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The 2021-22 UEFA Europa League kicked off in September with 32 teams from 20 different countries competing for European glory.
With the introduction of the Conference League, quite a few changes have been made in the Europa League this season. The erstwhile Round of 32 has been scrapped. Instead, the first knockout, called the 'knockout round playoff' will involve the group stage runners-up clashing with the eight Champions League third-placed teams to make the Round of 16.
The eight winners from that round will lock horns with the eight group leaders, who have advanced directly to the Round of 16.
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It may play second fiddle to the Champions League, but the Europa League has had some phenomenal games over the years. The competition also provides a way for less-fancied teams to compete at a bigger stage and prove their worth.
It will be fascinating to see which team comes out on top this season. On that note, here are the top five contenders to win the Europa League this season:
#5 RB Leipzig
After a tough Champions League group stage, RB Leipzig will continue their European campaign in the Europa League.
In a group that included Manchester City and PSG, qualifying for the next round was always going to be an uphill task for Leipzig. That duly happened to be the case.
Leipzig went down fighting, holding PSG to a draw and beating group winners Manchester City in their last two games. However, that was not enough for them to finish in the top two.
Star boy Christopher Nkunku will be Leipzig’s beacon of hope in the Europa League. The Frenchman scored seven goals in the Champions League this season, and will look for more in the Europa League now.
The closest Leipzig have come to securing European glory was in 2019-20, when they made the Champions League semi-final. Leipzig have struggled since Julian Nagelsmann moved on to Bayern Munich this summer.
They are currently seventh in the Bundesliga, and will face Real Sociedad for a place in the Europa League Round of 16.
#4 Sevilla (six-time Europa League winners)
Sevilla are the kings of the Europa League. Alongside Real Madrid (1985, 1986), they are the only team to have successfully defended their title. In fact, Sevilla have done so thrice (2006, 2007 and 2014-16),
Spanish sides have emerged victorious 13 times in the Europa League, which is more than any other nation. Sevilla have accounted for six of these titles.
Sevilla were in Group G of the Champions League, alongside Lille, RB Salzburg, and Wolfsburg. They could only manage one win in the group stage, and finished in third place. With injuries to key players like Suso and Youssef En-Nesyri, Sevilla could only score a disappointing five goals in six games.
The Andalusian club are performing beyond expectations in the La Liga, though, currently trailing only league leaders Real Madrid. The Spanish side will now hope to recreate their magic in the Europa League, and go for a seventh title. Sevilla will face Dinamo Zagreb for a place in the Round of 16.
#3 Napoli (1989 UEFA Cup/Europa League winners)
Napoli finished second in the 2021-22 Europa League group stage, level on points with Spartak Moscow.
After a poor first few games, the Italian side turned their fortunes around. They left it late, but eventually qualified for the knockouts. Napoli pipped Leicester City to second place in their group with a late winner against the English side on matchday six.
The 1989 UEFA Cup/Europa League winners haven’t seen much silverware in recent times. This season, Napoli are one of the favourites to win the Serie A title. They have a talented squad that is more than capable of going all the way.
Napoli missed out on Champions League qualification last season by a whisker, finishing a point behind Juventus. They are fourth in what has been a tight Serie A title race this season so far.
Napoli face Barcelona for a place in the Europa League Round of 16. Based on how Barcelona have been performing, Napoli will fancy their chances in this tie. A win against the Blaugrana would give them the confidence they need to win the competition for the first time after more than three decades.
#2 Barcelona
Since the departure of Lionel Messi, Barcelona have had a significant fall from grace. They have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage, and are languishing in eighth place in La Liga.
The Blaugrana endured their earliest Champions League exit in 20 years. They could only manage two wins this season to finish third in their group. Barcelona will now feature in the Europa League for the first time since 2003-04.
Barcelona will face Napoli for a place in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. The five-time Champions League winners will look to salvage their season by winning their first Europa League title. However, Xavi will need the best performances from his men if they have to get the desired results.
#1 Borussia Dortmund (two-time UEFA Cup/Europa League finalists)
Borussia Dortmund will be disappointed to exit the Champions League before the knockout stage.
They finished level on points with Sporting (9), but the Portuguese side edged them on head-to-head. Dortmund have had a few disappointing games, recently but are currently second in the Bundesliga.
The Black and Yellows, Champions League winners in 1997, will look to add another European trophy in the form of the Europa League. Considering the presence of the unstoppable Erling Haaland in their ranks, Dortmund are arguably the strongest contenders to win this season's Europa League. The Norwegian seems to break records every time he steps on the pitch.
In February, Dortmund will welcome Scottish champions Rangers in the Europa League knockout playoffs. Dortmund fans will hope the likes of Haaland, Marco Reus, Giovanni Reyna and others will see their team over the line. Interestingly, Reyna’s father, Claudio, played for Rangers between 1999 and 2001.
