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As the UEFA Champions League grows more competitive and unpredictable by the season, so too has the difficulty level increased in Europe's subsidiary club competition, the UEFA Europa League. This term the tournament will welcome Arsenal for the first time along with other top level names from across the continent.
The draw for the group stages of the competition has now taken place and the first round of matches are due to kick-off on the 14th September. Without further ado, here is our I see the first stage of the 2017/18 Europa League unfolding...
Group A
Last campaign Villarreal paid the price for finishing second in their Europa League group, after they were comfortably dispatched 4-1 on aggregate in the knockout phase by a dominant Roma side. The acquisitions of Carlos Bacca, Ruben Semedo and Pablo Fornals have undoubtedly strengthened the spine of the team and the Spaniards are clear favourites to top a mediocre group consisting of Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Astana and Slavia Prague this time around.
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Second spot in the group really could go to any of the other three but, based on recent experience of the competition, Maccabi Tel-Aviv are my favourites to progress to the knockout stages; they were unfortunate to not do so last season in a challenging group and they should create an intimidating atmosphere, albeit at their temporary Netanya Stadium in Israel. Both Astana and Slavia Prague looked very disappointing in the Champions League playoff round, the former conceding far too many and the latter appearing very shot-shy.
1st - Villareal
2nd - Maccabi Tel-Aviv
3rd - Astana
4th - Slavia Prague
Group B
One of the more open combinations in the competition's earliest stage, Group B is comprised of Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade of Serbia and Albania's most successful side Skenderbreu.
Having endured four rounds of qualifying which climaxed with an impressive away goals victory over Dinamo Zagreb, Skenderbreu will be competing in just their second Europa League competition but will likely be the whipping boys of this group.
As for the other three, the top two spots are for the taking. The tight trio have all had good starts to their domestic campaigns, with Dynamo Kiev and Partizan Belgrade having won ten out of twelve games between them so far, whilst Young Boys sit second in the Swiss top tier.
Their Hungarian opposition Videoton were by no means the fiercest of opponents but Partizan Belgrade looked water-tight in their 4-0 aggregate win in the Europa League playoffs and are very experienced in European football. Dynamo Kiev finished rock bottom of their group in the Champions League last term and have a good opportunity to rectify such disappointment; their success will rely heavily on forward Andriy Yarmolenko who was their top scorer in all competitions last term (19 goals).
On paper Young Boys are a lot weaker than their Serbian and Ukrainian counterparts but dispatched the latter in Champions League qualifying by virtue of away goals and a lack of expectation could play to their advantage.
1st - Partizan Belgrade
2nd - Young Boys
3rd - Dynamo Kiev
4th - Skenderbreu
Group C
If ever the UEFA Europa League had the pedigree to have a so-called 'group of death', then this term's Group C would fit the bill. It consists of Braga of Portugal, Romanian side Ludogorets, German giants Hoffenheim and the tricky Turks Istanbul Basaksehir.
Both Hoffenheim and Istanbul Basaksehir came close to Champions League football after losing tense, high-scoring playoff ties to Liverpool and Sevilla respectively and they are resultantly geared up to put things right in the continent's secondary club competition.
Ludogorets have won every Bulgarian league title since 2012 but have failed to ever make an impact on the continental stage, often falling at the first hurdle of Champions League qualification. Braga have now qualified for the Europa League group stages three seasons running but only progressed beyond the group stage on one of the other two occasions and the loss of last term's top goalscorer Rui Fonte to Fulham leaves them fairly light up-top.
The group is so difficult to call because of one thing the quartet all have in common; inconsistency. That said, 30-year-old Julian Nagelsmann's desperate desire for a trophy should in itself drive Hoffenheim into top spot coupled with a sturdy defence which was the second best in the Bundesliga last term. Istanbul Basaksehir ooze experience of Europe in Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor and Aurélien Chedjou to name but a few and should comfortably take second.
1st - Hoffenheim
2nd - Istanbul Basaksehir
3rd - Braga
4th - Ludogorets
Group D
Along with Arsenal, AC Milan are joint-favourites to lift the Europa League next summer and Vincenzo Montella's free-spending side should have few issues in navigating their way past Austria Vienna, Rijeka and AEK Athens.
AC Milan have invested in excess of €150 million bringing in the likes of Leonardo Bonucci, André Silva and Hakan Çalhanoglu this summer and probably have the strongest first eleven in the competition so should wrap-up top spot in a weak group before the final match-day.
Although they were in Pot Two for the draw, Austria Vienna scraped through Europa League qualifying against NK Osijek of Croatia and finished rock bottom of their group in the competition last season, conceding the most goals in the group stage.
