5 unexpected teams that might play in the top European leagues next season

Benevento are having in their first season in the Serie A, Amiens are enjoying their first year in Ligue 1 and Huddersfield Town have been a wonderful story in their first Premier League campaign. A lot of surprising teams made it into the top European leagues this season and the same could transpire next season.

With a good chunk of the European football season played, the leagues are starting to take shape. We can see who all are gunning for the title and which teams are chasing a spot in European competitions next season.

We can also see who are chasing promotion and it that regard there's an intriguing situation in a lot of countries. Quite a few minnows could find themselves in dreamland in 2018.

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#5 A.S. Cittadella

Cittadella are a relatively young club in Italy. They were founded in 1973 after a merger between U.S. Cittadellense and A.S. Olympia. It's been a slow climb to the top as they have spent the majority of the time in various lower leagues, mostly as an amateur side.

It took Cittadella nearly 30 years to reach Serie B for the first time and it was a brief spell that lasted only two seasons in 2000-2002. They lost half of their 38 games in the final year, winning just nine matches and conceding 63 goals.

The club from the northern part of the country then went back to obscurity before returning to the second tier in 2008/09. They have been a solid Serie B side ever since, though suffered relegation again as recently as 2016. But that makes their current rise even more remarkable now.

The side that plays at Stadio Pier Cesare Tombolato, which holds less than 8000 spectators, already was on the cusp of getting into the top flight last season as they made the promotion playoffs, but fell at the first hurdle there, losing 2-1 to Carpi.

This season, Cittadella is again chasing a playoff spot. After 16 rounds, they are 7th on 24 points. The best two make it to Serie A automatically with the rest of the Top 8 participating in the playoffs. Cittadella actually isn't even far away from the automatic promotion places with Palermo currently holding the last one with 28 points.

#4 Paris FC

Goalkeeper Didier Ovono is one of only a few Paris FC players who have previous Ligue 1 experience

The smaller side of Paris have already played in the top flight, but it was a long time ago. Their final season there was in 1979/80.

Much like Cittadella, FC Paris are also a young club. The current incarnation of the club was formed in 1972. There are actually very close ties with PSG as they were once the same club, but ended up splitting. FC Paris was even the bigger side in the city as they were allowed to keep the Ligue 1 place to themselves after the split, while PSG were relegated. Oh, how things have changed now.

While PSG seemingly have an endless flow of money running into the club as they chase their Champions League dream, FC Paris was playing in the third tier just last season. They ended up getting promoted thanks to goal difference after a tie between three clubs.

After a recent rule change, only two Ligue 2 clubs now get automatic promotion to the top flight with the 3rd place club playing the promotion/relegation playoffs against the 18th place finisher in Ligue 1. That makes it a bit tougher to climb all the way up to the top, but FC Paris have every chance to do so this season.

Fabien Mercadal's team is currently 4th with nearly a half of the season already played. They have 30 points after 17 matches, one less than Le Havre, who finish off the Top 3. Nobody has yet lost fewer games than them so far (3) and they own one of the best defensive records in the league with 14 goals conceded. Two of their defeats actually came in the first three games, so they have found some very nice form before the Christmas break, which is coming up soon.

#3 SD Huesca

Huesca manager Rubi previously steered Sporting Gijon and Levante in La Liga

In Spain, there have been quite a few newcomers in recent seasons, who have fit right in. Eibar has turned into a solid midtable side and Girona is having a fairytale of a run this year. There could be another new kid on the block in 2018.

Huesca is currently leading the Segunda Division, having collected 29 points in 16 games. They lost last weekend away to Granada 2-0, but nothing suggests that it was more than just a blip.

Founded in 1960, Huesca have never played in the Spanish top flight and they even haven't been a regular competitor in the second division. Just a little over ten years ago, they were a 4th division side. The first promotion to Segunda came for the 2008/09 season.

It took some time to adapt to the new level and a few years back, they went down for two seasons, but they are certainly on the rise now. The team reached the La Liga promotion playoffs for the first time ever last season.

A 3-0 loss in the playoffs to Getafe was a blow and it took a while to recover from that - Huesca won only one of the first five matches this season - but they are rolling now. Even a managerial change hasn't bothered the team. Juan Antonio Anquela left for Real Oviedo in the summer with former Sporting Gijon and Levante boos Rubi taking over.

Huesca plays at Estadio El Alcoraz, which holds only about 5500 people. Can you imagine Barcelona and Real Madrid playing there? What a story that would be.

#2 CD Lugo

Lugo manager Francisco previously managed Almeria in La Liga

Huesca actually aren't alone on top of the Segunda at the moment. Lugo joins them on 29. The club founded in 1953 actually has the most wins in the league with nine. Over a half of them (5) have come by a 1-0 scoreline.

Like Huesca, Lugo has also never played in the top flight. They have even spent most of their years of existence below the second tier. They were first promoted to the second division in 1992, but went down straight away and had to wait 20 years for the next opportunity.

After getting a second chance, Lugo have taken full advantage of it. They have been a solid Segunda side for five years now and could end up being a La Liga club soon.

Manager Francisco has already made himself a name in La Liga. At least for a short while. He was in charge of a newly promoted Almeria side in 2013/14, winning the manager of the month award twice. A four-game unbeaten run to finish the season that included three wins helped them narrowly avoid relegation. Maybe he can work his magic with Lugo as well if they make it there.

Last season ended with a 9th place finish for Lugo. They had 14 wins and 55 points during the whole season. Currently, they are already quite close to passing these achievements.

#1 Holstein Kiel

World Cup-winning goalkeeper Andreas Kopke was born in Kiel and started his career at Holstein

Kiel is another former top-flight side and they even won the German championship in 1912, but they haven't been in the top division since the Bundesliga was formed in 1963. Of all the surprising teams, their story is the most remarkable one as they are currently leading the 2. Bundesliga as a newly promoted team.

With 15 games played, Kiel has lost just twice in the generally very competitive league. The 117-year-old club owns the best attacking record in the division with 34 goals scored and they are also close to the best defensive record with 18 goals conceded.

Led by manager Markus Anfang, Kiel have managed to stay on top even through a rough patch, which currently has seen them win only one of the last four games.

The recent form is certainly a worry, but Kiel still had a 5-point gap ahead of the 3rd position, which would send the team to a promotion/relegation playoff with the 16th side of the Bundesliga.

Kiel could end up fading away as the season progresses, but it's fun to watch their current run. They are like the more nicer version of RB Leipzig without all the money, speeding through divisions all the way to the top. Only four seasons ago, Kiel were still in the 4th tier. I bet even the most optimistic fans couldn't imagine that the club would be fighting for a Bundesliga spot in 2018.