Who are the favourites to win the Conference League in the 2025/2026 season?

2024–25 season recap: historic triumphs and record moments

The 2024–25 UEFA Conference League season ended with a huge win for Chelsea, who became the champions.

Championship glory: Chelsea’s landmark victory

Chelsea defeated Real Betis 4–1 in the final, which was held at Wrocław Stadium in Poland on 28 May 2025. Real Betis took the lead before half-time, but Chelsea came back in the second half with goals from Enzo Fernández, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moisés Caicedo. Cole Palmer played a key role, getting two assists in five minutes to start the comeback. With this victory, Chelsea became the first club to win all four major European trophies.

A season of records & format changes

The competition was officially renamed the UEFA Conference League for the first time. It was also the first season to use the new format with a 36-team league phase instead of the old group stage, which increased the total number of matches played from 141 to 153. The new rules also meant no teams from the Europa League could drop into the Conference League during the knockout stages.

Key stats & stand-out performers

– Teams & goals: A total of 153 matches were played in the main tournament, with 451 goals scored.
– Top scorer: Afimico Pululu from Jagiellonia Białystok was the top scorer with 8 goals.
– Young player of the season: Tobias Gulliksen from Djurgårdens IF was recognised for his outstanding performances.

Top betting favourites for 2025-26

As of early September 2025, betting markets and expert commentary are looking at a few main contenders to win the UEFA Conference League. However, the odds can vary slightly depending on the bookmaker or prediction model.

Oddschecker & UK markets

According to OddsChecker, Crystal Palace are the narrow favourites at 5/1, followed by Fiorentina at 6/1. Strasbourg is at around 7/1, and Rayo Vallecano is at 9/1.

Betzillion & predictions sites

Tipsters on BetZillion agree with that view. Palace is often listed at around 5/1, with Fiorentina close behind at 11/2. Strasbourg, Rayo Vallecano, and Shakhtar Donetsk are seen as serious challengers at slightly longer odds, from around 7/1 to 10/1.

Bettingodds.com snapshot

BettingOdds.com, which combines information from many bookmakers, shows that Crystal Palace are at around 5/1, Fiorentina at 5/1-6/1, and Strasbourg at 7/1. Rayo Vallecano are at 9/1, and Mainz 05, Shakhtar Donetsk, and AZ Alkmaar are also in contention with odds of around 9/1-11/1.

Tactical & squad depth analyses

Tactical trends shaping the 2025-26 Conference League

– Efficiency in the final third & set-piece effectiveness: Analysis of last season’s league phase shows that many goals are scored after only one to three passes. Teams that are good at wing play, have strong aerial ability, and are sharp in front of goal will likely have the edge.
– Quick transitions vs. patient build-up: Some teams like to slowly build up their attacks and keep possession, while others prefer to use fast counter-attacks to catch their opponents off guard. The most successful teams will be those who can switch between these two styles, or adapt their tactics to each opponent.
– Importance of squad rotation and bench impact: Chelsea’s win over Real Betis in the final was partly down to the quality of their substitutes. Players like Cole Palmer and Isco came off the bench and changed the game. With more matches in the new format, squad depth becomes even more crucial, as injuries or tired players could derail a team’s season.

Clubs that look well-prepared tactically & depth-wise

– Strasbourg: Their squad includes a mix of experienced players and promising young talent. They seem to be using the qualifying rounds to test their tactical flexibility. However, their depth will be tested, and consistency will be key, especially in away matches.
– Fiorentina: They have a strong squad for the league phase, with a mix of established players and younger talent. Their recent European history gives them a good understanding of how to manage matches, especially in the two-legged knockout ties.
– Other clubs to watch: Teams with balanced squads and good young players, who can rotate well and have a flexible tactical style, will be the ones to keep an eye on. How well a team defends away from home and how compact they can be when needed will often decide close matches.

Dark horses & surprise packages

While the favourites get most of the attention, several clubs outside the top tier are being tipped by bookmakers and analysts to shake things up in the 2025-26 Conference League.

Who might spring surprises

– Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine): This team is often mentioned in dark horse lists. Their European experience and tough style in away matches make them a dangerous opponent in the knockout rounds. If they can avoid any major mistakes, they could cause problems for more famous teams.
– AEK Athens (Greece): As a club that is used to playing in European competitions and is capable of grinding out results, AEK has underdog status but enough quality to make a deep run, especially if they are drawn against more inconsistent opponents.
– Samsunspor (Turkey): This is a less obvious choice, but their qualification and squad improvements in recent seasons have given them momentum. They might not be favourites to win, but in a tournament with this structure, momentum can matter more than a team’s name.
– Rapid Wien (Austria): Another potential surprise team. Clubs from leagues like the Austrian Bundesliga often go unnoticed, but Rapid Wien has shown their ability in European qualifiers and have the kind of strong squad that can cause upsets.
– Legia Warsaw (Poland): With their history in European competitions and great crowd support at home, Legia can be a dangerous team. Their odds are longer, but they are the kind of club that could perform better than expected, especially if they get a favourable draw.

Sportmonks: An excellent tool for Conference League analysis

Sportmonks provides a Football API that gives you deep, reliable, and live data for the UEFA Conference League, which is perfect for content creators, analysts, betting sites, and fan platforms.

What the Conference League API offers

– Extensive coverage & multiple endpoints: Sportmonks’ API has multiple endpoints covering match schedules, historical and upcoming fixtures, live scores, league tables, top scorers, teams, and players.
– Live data & events: Get real-time updates on match events, such as goals, cards, and substitutions, as well as line-ups and live fixtures. This allows you to build live match centres, minute-by-minute content, or in-play insights.
– Statistics, players & teams data: Access detailed statistics (attacking, defensive, passing, etc.) as well as full team lists and player performance metrics. For example, top scorers lists and coach and referee stats are included.
– Fixtures, historical data, and winners: You can track past Conference League winners, historical match results, the progression of teams, and future fixtures. This is useful for content that looks back at past matches, statistical comparisons, or for previews of upcoming games.
– Live tables / standings: The API supports live tables and group standings, which allows you to visualise which teams are progressing and their points tally.
– Free trial & pricing: There is a 14-day free trial available, allowing you to test many features. Sportmonks aims to be affordable relative to the depth of its data.

How this tool can boost your Conference League coverage

– Build match centres: With live events, line-ups, and stats, you can keep your audience engaged during matches.
– Generate predictive content: Use historical data, player form, odds, and predictions to write previews about possible winners or top scorers.
– Produce player/team profiles: Use individual stats and head-to-head historical performance to highlight emerging stars or analyse the strengths and weaknesses of teams.
– Offer visual insights: You can create tables, top scorer leaderboards, and comparison charts, which are great for user engagement.
– Support betting / value insights: Since the API includes odds and predictions, you can compare market expectations with actual probabilities or highlight undervalued teams.

Bring the Conference League closer with Sportmonks

The 2025–26 UEFA Conference League promises more drama, more matches, and more surprises than ever before. With Sportmonks, you can follow every moment in real time. Our Conference League API gives you access to live scores, fixtures, line-ups, in-play events, advanced player and team statistics, and historical insights. This helps you create richer, more engaging football coverage. Whether you want to build a live match centre, develop predictive content, or provide in-depth analysis for fans and bettors, Sportmonks offers the speed, reliability, and depth you need. Start exploring the Sportmonks Conference League API today and take your coverage to the next level.