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- Matchday 1 of the Europa League kicks off tonight, with the opening round of fixtures spread across Wednesday and Thursday.
- Juventus head the outright betting sites' market at 7/1 (12.5% implied probability), just ahead of fellow Italian giants AC Milan at 15/2 (11.8%).
- Two pairs of outright contenders meet immediately: AC Milan host Benfica on Wednesday, while Real Sociedad welcome Bournemouth to San Sebastián on Thursday.
Matchday 1 Arrives With Juventus Leading The Way
The new Europa League campaign gets under way tonight, with Matchday 1 spread across Wednesday and Thursday as 36 clubs kick off their league phase campaigns.
bet365 have full outright odds available ahead of the competition getting underway, with Juventus installed as 7/1 favourites to win the whole thing, just ahead of fellow Italian giants AC Milan.
It's a tournament that continues to grow in stature each year, and with three Premier League clubs, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and newly promoted Sunderland all involved from the start, there's plenty of home interest to follow alongside the usual continental heavyweights.
Juventus carry an implied 12.5% chance of lifting the trophy at 7/1, narrowly ahead of AC Milan at 15/2 (11.8%).
Europa League 2026/2027 Outright Odds
| Europa League 2026/2027 Winner | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Juventus | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| AC Milan | 15/2 | 11.8% |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 9/1 | 10.0% |
| Bournemouth | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Real Sociedad | 11/1 | 8.3% |
| Marseille | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Celta Vigo | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Crystal Palace | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Benfica | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| TSG Hoffenheim | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Sunderland | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Bayer Leverkusen sit next at 9/1 (10.0%), with Bournemouth the leading English contender at 10/1 (9.1%).
Real Sociedad follow at 11/1 (8.3%), while Marseille and Celta Vigo are tied at 12/1 (7.7%).
Crystal Palace and Benfica share a price of 14/1 (6.7%), and TSG Hoffenheim and Sunderland currently prop up the market as joint outsiders at 16/1 (5.9%).
Contenders In Action On Matchday 1
What makes this opening round particularly interesting is that several of the outright contenders are drawn directly against each other, rather than easing in against lower-ranked opposition.
| Date | Kick-off | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 16 Sep | 17:45 | Omonia v Celta Vigo |
| Wed 16 Sep | 20:00 | Bayer Leverkusen v Celje |
| Wed 16 Sep | 20:00 | AC Milan v Benfica |
| Wed 16 Sep | 20:00 | Sunderland v AZ Alkmaar |
| Thu 17 Sep | 17:45 | OFI Crete v TSG Hoffenheim |
| Thu 17 Sep | 20:00 | Juventus v N.E.C. |
| Thu 17 Sep | 20:00 | Real Sociedad v Bournemouth |
| Thu 17 Sep | 20:00 | Crystal Palace v Lech Poznań |
| Thu 17 Sep | 20:00 | Beşiktaş v Marseille |
AC Milan's trip to face Benfica on Wednesday is the standout tie of the round, pitting the market's second favourites against a side priced at 14/1 in what amounts to an early litmus test for both.
Thursday brings a similar clash, with Bournemouth travelling to Real Sociedad in a fixture between two of the more fancied English and Spanish sides in the outright market.
Why The Opening Round Matters
Early results in a 36-team league phase can carry outsized weight, given how tightly the qualification places are likely to be contested come the business end of the competition.
A big win for Milan over Benfica, or for Bournemouth away at Real Sociedad, would send a strong early signal about which of these outright contenders are genuinely equipped to go deep.
Equally, Juventus and Crystal Palace both have the chance to make home advantage count against sides they'd be expected to beat, banking points before the trickier away trips later in the schedule.
The Best Football Betting Sites 2026 (UKGC Regulated)
Where To Bet On The Europa League
Bet365 have this season's outright market fully priced up, and you can read more about what they offer via OLBG's bet365 review.
For football specifically, OLBG's guide to the best football betting sites is a good starting point, and it's always worth comparing prices across the betting sites more generally, plus checking for free bets that can be used across the opening rounds.
