Europa League Draw
We break down the 12 groups as the 2015 Europa League draw has been made.
The Favourites
Competition favourites, Borussia Dortmund (8/1) will look to kick-off their campaign in the Europa League with a 1st place finish in Group C and will be expected to do so at 1/5 when facing Krasnodar (100/1), Qabala (150/1) & PAOK (200/1).
Napoli (16/1) are 3rd favourites to win this year’s competition and Group D will be offering them all the chances to progress as they face Club Brugge (66/1), Legia Warsaw (150/1) & Midtjylland (200/1). The Italians are 1/3 favourites to win Group D and rightly so as they usually do well in the competition.
Fiorentina (20/1) are ranked as one of the top 5 teams in the Europa League this year and will be facing Basel (40/1), Lech Poznan (150/1) & Belenenses (150/1) in Group I. If you fancy the Italians to win the group you can back them to do so at 8/13 but they will face stiff competition from Basel who are evens to finish 1st in Group I with Lech Poznan 10/1 & Belenenses 14/1 to pip the bigger teams to top spot.
The British Sides
Out of the 3 sides to represent the UK in this year’s competition, it is Celtic (100/1) that have been drawn with what is probably the most competitive group. After crashing out of the Champions League to Malmo, they will face Ajax (40/1), Fenerbahce (40/1) & Molde (200/1) in Group A of the Europa League this season. The Scots are an enticing 3/1 to win their group with the Turks 11/10 favourites, the Dutch 7/4 2nd-favourites & the Norwegians 12/1 outsiders.
Tournament 2nd-favourites Liverpool (14/1) have got to be happy with the draw they have been dealt with this year as the Reds face Rubin Kazan (50/1), Bordeaux (66/1) & Sion (150/1) in Group B where they will be expected to win the group at 2/5 and show a good European performance this year. Rubin Kazan & Bordeaux are both 5/1 to win Group B with Sion from Switzerland 14/1 outsiders.
Tottenham (16/1) find themselves in Group J alongside Monaco (25/1), Anderlecht (50/1) & Qarabag (150/1) – a group which will by no means be easy to progress from for the London side and 10/11 for the Spurs to win the group could be deemed a bit short considering Monaco have come into the competition after being knocked-out of the Champions League. Alternatively you could back the French to win the group at evens or the Belgians to finish 1st at 7/2. Fancy a shock group win by Qarabag? You can grab them at a huge 25/1.
The Outsiders
There are several teams that have a good chance of going far in the competition this year and there are some very attractive odds about. Bilbao who recently showed up Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, have been drawn in Group L with Augsburg (50/1), AZ Alkmaar (80/1) & Partizan (100/1) and are 8/13 to win their group and a tempting 25/1 to lift the trophy.
French side Marseille could make the 28/1 odds on them a profitable bet as they have been drawn in what seems an easy group with Groningen (50/1), Braga (66/1), & Liberec (250/1) where they are 8/13 favourites to win Group F.
Dnipro are a huge 40/1 to lift the trophy this year which could offer some very good value on last year’s runners-up. Group G will not be easy however as they will face Lazio (20/1), St Etienne (40/1) & Rosenborg (150/1) in the group stages. The price on the Ukrainians to win their group could also offer value at 10/3 behind group favourites Lazio at 4/5. St Etienne are 2/1 to win the group meaning the bookies are expecting this to be a fairly tight one.
After a very beneficial transfer window, Sporting could be a fair shout at a massive 40/1 to win the competition this year. They will be expected to progress from Group H as group winners at evens as they face Besiktas (40/1), Lokomotiv Moskow (80/1) & Skenderbeu (500/1).