Europa League Surprises: Teams to Watch this Season
Photo by Benis Arapovic on Vecteezy
The Europa League never shies away from surprises each season, and neither did this one. As much as the cards were dominated by traditional powers, the Europa League has a special way of introducing fans to rising teams, underdogs, and dark horses that can disrupt the established order.
Whether you are a long-time fan or just got hooked on the competition, this year it’s going to be full of action and drama; a few teams have already kept interest burning both among the fans and analysts by emerging as favorites.
The Europa League is the tournament that, by its very nature, can allow less-matched clubs to brighten up their star on the European scene sometimes. The competition has always been unpredictable, and this year’s edition is no exception.
Union Berlin vs. Real Sociedad: Powers of the Future
➔ Union Berlin
Hitherto, German Bundesliga side Union Berlin has proved to be one of the most spirited underdogs in Europe. Relatively new to European competition, they have been proving gritty since they emerged through the ranks of German football, holding their own in the Europa League.
Pressing big with a well-documented disciplined defense, they have already managed to give some establishment headaches in Europe, playing with the unpredictability of casino game. Their group stage performances only showed them to be more than capable of going deep in the tournament.
➔ Real Sociedad
On the other hand, Real Sociedad from Spain’s La Liga has largely flown under the radar of teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent years. Sociedad would be a team that would command respect with its consistency in domestic performance and a decent squad depth.
With creative midfielders like David Silva at the helm and the attacking force of Mikel Oyarzabal, they have the experience and the talent to make the much-needed noise this season. The duo is bound to go all the way if the momentum they have built is anything to go by.
Stade Rennais vs Feyenoord: Meet the Dark Horses
Every Europa League season, there’s room for at least one outsider, maybe two, and this time around, two top clubs really catch the eye: Stade Rennais and Feyenoord. Stade Rennais, hailing from France’s Ligue 1, is a club that has grown in reputation for really bringing through its youth. They present the required youthful vitality and tactical maturity to send shockwaves even to the most mighty opponents with the likes of Jeremy Doku and Lovro Majer, who make telling contributions.
One of the Dutch giants, Feyenoord actually has an enviable history in European competitions, but these couple of seasons have seen them fly somewhat below the radar. However, great performances at home in the Eredivisie and a reasonably well-balanced team make them an outsider in the Europa League. If they can translate their domestic success to European competition, Feyenoord could very well be the team to upset expectations.
Lazio vs AS Monaco: The Experienced Contenders
Typically, experience brings the difference, and both Lazio and AS Monaco are coming into this tie loaded with that. As always, Lazio is a team that commands respect, typically combining solid Italian defense with a strong attack. Ciro Immobile also remains one of the most trusted strikers in Europe, and on the bench is an astute tactician in Maurizio Sarri, who could see Lazio go deep into this tournament.
Monaco has done really well in Ligue 1 of late, much like a couple of others who share similar recent European heritage. The likes of Wissam Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin will lead the front lines, and Monaco has the squad for a serious run against the best in Europe. Not flashy compared to some of its rivals, consistent, tactically alert Monaco indeed is the strong contender in this season’s Europa League.
Wrapping Up
The Europa League can never disappoint, with twists and surprises lurking around every corner, and this season is no exception. From emerging sides like Union Berlin and Real Sociedad to dark horses like Stade Rennais and Feyenoord, the lesser-known teams have filled the competition.
The more seasoned sides, Lazio and AS Monaco, predominantly depend on acquired European experience and aim at featuring in the later stages. Most definitely, these teams will write the story of the season right from now to the end of the competition, playing sumptuous football, scripting moments nobody will anticipate. Be a neutral fan or support any of these clubs, the Europa League is such a competition that assures thrills, drama, and most importantly, surprises.