The Europa Conference League kicks off its round of 16 proper on Thursday. Bookies have Leicester City as the favourite to win the Europa Conference League with Marseille, Roma, and Rennes the next favourites according to the latest odds. Will these sides prevail in the Conference League first leg?
Jose Mourinho leads Roma to the Netherlands to play Vitesse in the first leg of the Europa Conference League round of 16. Roma are 6/1 to win the Europa Conference League, while Vitesse are at odds of 33/1.
Roma are unbeaten in four straight games with each of their last two matches ending in wins in all competitions. The Giallorossi picked up a big 1-0 win over Atalanta in Serie A at the weekend. Roma’s last two matches ended as 1-0 victories.
Vitesse defeated Rapid Wien in the Europa Conference League playoffs to reach the last 16. After losing the first leg 2-1, Vitesse won the second match 2-0. Now, on a three-match undefeated streak, Vitesse are aiming to knock off one of the tournament favourites.
Dutch club AZ Alkmaar are on a great run of form in all competitions. They are unbeaten in 19 of their last 20 matches and visit Norway’s Bodoe Glimt in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last 16 tie.
Bodoe/Glimt are the reigning Norwegian Eliteserien champions. Anyone expecting the Norwegian champions to be pushovers have another thing coming. Bodoe/Glimt defeated Scotland’s Celtic 5-1 on aggregate in a shock in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
AZ Alkmaar are one of three Dutch teams in the Europa Conference League last 16. The Cheeseheads are at odds of 14/1 to lift the trophy. AZ Alkmaar have an away record of 10W-3D-6L this season in all competitions.
Marseille and Basel will play one of the major ties of the round of 16. Olympique are one of the favourites to win the tournament at odds of 11/2, while Basel are at odds of 20/1. Basel are blowing hot and cold currently, but they have put a lot into winning European silverware.
Olympique are coming off of a weekend 1-0 loss to Monaco in Ligue 1. It was the team’s second straight loss in Ligue 1. Marseille were knocked out of the Europa League and qualified for the last 16 of the Conference League tournament with a 6-1 aggregate win over Qarabag.
Basel have been brilliant in the Conference League and put a lot of focus on winning the tournament. The Swiss team has been inconsistent of late with just three wins from their last 10 matches in all competitions. Five of those 10 games did end in draws.
PSV Eindhoven are one of three Dutch teams competing in the Europa Conference League. They are at odds of 10/1 to win the tournament, the best odds of any Dutch team. Copenhagen are at the odds of 33/1 and are seen as outsiders to lift the Conference League trophy.
The Lightbulbs are on an eight-match undefeated streak going into the first leg. Each of their last three matches finished as wins. PSV Eindhoven played Copenhagen during the 2009-10 Europa League tournament. The Lightbulbs won 1-0 at home before drawing 1-1 in the reverse fixture.
Copenhagen are just three matches back from the winter break in Denmark. They do have an advantage when it comes to rest. However, rust could play a part in the first leg. Copenhagen are unbeaten in 10 straight games with each of their last six ending as wins.