Strong Favorite Supercomputer Predicts Latest Europa League Champion After League Phase Completion

Strong favorite 'Supercomputer' predicts the latest Europa League champion after the league phase completion.

On 30 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Opta, a leading football statistics expert, revealed the latest predictions for the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League champion after the completion of the league phase involving all 36 teams.

Top 8 teams (qualified for the round of 16).

- 1. Olympique Lyon 2. Aston Villa 3. Midtjylland 4. Real Betis 5. FC Porto 6. Braga 7. Freiburg 8. Roma

Rankings 9-16 (qualified for playoffs - seeded teams).

- 9. Genk 10. Bologna 11. Stuttgart 12. Ferencváros 13. Nottingham Forest 14. Viktoria Plzeň 15. Red Star Belgrade 16. Celta Vigo

Rankings 17-24 (qualified for playoffs - unseeded teams).

- 17. PAOK 18. Lille 19. Fenerbahçe 20. Panathinaikos 21. Celtic 22. Ludogorets 23. Dinamo Zagreb 24. Brann

Opta's supercomputer predicts Aston Villa, the English Premier League club, as the top favorite to win the Europa League this season, finishing second in the league phase with 21 points, tied with first-place Olympique Lyon but behind on goal difference (Lyon +13 / Villa +8).

Second favorite is Roma from Italy’s Serie A, a regular Europa League contender and 2021-22 UEFA Conference League champion, while Lyon ranks fourth in the predictions.

Nottingham Forest, another Premier League club, ranks fifth, and Real Betis, home to former Manchester United winger Antony, appears as the eighth favorite.

Europa League 2025-26 championship favorites (according to Opta supercomputer):

1st favorite: Aston Villa 44.29%

2nd favorite: Roma 9.60%

3rd favorite: Porto 9.35%

4th favorite: Olympique Lyon 7.30%

5th favorite: Nottingham Forest 6.14%

6th favorite: Stuttgart 4.04%

7th favorite: Braga 3.60%

8th favorite: Real Betis 3.12%