Pre-tournament favourites Aston Villa have strengthened their position in bwin’s Europa Conference League winner odds following an impressive start to their campaign.
With two matchdays remaining, Unai Emery’s side are sitting second in Group E on virtue of their head-to-head record with Polish side Legia, who they face in their next fixture.
Both teams sit six points clear of Zrinjski and AZ Alkmaar and will secure their place in the knockout stages with a draw.
However, with the winners of the eight groups progressing straight to the last 16 and the eight runners-up taking on the eight third-placed sides from the Europa League group stage in the knockout round play-offs, top spot is key to their chances.
Villa, who are priced at 3/1 to win the competition, have a formidable record at Villa Park following 12 straight Premier League wins and have also tasted success in every European clash on home soil this season.
“It’s always very special here at Villa Park and we are in Europe trying to enjoy the moments we are playing here with our fans,” Emery said after Villa’s comeback win at home against AZ Alkmaar.
“Winning like today is fantastic. We have to be proud of the atmosphere we are creating here, trying to enjoy and feel something different in Europe.”
Happy return for former finalists?
Fiorentina are second in the Europa Conference League winner odds at 11/2 after getting over last season’s heartbreak to put themselves in pole position to qualify to the knockout stages.
The Italian outfit finished as runners-up after they were beaten by a stoppage-time strike from West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen but have bounced back by claiming eight points from their opening four matches.
Ferencvaros and Genk are in close quarters, both sitting on six points, with fixtures against Vincenzo Italiano’s side to come.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the Europa League in 2022, and are third favourites at 7/1 to regain the trophy and have sealed their place in the next round.
The Germans were in Group G with Aberdeen, who have only picked up two points from the four matchedays. PAOK – valued at 20/1 – sit at the top with 10 points, one ahead of Frankfurt with either set to face a team which has dropped down from the Europa League.
Club Brugge reached the knockout stage of the Champions League last season and are 12/1 in the outright Europa Conference League market while French side Lille are priced at 10/1.
Fenerbahce, who started the season with a 19-match winning run in all competitions, still have a little bit of work to progress but are valued at 14/1, with AZ Alkmaar and Genk 20/1 to win it overall.
Gent – leaders in Group B – are 16/1, with Viktoria Plzen, the only team to have a 100 per cent after four group-stage matches, priced at 25/1.
This season’s Europa Conference League final takes place in Athens on May 29.
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