ES
NFL Predictions 
MLB Predictions 
NBA Predictions 
NHL Predictions 
Soccer Predictions 
Our Europa League predictions cover selected games from the 2026-27 league phase, and each one names our pick for the game. We published 18 for matchday 1, 16 of them by Keylor Santos, and each went up three days before its game date.
Matchday 1 was played on 16 and 17 September. Juventus top the table after a 5-0 win, and all 18 games of matchday 2 are on 15 October.
Latest Europa League predictions
Newest first, by game date. All 12 pages have since been updated as recaps.
- Union St.-Gilloise at Viktoria Plzen, 17 September 2026
- AFC Bournemouth at Real Sociedad, 17 September 2026
- TSG Hoffenheim at OFI Crete, 17 September 2026
- Torreense at Lillestrom, 17 September 2026
- RB Salzburg at Levski Sofia, 17 September 2026
- NEC Nijmegen at Juventus, 17 September 2026
- Lech Poznan at Crystal Palace, 17 September 2026
- Ferencvaros at Celtic, 17 September 2026
- Marseille at Besiktas, 17 September 2026
- AZ Alkmaar at Sunderland, 16 September 2026
- Stade Rennais at SK Sturm Graz, 16 September 2026
- Lyon at Anderlecht, 16 September 2026
Europa League right now
The league phase has 36 clubs in one table. On ESPN’s standings, places 1 to 8 go straight to the round of 16, places 9 to 24 go to the knockout playoffs, and 25 to 36 are out. Matchday 1 had 18 games and 47 goals, and two of them finished 0-0.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juventus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Sparta Prague | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Besiktas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Union St.-Gilloise | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Ferencvaros | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Benfica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
The top eight, ESPN standings, read 23 September 2026.
ESPN’s schedule, read 23 September 2026, puts the next league-phase games on 15 October, 22 October, 5 November, 26 November and 10 December, with 18 games on each date. The calendar runs the league phase to 28 January 2027.
Last season
Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the 2025-26 final at Vodafone Park on 20 May 2026.
Aston Villa are in this season’s Champions League, and won 3-2 at Club Brugge on its first matchday. Freiburg are third in the Bundesliga after four games.
How Europa League betting works here
The three-way moneyline is home win, draw or away win, settled on the score after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. A bet on either club loses when the game is level, as it did when Stade Rennais drew 0-0 at SK Sturm Graz on 16 September.
The Asian handicap takes the draw away. At -1.5 the favorite must win by two or more; at -1 a one-goal win refunds your stake. The total is the number of goals both clubs score: over 2.5 needs three or more, and matchday 1 averaged 2.6 a game.
The knockout rounds come after the league phase and add a second question. A “to qualify” bet is on which club goes through the tie, counting extra time and penalties. A 90-minute bet on the same game settles on the score at full time only, so it can lose while your club goes through.
Europa League clubs with a team page
By domestic league, with its prediction hub where we have one:
- Premier League: AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland
- La Liga: Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad
- Serie A: AC Milan, Juventus
- Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen, TSG Hoffenheim
- Ligue 1: Lyon, Marseille, Stade Rennais
- Other leagues: Anderlecht, AZ Alkmaar, Benfica, Olympiacos, Omonia Nicosia, SK Sturm Graz
The soccer predictions hub leads to the rest of our soccer coverage, including the Champions League. If you are choosing a paid picks service, read our handicapper site reviews first.
Europa League prediction FAQ
Do you publish a prediction for every Europa League game? Not as a rule. We publish predictions for selected games; on matchday 1 there was one for each of the 18, and this page lists the newest 12.
When is the next Europa League matchday? Thursday, 15 October 2026, with all 18 games on the one day.
How many clubs reach the round of 16 from the league phase? Eight go straight through, according to ESPN’s standings. The clubs placed 9 to 24 go into the knockout playoffs first.
Does a “to qualify” bet include extra time? Yes. It settles on which club goes through, however the tie is decided. A three-way moneyline bet on the same game settles on 90 minutes.
