The Europa League may not have the reputation of its best brother but it regularly hosts some of Europe's top clubs.
In last season's Europa League, the likes of Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma and eventual champions Atalanta all took part, while other continental strikers will be out of the competition for the 2024/25 campaign.
The winner not only secures the European title and a welcome financial boost but also secures a place in the Champions League next season. Those are not prizes to be trifled with and 36 sides will be competing for them this season.
Here we are 90 min the favorites to win the new look Europa League – are calculated.
A proven club on the continent, Olympiacos will be aiming to break the deadlock and claim another European trophy after last season's Conference League triumph.
It was the first major international trophy in the club's history and earned them a place in the Europa League. Having tasted success in Europe, experienced coach Jose Luis Mendilibar will be targeting the stars who won the competition with Sevilla in 2023.
Olympiacos are hardly favorites in this tournament but their Conference League victory highlights their quality. The Greek side beat Aston Villa, Fiorentina and Fenerbahce on their way to the trophy after exiting the 2023/24 Europa League group stage.
It was a turbulent campaign for Lazio in 2023/24 but they managed to qualify for the Europa League by finishing seventh in Serie A. Their league form was disappointing but they reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and the round of 16 of the Champions League.
They lost key players in the summer transfer window, including Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Luis Alberto, but the appointment of manager Marco Baroni and a wave of new arrivals will boost spirits in Roma.
Lazio's record in Europe leaves a lot to be desired but they are one of the strongest teams in the competition on paper.
Champions League regulars Porto have had to settle for the Europa League in 2024/25 after a difficult Primeira Liga campaign. They could not compete with Benfica and champions Sporting CP in the league, even if they claimed the Taca de Portugal.
They played well in the Champions League, though. Porto managed to enter the last 16 and were badly defeated by Premier League giants Arsenal on penalties.
Similar to Lazio, they lost key team members, with Pepe retiring and star striker Evanilson moving to Bournemouth. But the signing of Arsenal's Fabio Vieira on loan and the acquisition of quality striker Samu Omorodion could help Porto push for Europa League glory.
Real Sociedad were the other team to reach the knockout stages of the 2023/24 Champions League. The La Liga side advanced from their group ahead of Benfica and Inter who reached the 2022/23 final but were eliminated by star-studded Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.
The departures of Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino undoubtedly weakened Sociedad but they managed to capture key players elsewhere, notably Martin Zubimendi amid interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona.
Having finished sixth in La Liga last season, the San Sebastian outfit will be among the favorites to reach the final stages.
Real Sociedad's Basque rivals Athletic Club are also among the strongest sides in the competition, boosted by their historic Copa del Rey triumph in 2023/24. Under Ernesto Valverde, they proved a tough side to beat.
The team has never won the European Cup and it will be difficult for them to do it this season given the good teams they will be competing against, but only Real Madrid conceded fewer goals than them in La Liga last season.
They are a tough team to break down and boast the likes of Nico Williams, Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet in the final third.
Jose Mourinho's departure last season helped Roma turn things around, with club legend Daniel De Rossi driving the club forward after replacing the divisive Portuguese coach. The inexperienced coach transformed the club when he arrived and helped them qualify for the Europa League this season by finishing sixth in Serie A.
He also pushed them to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they were unlucky against a tireless Bayer Leverkusen side. They eliminated Arne Slot's Feyenoord, Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion and Italian rivals Milan en route to the final.
Roma have made some impressive signings in 2024/25, most notably former Girona striker Artem Dovbyk. Matias Soule and Enzo Le Fee are other smart additions that could see Roma reach the final of another European competition having done so twice under Mourinho.
Tottenham's long wait for silverware – domestic and European – continued in 2023/24 in Ange Postecoglou's first season in charge. However, a good turnaround under the Australian has certainly brought them closer to ending their trophy drought.
Although Spurs were disappointed to miss out on the Champions League last season, it could be a blessing in disguise. The Europa League gives them a real chance to win a European competition, something they haven't managed since 1984.
Tackling the Premier League and Europe may be difficult but Spurs' high-octane approach may deter smaller sides on the continent. They have a lot of game winners who can boycott fame.
Manchester United have spent more seasons than they would have liked in the Europa League over the past decade, winning the competition in 2017 and reaching the final in 2021. Thanks to their FA Cup victory last term, they will compete in it again in 2024/25.
And they will be regarded as many people's favorites for the title given their impressive squad depth, a host of stars and expensive summer signings. Although they didn't have the best season in the league last season, they were competing well for trophies most of the time under Erik ten Hag (apart from the Champions League last season).
The Red Devils have the European pedigree to push them ahead of Tottenham in our favourites' list.
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