Yesterday we took a look at the exciting group draws for the Champions League, featuring five British teams going up against Europe’s elite. Today we are shifting our focus onto the second biggest UEFA competition each year – the Europa League.
Won last year for the seventh time by Sevilla, this new streamlined Europa League competition has been a big improvement on the older version and the quality of teams competing within it has improved a great deal too.
This season’s Europa League sees a number of British teams competing including Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham United and Rangers.
Other big teams in this tournament include Real Betis, Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Sporting Lisbon, AS Roma and Villarreal.
Bet365 Sport is offering odds on winning the Europa League tournament overall, winning the group and qualifying from the group and we are focusing on the latter two in this article.
Let’s now take a look at how the eight 2023/24 Europa League groups look.
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Group A
- West Ham
- Olympiacos
- SC Freiburg
- Backa Topola
Fixtures
21st September
- 8.00pm – Olympiacos v SC Freiburg
- 8.00pm – West Ham v Backa Topola
5th October
- 5.45pm – Backa Topola v Olympiacos
- 5.45pm – SC Freiburg v West Ham
26th October
- 5.45pm – Backa Topola v SC Freiburg
- 5.45pm – Olympiacos v West Ham
9th November
- 8.00pm – SC Freiburg v Backa Topola
- 8.00pm – West Ham v Olympiacos
30th November
- 5.45pm – Backa Topola v West Ham
- 5.45pm – SC Freiburg v Olympiacos
14th December
- 8.00pm – Olympiacos v Backa Topola
- 8.00pm – West Ham v SC Freiburg
Latest Odds To Win Group
- West Ham – 4/5
- Olympiacos – 5/1
- SC Freiburg – 15/8
- Backa Topola – 25/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- West Ham – 2/9
- Olympiacos – 5/4
- SC Freiburg – 2/5
- Backa Topola – 5/1
Group Preview And Tips
After their Conference League success last season, West Ham now find themselves in the Europa League and in a group that they should feel confident of qualifying from. Olympiacos and Freiburg will be their main challengers but I think West Ham should at least qualify from this group along with Freiburg.
Group B
- Ajax
- Marseille
- Brighton
- AEK Athens
Fixtures
21st September
- 8.00pm – Ajax v Marseille
- 8.00pm – Brighton v AEK Athens
5th October
- 5.45pm – AEK Athens v Ajax
- 5.45pm – Marseille v Brighton
26th October
- 5.45pm – Marseille v AEK Athens
- 8.00pm – Brighton v Ajax
9th November
- 5.45pm – Ajax v Brighton
- 8.00pm – AEK Athens v Marseille
30th November
- 5.45pm – AEK Athens v Brighton
- 8.00pm – Marseille v Ajax
14th December
- 8.00pm – Brighton v Marseille
- 8.00pm – Ajax v AEK Athens
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Ajax – 7/2
- Marseille – 15/8
- Brighton – 11/10
- AEK Athens – 14/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- Ajax – Evens
- Marseille – 8/15
- Brighton – 1/5
- AEK Athens – 11/2
Group Preview And Tips
Brighton have been given a tough task in their first ever European adventure. Ajax and Marseille will be two very tough games on the road for the Seagulls, and it is never easy to get a result away in Greece either. However, Roberto De Zerbi’s team have started the season well and I think they and most likely Ajax will come through from this stage to reach the Europa League knockout stages.
