The 2017/2018 Europa League season has been tremendous so far, and it promises to get even more exciting as the tournament progresses.
This is because they are so many top European teams who are competing in the tournament.
Athletico Madrid, Dortmund and Sporting CP joined many other good teams in the round on 32. Most of them scaled through the round of 32 and are now in the round of 16. The draw for the 2017/2018 Europa League round of 16 are as follows :
AC Milan vs Arsenal
A Madrid Vs Lokomotiv
B Dortmund vs Salzburg
CSKA Mosc vs Lyon
Lazio Vs Dynamo Kiev
Marseille vs Ath Bilbao
RB Leipzig vs Zenit
Sporting vs Plzen
While they are 16 teams who are vying for the trophy, they are some really good teams who stand a better chance at winning the 2017/2018 Europa league. Today we look at 4 teams who stand a high chance of winning this year’s Europa league.
It is interesting to know that the Europa League has produced seven different winners in the last 10 years.
1. Lazio
We begin with the Italian powerhouse, Lazio. Lazio has been in top form in the Europa league this season. They ripped their group with 13 points and breezed through FC Steaua Bucharest in the round of 32. They are not just in form in the Europa league alone, but are in the Serie A, this season. Currently, they are third on the Serie A table.
Top striker Ciro Immobile has rediscovered his form, he currently tops the Serie A goalscorers chart with 23 goals. He also has 5 goals in the Europa League.
Lazio are clear favorites for the coveted continental trophy. However, Simone Inzaghi will have to get past Dynamo Kiev in the round of 16.
2. Athletico Madrid
Athletico Madrid are the ultimate favorites to win the 2017/2018 Europa league. The trophy has been dominated by Spanish teams in recent years, with Athletico even winning it before.
After being surprisingly eliminated from the Champions League, Diego Simeone knows he has one target in mind, which is to win the Europa league. They haven’t started so bad, after thrashing FC Copenhagen 5-1 on aggregate, they have sounded their warning to other teams. Will Athletico win the trophy? They will have to get past Lokomotiv Moscow first!
3. Borussia Dortmund
They elimination of Borussia Dortmund from the Champions League shocked everyone. Nonetheless, they are here in the Europa League and they need to win it! They have a rejuvenated squad and played very well in their round if 32 match with Atalanta.
They will have to struggle with qualifying for next season’s Champions League from the Bundesliga accompanied with a Europa League campaign. If they lift the trophy in May, it will be a huge achievement for Tuchel’s side.
They will face a tough opposition in Salzburg in the round of 16.
4. Arsenal
Arsenal were never expecting the Europa League to be easy, but they also never expected the likes of Athletico Madrid and Dortmund to join them in the tournament.
So far the English team has topped their group and seen of Östersund in the round 32. They have the squad and quality to lift the Europa League trophy this season.
But first they will have to face a stern test in AC Milan in the round of 32.
Other Possible teams:
RB Leipzig: Come on! This German team eliminated Napoli
Lyon: They have the players!
Comments 2