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European football is returning next week, with clubs across the continent focusing their attention back to both the Champions League and the Europa League. This year the difference in quality between the two competitions are very close, the Europa League is arguably looking the strongest it has ever been in terms of competition since the format of this competition.
Manchester United won last season's Europa League title and there was very little to no draw to the competition from a fan's point of view. With the stature and money spent, the club would have at least expected to win this prize and the standard of competition from other teams was not as high last year.
This year, however, it is strong, with the teams dropping into the knockout stages from the Champions League and a host of clubs who have competed from the start of the draw. There are a host of clubs who will consider themselves in the mix to win the competition.
The Champions League is the pinnacle of football across Europe, every player wants to play and compete on the top level, but the Europa League this season will not be as far from the quality of the Champions League, as it has been for many years now.
To win the competition this season would be a fantastic achievement for any of the thirty-two clubs in the draw. There has been a lot said about the structure of the Europa League over the years, and perhaps it does need to be assessed, but the competition is exciting this season and to see the top clubs competing in the competition makes for a compelling few months ahead.
Who then, are the 5 favourites to win the Europa League?
#1 Atletico Madrid
The La Liga outfit would have to be considered the early favourites to win the competition outright. Diego Simeone's men are currently second on the La Liga table, nine points behind runaway leaders Barcelona and ten points ahead of Real Madrid, so the Europa League is a real opportunity for Simeone to bring silverware to the Wanda Metropolitano.
This is an Atletico team that has been in two of the last four Champions League finals, so this team knows how to play in the knockout stages of European football very well. The last 32 round will match the club against FC Kobenhavn of Denmark, a tie which will prove difficult but ultimately one that you would expect the Spanish club to win.
With the quality that Simeone has in this current team, he might still be able to rotate strongly until the competition gets tighter and we should still be expected to see their star players in action.
Antoine Griezmann will be the catalyst to the success this team has, and with Diego Costa available to play in the forward line, the Madrid side will be a very daunting proposition for any team they face. With quality players such as Saul Niguez, Yannick Carrasco and Jan Oblak to name just a few, this is a squad and a manager more than capable of bringing success to the club and their fans.
#2 Arsenal
This is Arsene Wenger's first time playing outside of the Champions League, and the North London club have a point to prove. The club has never enjoyed enjoyed European success during the reign of Wenger, meaning success in this competition especially this success would certainly send out a message to the doubters of the manager and the club.
Currently in sixth position in the Premier League and the top four definitely not a certainty, it is vital that Wenger takes this competition seriously, as it could give the club the opportunity to qualify for next season's Champions League.
With a Carabao Cup final to look forward to against runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City, if Arsenal do not win that then all attention must turn to this illustrious competition.
The January transfer window has renewed the Arsenal supporters' faith in the team, with the record signings of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The loss of Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United is one that might hurt the Arsenal fans right now, but in the long term one that will benefit the club.
Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang have a great partnership, and one that from their days at Dortmund will be a threat to any side across Europe. With the quality of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshire and Laurent Koscielny, to name a few, this Arsenal team can beat just about anyone.
The last 32 round gives Arsenal a very good chance to qualify, playing against Ostersund from Sweden. How Arsenal approach this round is what this makes this very interesting. Knockout competition has not always favoured the Emirates club but with what is at stake for the team and the manager, they could really put themselves in contention for success this season.
#3 Napoli
A point clear at the top of the Serie A at this stage of the season, is an achievement in itself considering the dominance of Juventus in Italy over the last number of years. This Napoli team is rightfully considered one of the favourites to win the Europa League this season, however might they consider domestic more important to the club than European success in this competition?
Despite being in a difficult Champions League group, the team will be extremely disappointed to go out the way they did. Manager Maurizio Sarri is winning lot of plaudits for the style of football played by Partenopei Gli Azzurri, but he is also gaining a lot of attention from other clubs, given the current position of the club.
The last 32 round for Napoli is a significant test for the Italian club against RB Leipzig. The first leg at the Stadio San Paolo is where Napoli will want to win this tie, and use their passionate support to an advantage.
Marek Hamsik, the club captain, is instrumental to this team and will be a key figure to what success this Napoli team will have. Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne are two world class players, and can be match winners. José Callejón, Elseid Hysaj and Jorginho, to name a few, shows the quality this Napoli team have.
With the Europa League as strong as it is, winning this competition will take a big effort, whether Napoli have enough depth to compete both domestically and in Europe will be the biggest challenge facing Maurizio Sarri.
#4 AC Milan
At the start of the Europa League, this new AC Milan side were considered the favourites to win the competition. The money the club spent over the summer was just what the club needed to compete again both domestically and on the European stage, however that has not quite worked out for the Rossoneri.
Replacing Vincenzo Montella was exactly what the club needed during the first half of the season and replacing him with Gennaro Gatusso. The former Rangers player has certainly helped to steady the club without the team really playing to their full potential.
There is an array of talent within this team and Gattuso needs to work on getting the system, the selection and the direction right for the team.
Ten points off city rivals Inter Milan in fourth place in the Serie A, the Europa League gives the Rossoneri a competition to really try and thrive in this season. The return of European football will get the Milan fans excited and get behind the team, and knowing the quality they do have in this team, they can certainly give any of the teams left in the competition a very good game.
Leonardo Bonucci is right up there with the best central defenders in the world, and rest of the Milan players will be looking for his temperament and inspiration to guide them. With the quality of players such as Hakan Çalhanoğlu, former Liverpool man Suso and Ricardo Rodríguez, the Italians can play and compete against the top teams in Europe.
Winning the competition might be a long aim for this Milan team, but they have the quality and the players to make a good effort to go far in it. Ludogarets will prove a tricky tie for the San Siro club, win this and confidence will be high within the club.
#5 Marseille
Second place in the French Ligue 1 and a real belief at the club again, Olympic Marseille, at this stage, would be considered underdogs to win the Europa League. Rudi Garcia is doing a great job at the Stade Velodrome and has a real collective group to work with this season.
Former West Ham attacker Dimitri Payet and former Newcastle United player Florian Thauvin have been on top form this season and possess the quality to provide match winning performances. A home tie against Braga will be Marseille's test in the round of 32, a tie to potentially gauge if this Marseille team could be in contention.
