Europa League winner odds and outright predictions: Dortmund difficult to stop

Free football tips, best outright bets and analysis for the 2021-22 Europa League, which resumes on Thursday, February 17.

Best bet

Borussia Dortmund
2pts 6-1 Hills

Europa League outright preview

Featuring serial winners Sevilla, a Barcelona team trying to rebuild themselves under legend Xavi and a fearless West Ham side excelling with David Moyes in the dugout, the 2021-22 Europa League knockout stage could be one of the most exciting in the competition's history.

And while cases could be made for half of the remaining teams in Europe's secondary competition, punters could do worse than back outright favourites Borussia Dortmund.

No German club has won the Europa League since Schalke in the 1996-97 season but Dortmund are a settled group with the star quality to go all the way.

They dropped into this competition after finishing third in Group C in the Champions League and were unlucky not to progress from their section, finishing level on points with Sporting Lisbon, who went through in second.

Dortmund did not do a lot wrong in their group, having simply come up against a relentless Ajax team at the wrong time, while it could be argued that a sending-off impacted a decisive encounter with Sporting.

And they can afford to give this competition attention as they once again look destined for second spot in the Bundesliga and have been knocked out of the DFB Pokal.

In Marco Reus, Donyell Malen, Thorgan Hazard, Gio Reyna, Jude Bellingham and Julian Brandt they have plenty of quality in midfield and attacking positions and are spearheaded by one of the most exciting youngsters in world football.

Erling Haaland may well leave Dortmund for pastures new this summer and winning the Europa League would be a fitting way for the Norwegian to conclude a groundbreaking chapter of his career.

Although Covid restrictions have significantly limited fan numbers in Germany, when the situation eases Dortmund will be one club to feel the benefit as the Signal Iduna Park is renowned for its rocking atmosphere on big European nights.

With more fans in the stands, they should fancy their chances against any team left in the competition in home legs and they also have a steady presence in the dugout in Marco Rose.

In his first season at the club, Rose still has a lot of work to do to get Dortmund up to Bayern Munich's level domestically but he knows this competition well having led underdogs Salzburg to the semi-finals in 2018.

With a far superior squad available to him this time, Rose could go even further.

Sevilla, who have won a record six Europa League titles, are obvious candidates again but are more involved in the La Liga title race than in recent seasons and that make take precedence, while Barca are simply too unpredictable right now.

West Ham are worth monitoring but playing in a handful of competitions is unchartered territory for the club in recent years and they may lack the depth to go all the way and lift the trophy.

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