As in the previous two seasons, 36 teams will compete in a single league phase. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16, while the teams finishing ninth to 24th enter the play-offs. The final will be played in Frankfurt on 26 May 2027.
Juventus head a powerful field
On paper, Juventus enter the competition as the strongest title favourites. Despite a disappointing sixth-place finish in Serie A last season, Luciano Spalletti still has a squad with exceptional depth for Europa League level. Kenan Yıldız remains the creative figurehead, while Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade offer two very different options at centre-forward. Francisco Conceição provides pace out wide, with Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz supplying quality through the middle.
Juventus have not yet found complete consistency, though. Seven points from their opening four Serie A games represent a solid rather than spectacular start, while the recent 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo again exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Even so, in a competition where Juve possess more individual quality than almost every opponent, they remain the natural benchmark. N.E.C. Nijmegen visit Turin on the opening matchday.
Milan and Leverkusen have squads capable of going all the way
AC Milan sit just behind Juventus in the hierarchy. The squad has been significantly reshaped under Rúben Amorim, with Gonçalo Ramos expected to provide goals through the middle and Christian Pulišić remaining one of the team’s key attacking players. In midfield, Milan can call upon considerable international experience in Adrien Rabiot, Ardon Jashari and the now 41-year-old Luka Modrić. Diego Moreira’s brace in the recent 2-2 draw at Lazio also highlighted the additional options Amorim has available from the bench.
Milan have collected eight points from their first four league matches, although their opening Europa League fixture against Benfica will provide an immediate test of their credentials.
Bayer Leverkusen also belong firmly among the leading contenders. The 2024 finalists have once again undergone major changes but retained plenty of individual quality. Patrik Schick remains the main goalscorer, while Moussa Diaby returned shortly before the transfer deadline. Behind them, Malik Tillman, Ibrahim Maza, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Aleix García provide a wide range of creative options.
The Bundesliga campaign has started somewhat unevenly, with four points from three matches. Carles Martínez’s side missed several opportunities in the recent 2-2 draw at Augsburg, but their Europa League schedule begins with a relatively favourable home fixture against Celje.
Bournemouth and Marseille offer very different strengths
AFC Bournemouth are perhaps the most intriguing newcomers in the competition. The club had never previously played European football before Andoni Iraola sensationally guided the Cherries to sixth place in the Premier League in his final season. His successor Marco Rose also favours aggressive, high-intensity football. With Evanilson, Justin Kluivert, Amine Adli, Tyler Adams and the talented Alex Scott, Bournemouth possess a squad that should be able to physically overpower many Europa League opponents.
The results, however, have not yet followed. Rose is still waiting for his first Premier League victory after four matches. Bournemouth dominated long spells of the recent 2-2 draw with Brentford but once again failed to protect a lead. Their European debut away to Real Sociedad therefore represents an immediate test.
Olympique Marseille, by contrast, bring considerably more international experience. Bruno Génésio can call upon Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Angel Gomes, Timothy Weah, Igor Paixão, Amine Gouiri and Nayef Aguerd, among others. The individual quality is certainly sufficient for a deep run, although UEFA financial restrictions have limited the club’s options when registering its European squad. That could become significant if injuries begin to mount during the league phase.
Three dangerous teams just behind the favourites
Real Sociedad come next in the pecking order. Pellegrino Matarazzo led the Basque side to Copa del Rey glory last season and was rewarded with a contract until 2028. With Mikel Oyarzabal, Takefusa Kubo, Gonçalo Guedes, Carlos Soler and Luka Sučić, La Real possess enough technical quality to control matches even against stronger opponents. Their start to the season has been inconsistent, although the recent 3-0 defeat against Atlético only became so emphatic after three very late goals.
Celta Vigo follow. Claudio Giráldez’s side are known for brave positional football but are still searching for their first La Liga victory of the season. They recently surrendered another lead in a 1-1 draw with Málaga. Even so, Ferran Jutglà, Ilaix Moriba, Hugo Álvarez and veteran Iago Aspas give Celta enough quality to trouble opponents. The bigger question is whether a relatively small squad can handle the additional workload.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, already have a European trophy to their name. The London club won the Conference League last season under Oliver Glasner before Pierre Sage took over following the Austrian’s departure. Adam Wharton, Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta all stayed, while Jørgen Strand Larsen, Yeremy Pino and Quinten Timber were among the arrivals. Palace therefore look strong in attack, but their defensive record has been poor so far: eleven goals conceded in their opening four league matches.
Benfica as experienced outsiders
SL Benfica complete the extended group of contenders. The Portuguese record champions had to come through qualifying and therefore already have considerably more European minutes in their legs than many of their rivals. Marco Silva can rely on Vangelis Pavlidis, Rafa Silva, Georgiy Sudakov, João Palhinha and Jhon Durán in a squad packed with international experience.
Benfica’s league-phase schedule is also relatively attractive. After the difficult opening trip to AC Milan, they will face the likes of Celtic, Omonia, Lech Poznań and OFI Crete. They may not be the first name mentioned when discussing the likely winner, but a top-eight finish followed by a deep run through the knockout rounds would hardly come as a surprise.
The opening matchday already brings two direct clashes between teams from this group of contenders, with Milan hosting Benfica and Real Sociedad facing Bournemouth. Juventus welcome N.E.C., Leverkusen host Celje, Marseille travel to Beşiktaş and Crystal Palace begin at home against Lech Poznań. There will be no gentle introduction to this season’s Europa League – several major tests arrive immediately.