Group C
- Rangers
- Real Betis
- Sparta Prague
- Aris Limassol
Fixtures
21st September
- 8.00pm – Rangers v Real Betis
- 8.00pm – Sparta Prague v Aris Limassol
5th October
- 5.45pm – Aris Limassol v Rangers
- 5.45pm – Real Betis v Sparta Prague
26th October
- 5.45pm – Aris Limassol v Real Betis
- 5.45pm – Sparta Prague v Rangers
9th November
- 8.00pm – Rangers v Sparta Prague
- 8.00pm – Real Betis v Aris Limassol
30th November
- 5.45pm – Sparta Prague v Real Betis
- 8.00pm – Rangers v Aris Limassol
14th December
- 8.00pm – Aris Limassol v Sparta Prague
- 8.00pm – Real Betis v Rangers
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Rangers – 7/2
- Real Betis – 1/2
- Sparta Prague – 13/2
- Aris Limassol – 10/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- Rangers – 8/11
- Real Betis – 1/10
- Sparta Prague – 5/4
- Aris Limassol –9/2
Group Preview And Tips
While Aris Limassol should not give Rangers too many concerns here, the fact they face a strong Spanish side in Real Betis and a talented Sparta Prague side will. Away games against all three teams will likely decide Rangers’ Europa League fate. For me, Betis will top this group and it will be a very close call between Rangers and Sparta as to who finishes second.
Group D
- Atalanta
- Sporting Lisbon
- Sturm Graz
- Rakow Czestochowa
Fixtures
21st September
- 8.00pm – Atalanta v Rakow Czestochowa
- 8.00pm – Sturn Graz v Sporting Lisbon
5th October
- 5.45pm – Rakow Czestochowa v Sturm Graz
- 5.45pm – Sporting Lisbon v Atalanta
26th October
- 5.45pm – Rakow Czestochowa v Sporting Lisbon
- 5.45pm – Sturm Graz v Atalanta
9th November
- 8.00pm – Atalanta v Sturm Graz
- 8.00pm – Sporting Lisbon v Rakow Czestochowa
30th November
- 5.45pm – Atalanta v Sporting Lisbon
- 5.45pm – Sturm Graz v Rakow Czestochowa
14th December
- 8.00pm – Rakow Czestochowa v Atalanta
- 8.00pm – Sporting Lisbon v Sturm Graz
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Atalanta – Evens
- Sporting Lisbon – 11/8
- Sturm Graz – 8/1
- Rakow Czestochowa – 12/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- Atalanta – 2/9
- Sporting Lisbon – 2/7
- Sturm Graz – 5/2
- Rakow Czestochowa – 7/2
Group Preview And Tips
Group D looks very much to be in the favour of the big two teams Sporting Lisbon and Atalanta and it would be a shock if these two teams don’t make it into the Europa League knockout phase, especially against two of the lesser fancied teams in this competition.
Group E
- Liverpool
- LASK Linz
- Union Saint-Gilloise
- Toulouse
Fixtures
21st September
- 5.45pm – LASK Linz v Liverpool
- 5.45pm – Union St-Gilloise v Toulouse
5th October
- 8.00pm – Liverpool v Union St-Gilloise
- 8.00pm – Toulouse v LASK Linz
26th October
- 8.00pm – Liverpool v Toulourse
- 8.00pm – Union St-Gilloise v LASK Linz
9th November
- 5.45pm – LASK Linz v Union St-Gilloise
- 5.45pm – Toulouse v Liverpool
30th November
- 8.00pm – Liverpool v LASK Linz
- 8.00pm – Toulouse v Union St-Gilloise
14th December
- 5.45pm – LASK Linz v Toulouse
- 5.45pm – Union St-Gilloise v Liverpool
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Liverpool – 1/6
- LASK Linz – 22/1
- Union Saint-Gilloise – 10/1
- Toulouse – 8/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- Liverpool – 1/33
- LASK Linz – 11/4
- Union Saint-Gilloise – 7/4
- Toulouse – 10/11
Group Preview And Tips
Liverpool will be happy with their draw in the Europa League group stages but the trips to Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse will both be tricky. Even so, the Reds should top this group comfortably and it will likely be a battle between Toulouse and Union Saint-Gilloise for the second spot in this group.