In Marko Livaja and Hugo Almeida, AEK Athens have goals and their 3-0 demolition of a decent Club Brugge side in qualifying highlighted that and this renders them the most likely to challenge the Italians in the group. In the last two seasons, Rijeka have failed to make it past the Europa League and so making it this far in itself will be viewed as progress.
1st - AC Milan
2nd - AEK Athens
3rd - Austria Vienna
4th - Rijeka
Group E
Having spent more than £140 million on personnel this summer, Ronald Koeman's Everton would at least have thought they'd have a shot at silverware in this season's Europa League but the Toffees have been dealt a tricky hand in drawing French giants Lyon, exciting Italians Atalanta and Appollon Limassol of Cyprus.
With four points from their opening two EPL encounters, including a draw at Manchester City, Everton appear to be in fine form at the moment and Wayne Rooney's retirement from international football means he is now able to dedicate himself fully to his beloved club. The Merseyside club are by far the strongest on paper but will have their squad depth tested with intensity of Premier League matches coupled with the inexperience of such a busy schedule. As a result, they could easily slump to a second place finish in the group.
Lyon meanwhile will be plying their trade in a much weaker league and will be able to afford to rest players for Europe if needed. Mariano and Nail Fékir have been in impressive form up-top in Ligue 1 so far and Lyon have numerous players who can get on the scoresheet so should navigate a way into the knockout phase.
Atalanta finished an impressive fourth in Serie A last term, beating the likes of Roma, Napoli and Inter Milan at home and all sides in the group will find it difficult to break them down at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia but they are likely to be inconsistent on their travels and are just a bit short of the quality of Lyon and Everton.
Appollon Limassol looked exciting going forwards in their qualifier against FC Midtjylland and will thrive on a lack of expectation but not enough to cause any serious upsets.
1st - Lyon
2nd - Everton
3rd - Atalanta
4th - Appollon Limassol
Group F
By selling Andreas Cornelius to the aforementioned Atalanta this summer, FC Copenhagen lost their top goalscorer from last season and have consequently lost some potency up-front. However, the Danish champions have drawn reasonably mediocre opposition in Lokomotiv Moscow, Sherriff Tiraspol of Moldova and the very Europa League sounding Zlín from Czech Republic.
FC Copenhagen have alternated between the Champions League and the Europa League in recent seasons gone by the crucial fact is they've remained in the European frame, something which cannot be said for their counterparts in Group F. Lokomotiv Moscow qualified for the Europa League this term by virtue of winning the Russian Cup last season but nonetheless looked equipped to occupy second spot with their array of known attacking talents in Jefferson Farfan, Eder and Alan Kasaev.
Although their minimal experience of facing bigger sides will likely rule them out of qualifying for the knockout phases, Sherriff Tiraspol could have a say in who finishes top if they spring the odd shock result, whilst Zlín will merely view the competition as an added bonus after they too qualified through winning their nation's domestic cup.
1st - FC Copenhagen
2nd - Lokomotiv Moscow
3rd - Sherriff Tiraspol
4th - Zlín
Group G
Now for a quartet where it's likely no side will stand out to you. In Group G, runners-up in the Czech League Viktoria Plzen are joined by Romania's FC Steaua Bucuresti, Israeli outfit Hapoel Beer-Sheva and Swiss side Lugano.
Coincidentally, Viktoria Plzen and FC Steaua Bucuresti have already met in European competition this season, with the latter dispatching the Czech side in the third qualifying round of the Champions League before being knocked out themselves by Sporting Lisbon in the playoff round. Hapoel Beer-Sheva fell at the same hurdle, meaning three of the four sides in this group were initially involved in qualification for Europe's primary club competition.
FC Steaua Bucuresti have been involved in the Europa League group phase in three out of the past four seasons and are an intimidating side to face at their 55,000 seat capacity stadium, whilst Viktoria Plzen looked especially solid at the back in their 3-1 aggregate win over AEK Larnaca in the playoff round. Overall, this group is anyone's for the taking but experience will most likely count for Steaua Bucuresti and Viktoria Plzen.
1st - FC Steaua Bucresti
2nd - Viktoria Plzen
3rd - Hapoel Beer-Sheva
4th - Lugano
Group H
Ivan Gazidis suggested that Arsenal's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season was a 'catalyst for change', yet very little feels different at the Emirates right now - same manager, same leaky defence, same defeat to Stoke City. That said, the Gunners are set to start a season in the Europa League for the first time in twenty years.
Arsene Wenger and co. would've fancied their chances against any opposition but will likely be especially happy with BATE Borisov, FC Köln and Serbian side Crvena zvezda in their group. Despite making it difficult for themselves on many an occasion by finishing second, the Gunners always found their way out of Champions League groups and only a serious shock would mean their Europa League campaign will start any differently.
