This season’s Europa League promises to be one of the most exciting in modern day history with Manchester United, Jose Mourinho’s Roma and Europa League “specialists” Sevilla all still alive.
It is United who will face six time winners Sevilla. The Red Devils will be the overwhelming favourites to prevail from the tie given that relegation is a serious possibility for Jorge Sampaoli’s side this season.
After prevailing in the English League Cup, winning the Europa League will also help United boss Erik Ten Hag to further win over the fanbase of his club.
Juventus play against Sporting Lisbon. The Old Lady were dealt a major blow in their hopes to qualify for the Champions League next season as they were handed a 15 point Serie A deduction in January. This means that winning the Europa League could present them with their best chance of qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition next season.
Mourinho’s Roma come up against Feyenoord. Roma won the Europa Conference League last season in it’s inaugural season and so winning the Europa League would be a good progression. It is now 20-years since Mourinho won his first major European trophy, leading FC Porto to the UEFA Cup which was the previous incarnation of the Europa League.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen play against Union SG. Alonso has attracted plenty of praise for the work that he has done at Leverkusen and his team have a chance of qualifying for Europe for a second consecutive season. Should Leverkusen win the Europa League this season, Alonso will establish himself as an elite manager.
Eshlin Vedan is a professional sports Journalist from South Africa. He has a degree in Journalism from Rhodes University and has vast experience writing articles for national media and viral websites.