Who are the favourites to win the Europa League?
The Europa League is one match away from us knowing who the opponents will be in the final ,and Premier League fans are the happiest.
Europe’s second top club competition has been interesting this season, and the new league phase lived up to expectations.
Most people were not happy that UEFA was changing its competition from the groupd stage format to a league phase format.
However, after the first ever league phase, we can all agree that the change was probably needed and it has been a great idea.
The organisers of the competition never wants it to lose its appeal and one of the reasons we all love it is the element of surprise in it.
In the previous version, some unfancied clubs have won, with Ademola Lookman inspiring Atalanta to become champions last season.
We all watch the Europa League because we know that a big team may fail to win against an unfancied side.
It is the same story in the Champions League, where fans have always watched some teams punch above their weight.
However, supporters who buy Europa League tickets are always ready to watch unpredictable matches, which is one of the reasons we love the tournament.
UEFA’s revamp has not affected its magic, which explains why Bodo/Glimt has become the first Norwegian club to reach the semifinal of a major tournament.
They are a team that serves exciting football, and each time they have played in Europe’s top club competitions, they have been fantastic to watch.
However, very few people backed them to eliminate Lazio to reach the semi-final, considering the Italians were the league phase winners.
Athletic Bilbao is the other club that has reached the semifinal stage. Its run has been as impressive as any team's.
Their quarterfinal opponents were Rangers, and most British fans would have backed Rangers to win the tie, but Bilbao knocked them out.
Tottenham and Manchester United are the other two clubs left in the competition, and most fans and neutrals expect them to meet in the final.
This means England is guaranteed a sixth spot in the Champions League next term, and either of these teams must win the tournament to compete in Europe.
What we learnt from the semi-final first leg
Any team that reaches the semifinal of a major competition like the Europa League is not to be underestimated.
This means that even though we think that Tottenham and Manchester United are the strongest teams left, Bodo/Glimt and Athletic Bilbao deserve respect.
Fans who watched the Bilbao vs Man United match had expected a tough test for Ruben Amorim’s men, especially because they are struggling in the Premier League.
However, that was not necessarily the case as United won the fixture 3-0 in Spain to put a strong foot in the final.
Tottenham also faced a tricky first leg at home and defeated Bodo 3-1, leaving room for the Norwegians to stage a comeback on their artificial pitch.
The semifinal showed that the quality of the Premier League is truly higher than that of most competitions, including La Liga.
The results also proves that Ange Postecoglou and Amorim are managers who can make their team win matches when it matters.
Both of their teams are struggling in mid-table in the Premier League, but in Europe, they have been in superb form.
Ranking the teams left and their chance of success
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim is keen to lead Manchester United to the Champions League next season as their league form fails to improve.
He is a talented manager who has inherited a Manchester United team that has been really poor, and we expect him to replace so many of the players in the summer.
The Red Devils would be embarrassed if they do not play in Europe next term, and that would also affect the amount Amorim would get to strengthen his squad.
This means so much is at stake, and their players know it, which explains why they were ruthless in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal.
They have an easier task to do at Old Trafford and there is little doubt that they will certainly win the return leg.
Although Tottenham would be tough opponents if both clubs meet in the final, United is now the favourite to win the competition. Everyone who buys Manchester United tickets will surely expect them to beat Spurs.
Chances of success: 9/10
Tottenham
Postecoglou was mocked for revealing a fact that he always wins a trophy in his second season at all of his previous clubs.
The Australian manager has had a tough spell as the manager of Spurs, especially this season as his team lost so many games and players.
It seems like a miracle that Tottenham has still not sacked him yet, but when you consider the problems he has had to navigate throughout the season, you could understand why.
Postecoglou was the manager of a dominant Celtic side in Scotland, so he knows how to win trophies, which is why his team is one of the favourites.
Spurs lost in the semifinal of the Carabao Cup to Liverpool, and they have a chance to redeem themselves by winning this tournament.
However, they would have to overcome a tough night in Norway away to Bodo/Glimt and that would not be an easy trip.
Everyone who has invested in Tottenham Hotspur tickets does not want Postecoglou to become the next manager to fail.
Several of them would travel to Norway to support the team, but letting Bodo score a goal in London could prove really costly for them.
Despite the good odds of them losing in Norway, Spurs remain the second most likely team to win this season’s Europa League.
Chances of success: 6/10
Athletic Bilbao
Considering the hype around Nico Williams and the general form of the Bilbao team, most people expected Manchester United to struggle against them in the first leg in Spain.
Bilbao has some of the best stars in La Liga, which explains why most of their players have been linked with a move to other top European teams.
However, against Manchester United in the first leg, fans who have been loyally buying their match tickets were seriously disappointed with team.
They struggled to get going, and each time they left space behind, Amorim’s team took advantage and hurt them.
Some supporters feel that the return leg would be a formality because Bilbao cannot beat Manchester United in the tie anymore.
However, their players would be confident about turning around the score, but their chance of winning the competition is now slim.
Chances of success: 3/10
Bodo/Glimt
Most people would consider Bodo the least likely team to win the Europa League this season, and their loss to Tottenham in the last round may have been predictable.
However, in Norway, against Bodo, so many teams have struggled in the past and it could be a mistake to underestimate them.
They have an artificial pitch which opponents struggle with in some games, and they have dangermen all over the pitch.
These players delight fans who always buy Bodo/Glimt tickets and ensure the team gets the support it needs.
Bodo can score some goals and even overturn their first leg loss, but we believe they have already overachieved and cannot win the Europa League.
Chance of success 0-8/10