Picking your Europa League winners

Thursday nights now get really exciting. The Europa League has narrowed down to the final eight and as we prepare for the quarter finals this week, we show you who’s got the best chances of lifting that gorgeous trophy.

Current Europa favourites: Manchester United

Taking a look at our outrights market, the favourite tag belongs to Manchester United but as you know it’s never that simple in football.

The quarter final draw was kind to the Red Devils and they are overwhelming favourites as they line up against Granada. They are odds-on to reach the semi finals, but that is just where things get a little tricky. The winners of that clash will face either Roma or Ajax, the competition’s dark horses.

Ajax out to impress

The Dutch giants are sweeping local opposition aside as they glide to a 35th Eredivisie title. They always impress in Europe as their youngsters often use the Champions League and Europa League as a shop window. They can afford to take the foot on the gas domestically, but face quite a tough route to the final with Roma and potentially Manchester United lining up to beat them. The reality is that on their day Ajax can really be something special. Totaalvoetbal is the name of their game and, with such fluid football, often-statuesque Manchester United might struggle. At 7/1 or 8.00 they are outside favourites, but i would never write off a young, hungry and somewhat different side. After All they had previously knocked out both Juventus and Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Roma need to improve their form

With first leg odds of 47/20 or 3.35 our bookies think that Roma will tumble against Ajax, and on current form you can see why. They are without a win in their last three Serie A matches and are way down in the league table. Seventh is not at all where they want to be, but with the back door of the Champions League ajar, the Europa League offers plenty of motivation. Borja Mayoral is flying their flag with seven goals in this season’s competition so far. He leads the goalscoring charts, and his ambition can drive Roma forward.

Arsenal’s unknown path

Arsenal face Slavia Praha in the quarters and were handed the route of the unknown. Should they advance, either Villareal or Dinamo Zagreb will try to beat them for a spot in the final. A taste of the unknown for the unknown seems fitting for the Gunners as you simply never know which version of them will show up. Remember, they were defeated in their second leg clash against Olympiacos and were also outplayed in their last league game against Liverpool. Their current league position reeks of a struggling team. They are currently priced at 3/1 or 4.00 to win the competition and somehow sneak into the Champions League. Mikel Arteta has already delivered something Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn’t in the shape of a trophy and that experience might be the key here.

Those two are poised to meet up in the final should no alarming shocks happen and that would make for an extremely tasty affair.

Villareal can surprise

The Spanish have a rich recent history in this competition and the Yellow Submarine can be the surprise outfit this year. They have won their last three La Liga matches and are looking to end their season with a strong push up the table. Their main threat is the brilliant Gerard Moreno who has only been outscored by Leo Messi in La Liga. 19 goals in 24 games is a high standard in any division while Paco Alacer has scored five Europa League goals too. These guys love to play attacking football, so there is a potential banana skin for any opponent.

Their quarter final opponents are the unfancied Dinamo Zagreb. In the good old days of crowds, you’d have backed any Eastern European team to stand a chance against anyone. Sadly, that element has been removed and without fans some teams have truly lost their 12th man. With odds of 40/1 or 41.00 we can’t really say wee fancy Zagreb to make it all the way to the final.