AFCON 2025
The UEFA Europa League returns tomorrow, March 12, for the first-leg clashes of the Round of 16, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
While heavyweights like Aston Villa and AS Roma are being touted as early favorites to lift the trophy in Istanbul, the tournament’s new format has proven that reputation counts for little once the whistle blows.
Based on recent form and the grueling nature of the knockout stage, here are three shockers that could define tomorrow’s action.
1. Lille to Stun the Favorites at Stade Pierre Mauroy
Aston Villa arrives in France as the tournament’s overall favorite, bolstered by the timely return of captain John McGinn from a knee injury.
However, LOSC Lille is far from a pushover. The “Mastiffs” showed incredible resilience to survive the knockout playoffs with an extra-time winner in Belgrade and have a history of making life difficult for English opposition.
With Villa having won only four of their last ten matches across all competitions, a clinical Lille side could easily secure a first-leg advantage and leave Unai Emery with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
2. Panathinaikos to Rattle Real Betis in Athens
Real Betis may sit higher in the oddsmakers’ rankings, but a trip to the Athens Olympic Museum is never a straightforward affair. Panathinaikos enters this tie with the momentum of a dramatic penalty-shootout victory over Viktoria Plzeň in the previous round.
Historically, Greek sides thrive on the hostile atmosphere of home legs, and with Betis occasionally struggling for consistency on the road, don’t be surprised if the underdogs who currently hold less than a 1% chance of winning the tournament pull off the night’s biggest upset.
3. Midtjylland to Silence the City Ground
Nottingham Forest fans are buzzing for a deep European run, but they face a Midtjylland side that has already proven it can beat them this season.
While Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo is looking for his first major home win in this competition, he must do so without key loanee Stefan Ortega and attacking threats Dan Ndoye and Jair Cunha due to injury.
The Danish side’s disciplined structure and previous success against Forest make them a prime candidate to snatch a draw or even a narrow win, silencing the Nottingham faithful before the series shifts to Denmark.
Which of these underdogs do you think has the best chance of advancing to the quarter-finals?
