UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase Winner Odds — Who Tops the Table?

The Europa League looks different these days. With the new league phase format settling into its second year, fans are still figuring out exactly how to talk about it. It’s not just a group stage anymore — it’s one big table, 36 clubs, and a sprint to see who can finish top before we even reach the knockouts.

Last season, Lazio made history as the first-ever league phase winners. This year? The bookies say it’s Aston Villa’s race to lose, but with Roma, Betis, and Porto lurking just behind, nothing’s guaranteed. And in this competition, nothing ever is.

• Also read: UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Winner Odds — Who Will Lift the Trophy in Istanbul?

A Quick Look at the Format

The 2025/26 Europa League campaign is the 55th edition of this competition — and the 17th since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. After a pretty successful debut, the league phase is back for its second season. It all kicked off with qualifiers in July and runs right through to the Istanbul final in May 2026.

Here’s how teams got here: 13 sides went straight in, 12 battled through qualifiers, and another 11 dropped down after losing in Champions League qualifying. Every tie in the qualifiers was over two legs, and the association coefficient rankings decided when clubs had to enter.

Europa League 2025/26 League Phase Winner Odds

Enough small talk — here are the current odds to win the league phase outright:

Team	Odds
Aston Villa	6
Roma	11
Real Betis	11
Porto	11
Bologna 1909	15
Nottingham Forest	15
Lyon	15
Celta	18
VfB Stuttgart	20
Freiburg	25
Lille OSC	30
Feyenoord	30
Nice	35
Basel	35
Celtic	35
Fenerbahce	35
Braga	35
FC Salzburg	40
Panathinaikos	45
Brann	50
Young Boys	50
Midtjylland	65
Rangers	65
Genk	65
Viktoria Plzen	75
Utrecht	75
Malmo	90
Crvena Zvezda	100
Ferencvarosi	100
P.A.O.K.	80
Dinamo Zagreb	100
Maccabi Tel Aviv	100
Sturm Graz	100
Go Ahead Eagles	100
Ludogorets 1945	100
FCSB	100

Favorites to Top the League Phase

Aston Villa (6) — Unai Emery is basically Mr. Europa. Villa have the squad depth, attacking firepower, and tactical nous to grind through this format. The bookies love them, and so do plenty of punters.

Roma (11) — Consistently strong in Europe, Roma know how to play tournament football. They’ll be desperate to outdo their 2022/23 runners-up finish.

Real Betis & Porto (11) — Two clubs with flair and pedigree. Betis are unpredictable but dangerous, while Porto’s European street-smarts make them a nightmare to play over two legs — or in a league table sprint.

Dark Horses Who Could Surprise Everyone

• Bologna 1909 (15) — Their return to Europe has been refreshing. They’re no giants, but they’re awkward to face and could ride momentum.
• Nottingham Forest (15) — Forest back in Europe still feels surreal. They’ve got history and nothing to lose.
• Lyon (15) — Always a wildcard. Their inconsistency makes them a risky bet, but their ceiling is high.
• Celta (18) — They don’t get talked about enough, but Celta’s ability to punch above their weight shouldn’t be ignored.

League Phase Fixtures & Key Dates

The league phase runs from September 2025 to January 2026. Here’s when the action goes down (dates subject to change):

Matchdays:
Matchday 1: 24 & 25 September 2025
Matchday 2: 2 October 2025
Matchday 3: 23 October 2025
Matchday 4: 6 November 2025
Matchday 5: 27 November 2025
Matchday 6: 11 December 2025
Matchday 7: 22 January 2026
Matchday 8: 29 January 2026

From League Phase to Istanbul

Winning the league phase matters. It’s prestige, bragging rights, and a much smoother path into the knockout rounds. But remember — it’s just one step on the road to Istanbul, where the 2025/26 Europa League final will be played at Beşiktaş Park on 20 May 2026.

And that prize? The heaviest trophy in UEFA football at 15kg, a golden ticket to the 2026/27 Champions League, and a date in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup against the Champions League winners.

Smart Betting Tips from Tips.gg

A reminder from us — betting should be fun, not stressful. The Europa League league phase is unpredictable by design, which makes it entertaining but also risky if you’re putting down serious money.

• Keep an eye on squad rotation — depth matters more than star power here.
• Don’t expect teams from the UEFA Champions League – in the new format, teams from the top European cup no longer qualify for the Europa League.
• Most importantly, never gamble what you can’t afford to lose.