Group F
- Villarreal
- Rennes
- Maccabi Haifa
- Panathinaikos
Fixtures
21st September
- 5.45pm – Rennes v Maccabi Haifa
- 5.45pm – Panathinaikos v Villarreal
5th October
- 8.00pm – Maccabi Haifa v Panathinaikos
- 8.00pm – Villarreal v Rennes
26th October
- 8.00pm – Panathinaikos v Rennes
- 8.00pm – Villarreal v Maccabi Haifa
9th November
- 5.45pm – Rennes v Panathinaikos
- 5.45pm – Maccabi Haifa v Villarreal
30th November
- 5.45pm – Maccabi Haifa v Rennes
- 8.00pm – Villarreal v Panathinaikos
14th December
- 5.45pm – Panathinaikos v Maccabi Haifa
- 5.45pm – Rennes v Villarreal
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Villarreal – 4/6
- Rennes – 2/1
- Maccabi Haifa – 12/1
- Panathinaikos – 9/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- Villarreal – 1/8
- Rennes – 2/7
- Maccabi Haifa – 9/2
- Panathinaikos – 11/4
Group Preview And Tips
Villarreal won the Europa League a couple of years back and they will be confident of qualifying from this group. French side Rennes will likely be their toughest opponents, but I’d still expect the Spanish side to come through undefeated with Rennes qualifying in second spot in the group.
Group G
- AS Roma
- Slavia Prague
- Sheriff Tiraspol
- Servette
Fixtures
21st September
- 5.45pm – Servette v Slavia Prague
- 5.45pm – Sheriff Tiraspol v AS Roma
5th October
- 8.00pm – AS Roma v Servette
- 8.00pm – Slavia Prague v Sheriff Tiraspol
26th October
- 8.00pm – AS Roma v Slavia Prague
- 8.00pm – Sheriff Tiraspol v Servette
9th November
- 5.45pm – Slavia Prague v AS Roma
- 5.45pm – Servette v Sheriff Tiraspol
30th November
- 8.00pm – Servette v AS Roma
- 8.00pm – Sheriff Tiraspol v Slavia Prague
14th December
- 5.45pm – AS Roma v Sheriff Tiraspol
- 5.45pm – Slavia Prague v Servette
Latest Odds To Win Group
- AS Roma – 1/4
- Slavia Prague – 5/1
- Sheriff Tiraspol – 16/1
- Servette – 12/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- AS Roma – 1/12
- Slavia Prague – 4/6
- Sheriff Tiraspol – 5/2
- Servette – 2/1
Group Preview And Tips
Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma will be strong favourites to win this Europa League group and they are the class team of the quartet, although I can’t see them having it all their own way. The other three teams look well-matched and if one of them can get a good result against Roma, or win a key game on the road, then they could snatch second spot behind the Italians. I’d just about go with Slavia Prague for second spot, but this should be a close group.
Group H
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Qarabag
- Molde
- Hacken
Fixtures
21st September
- 5.45pm – Bayer Leverkusen v Hacken
- 5.45pm – Qarabag v Molde
5th October
- 8.00pm – Hacken v Qarabag
- 8.00pm – Molde v Bayer Leverkusen
26th October
- 5.45pm – Molde v Hacken
- 8.00pm – Bayer Leverkusen v Qarabag
9th November
- 5.45pm – Qarabag v Bayer Leverkusen
- 8.00pm – Hacken v Molde
30th November
- 8.00pm – Hacken v Bayer Leverkusen
- 8.00pm – Molde v Qarabag
14th December
- 5.45pm – Bayer Leverkusen v Molde
- 5.45pm – Qarabag v Hacken
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Bayer Leverkusen – 2/5
- Qarabag – 6/1
- Molde – 5/1
- Hacken – 12/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Europa League Knockout Phase
- Bayer Leverkusen – 1/14
- Qarabag – 5/4
- Molde – 6/5
- Hacken – 12/5
Group Preview And Tips
As the odds suggest, Bayer Leverkusen are very much the favourites to win this Europa Leagye group and in truth, it is hard to see the German side dropping too many points here. The real race is for second and my money is on Qarabag just doing enough to pip the other two teams to qualify for the next Europa League stage.
