The Europa League restarts this week with Round of 16 matches on Wednesday and Thursday.
Due to the coronavirus shutdown, the Europa League is now essentially a knockout mini-tournament in Germany during August. After the Round of 16 concludes, quarterfinal matches will be held on August 10-11th. The semifinals take place August 16-17th. The championship is set for Friday, August 21st.
The two outstanding Round of 16 ties that have not played their first leg yet (Inter vs Getafe, Sevilla vs Roma) will be a straight knock-out match. All of the other ties that did play leg 1 games will conclude on aggregate.
With that in mind, here’s how oddsmakers see as favorites.
Europa League title odds
| Manchester United +160 | Inter +500 | Bayer Leverkusen +700 | Wolves +800 |
| Sevilla +900 | Getafe +1400 | Shakhtar Donetsk +1400 | Roma +1900 |
| Basel +2500 | Olympiakos +6600 | Wolfsburg +6600 | Istanbul Başakşehir +6600 |
| FC Copenhagen +10000 | Eintracht Frankfurt +10000 | Rangers +25000 | LASK +50000 |
Why is Manchester United so heavily favored?
First, Man U pounded LASK away 5-0 in their leg 1 match back in March. They’re virtually assured to make the quarters, which helps give them a boost. But +160 when the next best odds are Milan at +500?
United would draw İstanbul Başakşehir or Copenhagen in the quarters. They will be heavily favored in that match against either opponent.
However, in a single game knock-out, luck always comes into play. A semifinal match could have Man U facing Wolves, a team they drew both times in the Premier League this season. Sevilla (4th in La Liga) or Roma (5th in Serie A) could await.
On the other half of the bracket, Inter (2nd in Serie A) would be the presumed finalist.
Manchester United finished their domestic season strong. They should be Europa League favorites. But there is plenty of value on Inter, Sevilla, and Wolves as well.
