The Europa League as we know it is
coming to an end.
This season’s competition will be the
last in its current format, with UEFA’s
Europa Conference League set to begin
in 2021-22. The hope is that this will
improve Europe’s secondary competition,
mainly by reducing the number of teams
in the group stage from 48 to 32. From
next season, group winners will advance
directly to the last16, while runners-up
will have to play an extra round alongside
the third-placed Champions League
sides to join them.
Until then, the bloated group stage
begins again. As with every other major
competition, this condensed, COVID-
affected campaign is likely to throw up
some surprising results. By the time the
knockout stages begin in February, the
list of candidates to lift the trophy may
look quite different, but nevertheless
there are already several teams that
will expect to be there.
End of an era
Jamie Evans looks at the leading contenders in this season’s Europa League
FAVOURITES
According to the bookmakers, the
trophy is most likely to end up in
North London, with bothArsenaland
Tottenhampossessing impressive
credentials.
The Gunners have started well in
Mikel Arteta’s first full season, with a
commitment to play out from the back
that is likely to improve as the season
continues. They are also led by arguably
the best goalscorer in the competition,
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In his
last three Europa League campaigns,
the 31-year-old has scored19 goals,
including eight when Arsenal reached
the 2019 final.
In Spurs’ corner, they haveJose
Mourinho, a manager with a100 per
cent winning record in this competition.
A champion in his two previous Europa
League campaigns, first with Porto
in 2002-03 and then again withManchester United in 2016-17,
Mourinho has assembled a team far
more to his suiting than when he first
arrived: a front three of pace, strength
and match-winning ability, a midfield
destroyer in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg,
and a well-organised defensive unit.
It could also be argued that the
competitiveness of the Premier League
gives English sides extra motivation to
win this competition: the Europa League
could well be their best route into the
Champions League.
Another side with their hearts set on
a return to Champions League football
isMilan. The Italian giants have been
in impressive form under Stefano Pioli in
2020, picking up where they left off at
the end of last season by winning their
first three Serie A games of 2020-21
without conceding a goal in their quest
toreturntoItaly’stopfour.Rivals...Tottenham and
Arsenal are favourites
for the iconic trophyIn form...Napoli’s
Dries MertensEUROPA LEAGUE2020-21