Likely to join the North London side in the knockout stages are FC Köln, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga last term. The club have lost last season's top goalscorer Anthony Modeste to Tianjin Quanjian on a two-year loan deal but on paper still have quality in the likes of Leonardo Bittencourt and Jonas Hector to ensure neither BATE Borisov nor Crvena zvezda cause any problems.
1st - Arsenal
2nd - FC Köln
3rd - BATE Borisov
4th - Crvena zvezda
Group I
Red Bull Salzburg are widely considered an up-and-coming side in Austria at present and will like their chances of qualifying after being drawn alongside experienced French outfit Marseille, Portuguese Vitoria and Turkish side Konyaspor.
Many of the fine talents which we are now seeing showcased at RB Leipzig were recruited from Red Bull Salzburg, including Liverpool target Naby Keita and young starlet Dayot Upamecano and the club are still producing top quality youngsters.
Consequently they are a team which play without fear which is part of the reason why they stormed to the Austrian Bundesliga title last term, winning it by a massive eighteen points.
Red Bull Salzburg should have no issues with qualifying but will likely come unstuck against a Marseille side used to competing in the Champions League until Monaco burst onto the scene. Marseille cruised past Slovenians NK Domžale in the qualifiers and have a squad blessed with attacking prowess such as Dmitri Payet, Rely Cabella and Lucas Ocampos, so should find no problems breaking down all three defences in the group.
Both Vitoria and Konyaspor could nonetheless prove unpredictable given that we are yet to see them regularly on a European stage, but expect the aforementioned two to progress for now.
1st - Marseille
2nd - Red Bull Salzburg
3rd - Vitoria
4th - Konyaspor
Group J
Ernesto Valverde may be gone but Athletic Bilbao nonetheless remain a very solid unit and are dark horses for the Europa League crown. The Basque club were unlucky to finish as low as seventh in the division last term and, with Barcelona and Real Madrid aside, they conceded the fewest goals in La Liga. Tasked with having to break down their defence in Europe are Hertha Berlin, Ukrainian side Zorya and the only Swedish side in Europe this season, minnows Östersund.
Athletic Bilbao's organisation should therefore see them through to the knockout phase, whilst Hertha Berlin, who finished sixth in the Bundesliga last campaign, are another side who have good squad depth and potent frontmen in Kalou and Ibiševi?. Top spot will likely be decided by the pair's meeting in the group.
Östersund, the only club in the competition to be managed by an Englishman in Graham Potter, have done remarkably well to qualify alone and although Zorya will test the stronger two logistically and physically, it's unlikely the Ukrainian's will do any real damage.
1st - Athletic Bilbao
2nd - Hertha Berlin
3rd - Zorya
4th - Östersund
Group K
Another contender for the annual 'group of death', Group K's composition of Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem of Belgium and Dutch side Vitesse could fool you into thinking it were a Champions League quartet.
Each club does really epitomise the best of the rest in their respective leagues and Lazio in particular will be aiming to use this competition as a means of extending their reputation. The Rome-based side finished fifth in Serie A last term, netting a decent 74 goals in the process and with Ciro Immobile and Keita Baldé in their ranks, they are set-up well to progress from the group stage.
Nice have operated remarkably well on a shoestring budget to defy the odds and finish 3rd in Ligue 1 last term, buying players on the cheap and developing them (Mario Balotelli is a prime example). The club are so well organised that last season's heroics really warranted Champions League football but a harsh playoff exit by Napoli means that they will be looking to exert their revenge on another Italian side in Lazio and they will likely succeed.
Both Zulte Waregem and Vitesse have a strong youthful contingent and will most likely battle it out for third spot in this group.
1st - Nice
2nd - Lazio
3rd - Vitesse
4th - Zulte Waregem
Group L
The last but by no means least important group in the draw, Group L consists of Zenit, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg and Vardar of Macedonia.
Three of the four clubs competed in the Europa League playoffs this week with Zenit, Rosenborg and Vardar all dispatching decent opposition in FC Utrecht, Ajax and Fenerbahçe respectively.
Typically, Russian sides do not fair well in European competition but Zenit are by far the most experienced and have shaken off a disappointing season to lead the Russian League unbeaten and on 19 points from seven games so far.
To translate such form to continental football, Mancini's men will have to outcompete a Real Sociedad side who impressed against all the odds in La Liga last term who recovered from a poor start to finish sixth in the division.
Having added Adnan Januzaj to an already stellar squad comprised of young talent in Ruben Pardo and Mikel Oyarzabal and experience in Xabi Prieto and Carlos Vela, Real Sociedad appear to be in a very strong position to compete. Zenit's shortcoming could be their likely complacency against Rosenborg and Vardar who proved through qualifying that they can perform when it counts. Rosenborg especially looked sharp and definitely have goals in their team, most notably via Nicklas Bendtner.
1st - Real Sociedad
2nd - Rosenborg
3rd - Zenit
4th - Vardar
