Europa League: Four dark horses for the trophy | OneFootball

The Europa League’s Round of 16 gets underway this evening as the competition heats up.

It appears to be an open race to win the trophy this season, but who will take to the field at the San Mamés Stadium in May? Manchester United and Tottenham are considered among the favourites despite difficult Premier League campaigns, while Athletic Bilbao are bidding to reach a major European final at their home stadium.

As the last 16 gets underway, there are several teams capable of springing a surprise. We’ve looked at four potential dark horses for Europa League success in 2025.

Roma

Roma’s chaotic campaign has steadied under the management of veteran coach Claudio Ranieri. Coaxed out of retirement, Ranieri became the capital club’s third manager of the season in November and has had a big impact.

The Italians started the Europa League disastrously with one point from four games but regrouped to secure progress to the play-off round. Porto were then defeated over two legs, while I Giallorossi are unbeaten in 11 Serie A games. Roma have reached at least the semi-finals of this competition in three of the last four seasons, without success, but could Ranieri get them over the line?

If Roma can navigate a tough tie with Athletic Bilbao next, confidence will be sky-high.

Fenerbahce

Jose Mourinho is targeting a third UEFA Cup/Europa League title this season with history in his sights. The ‘Special One’ could become the first coach to lead three different clubs to the trophy, after past successes with Porto (2003) and Manchester United (2016).

Fenerbahce are flying the flag for Turkish football in the tournament, following Galatasaray’s elimination in the play-off round. The latter’s 2000 victory over Arsenal in this competition remains the only time a Süper Lig side has won a European trophy.

Fenerbahce are out to end that drought and have found form under Mourinho. Fener have lost just one of their last 19 league games and eased past Anderlecht in the play-off round, improved from an unconvincing league phase.

Youssef En-Nesyri – who twice won the Europa League with Sevilla – and Edin Dzeko have combined for 42 goals in all competitions this season.

Olympiacos

Olympiacos made history last season with Europa Conference League success, becoming the first-ever Greek team to win a European trophy. Their final win over Fiorentina was met with wild scenes in Athens, as Ayoub El Kaabi’s extra-time winner sealed success.

El Kaabi has again been in prolific form for José Luis Mendilibar’s side, with 23 goals in all competitions. The Moroccan spearheads a side improved from last season, following the eye-catching arrivals of Gelson Martins and Roman Yaremchuk and the exciting emergences of teenage duo Charalampos Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis.

Bodø/Glimt stand between them and a place in the quarter-finals.

Ajax

Last season was a disaster for Ajax. Fifth in the Eredivisie, it was the club’s lowest league finish in 25 years. Francesco Farioli arrived as head coach in the summer and after a mixed start has thrived.

Ajax are top of the table again in the Netherlands, eight points clear of champions PSV Eindhoven and cruising towards the title. The Amsterdam outfit have reeled off nine straight league wins and have conceded just once in the Eredivisie since January 11th.

In Europe, Union Saint-Gilloise were beaten in the play-offs after Ajax missed the cut for the top eight. The lack of a reliable goalscorer is an issue, but Ajax have shared the load successfully so far this season. Whether it’s enough to take them to the trophy remains to be seen.

Read – The youngest Champions League goalscorers for English clubs

See more – Champions League Team of the Week – Alisson, Odegaard, Pedri

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