through managerial changes or selling key players sometimes underperformed.
- Monitor shifts after early rounds: Once group stages, early knockout draws, or Champions League dropouts occur, odds move fast. Those who act early or hedge are often rewarded.
Lessons from Past Europa League Odds at Start of Season
If you’re someone searching “Europa League odds at the start of the season” now, hoping to compare or use historical data, here are some key takeaways drawn from looking back:
- Opening odds are more optimistic for big clubs, but they carry risk. A big club at, say, 8/1 is not a guarantee — the odds reflect expectation, not certainty.
- Long shots sometimes win more often than many assume. While it’s rare for a 30/1+ team to lift the trophy, it’s not rare for such teams to reach the last 8 or last 16.
- Prize of dropping from Champions League is huge. The dynamics shift significantly once Champions League teams join in the knockout phase. The odds of other teams shorten or lengthen accordingly.
- It pays to track shifts. Comparing how odds were at start vs mid-season gives clues about momentum, upsets, value, and where the market misjudged.
- Spanish dominance: as mentioned above, Spanish sides have dominated this competition over the years, although English clubs have started to turn the tide – for example with the 2024/25 final being contested between Tottenham and Man Utd.
Case Study: Sevilla’s Dominance
To illustrate why looking at Europa League odds at start of season can be rewarding, consider Sevilla. Over the last two decades, they’ve won the competition an incredible seven times.
Yet, at the start of many of those seasons, Sevilla were not favourites. Their odds were often in the mid-range, reflecting the presence of larger clubs. Punters who spotted their pedigree and backed them early would have landed some handsome wins.
Popular Betting Markets Beyond Outright Winner
When we talk about Europa League odds at start of season, most people think of the outright winner market. But there are other ways to get involved:
- To reach the final: Offers longer-term interest without needing your team to win it all.
- Top goalscorer: Early odds on prolific strikers can represent value, especially if you spot a forward who will start regularly against weaker group opponents.
- Group winners: Early group stage betting often offers opportunities, particularly if you believe a seeded side might stumble.
- Nationality of winner: Some bookies price up markets like “Winning nation” (e.g., Spain, England, Germany). Given the dominance of Spanish clubs historically, this can be a shrewd angle.
Summary: What the Early Odds Tell Us
- The odds at the start of a Europa League season show which teams are expected to dominate, but they also leave room for surprises.
- Favourites are almost invariably big clubs with good European experience. But they don’t always win.
- The middle tier of teams (odds ~10-25/1) are often where the best value lies for bettors.
- Historical data shows that some teams outperform based on depth, cup pedigree, and momentum, which may be under-estimated at the start.
So when you look back at the Europa League odds at the start of the season, treat them as a map rather than a verdict.
Use them to spot mispriced contenders early and to learn where the market was right or wrong—then try to spot any value there might be at this stage based on past trends, or carry those lessons into the next campaign.
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