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2024–25 season recap: historic triumphs and record moments
A long-awaited European return
After a 17-year trophy drought, Tottenham Hotspur ended their wait for silverware in stunning fashion. In the Europa League final, held at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao on 21 May 2025, Spurs beat their fellow Premier League side, Manchester United, 1–0 to lift their first major trophy since 2008. The win was also their first European title since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup.
The decisive moment
The only goal of the match came just before half-time. Brennan Johnson was the quickest to react, bundling the ball into the net after a cross from Pape Matar Sarr was deflected off Luke Shaw’s arm. It was a scrappy finish, but it sealed history for Spurs.
Writing themselves into club folklore
This Europa League triumph marked Spurs’ third European cup, putting them alongside their previous successes in 1972 and 1984. The win also propelled them back into Europe’s premier competition, the UEFA Champions League, for the 2025–26 season.
Ange Postecoglou’s historic milestone
Manager Ange Postecoglou made history as the first Australian, and the first manager from outside of the UEFA or CONMEBOL confederations, to win a major European club competition. His achievement highlighted an extraordinary journey as a manager, adding continental glory to his career.
A season of stark contrasts
This European success was achieved during one of the club’s most difficult domestic campaigns. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, recording just 38 points, which was their lowest total in the Premier League era. The huge difference between winning a major European trophy and struggling in the league made this season one of the most dramatic in the club’s recent history.
Top betting favourites for 2025–26
As the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League season begins, bettors and pundits are looking at a competitive field. Here’s who leads the betting markets heading into the campaign.
Current outright favourite lines
– Aston Villa are the clear favourites, sitting at around 13/2 to win the Europa League.
– AS Roma are the second favourites, with odds around 10/1.
– Real Betis are ranked third, with odds of 11/1.
– FC Porto are still in the top five, listed at about 12/1.
– Nottingham Forest complete the group of favourites, with odds hovering around 13/1.
Expert views & analytics
– The betting guide Bet365 has highlighted Roma in its preview as a promising contender, reinforcing their position among the key challengers.
– A simulation from Football Meets Data places clubs like Aston Villa, Roma, Lyon, Porto, and Nottingham Forest among the eight most likely teams to finish the league phase in the top spots, which would allow them to bypass the play-off round.
– Tribuna’s analysis reflects the market sentiment, calling Roma and Aston Villa the front-runners. It points to Villa’s defensive solidity and Roma’s attacking firepower as compelling factors.
Tactical & squad depth analyses
Aston Villa: mastery through structure and experience
Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa has a mix of solid defence and European experience. Emery has won this competition four times, and his system focuses on balance, tactical discipline, and adaptability.
Their combined experienced squad and Emery’s tactical plan make them a formidable contender.
AS Roma
Roma’s resurgence under Gian Piero Gasperini, a manager celebrated for his high-press and fluid attacking style, gives them a compelling edge. Roma’s tactical versatility is matched by their clinical finishing, with players like Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini often deciding matches. The team’s consistent performance in European competition, with two Europa League semi-final runs and the Conference League win in 2022, highlights their squad depth and strategic resilience.
Real Betis
Betis enter the season with a solid plan. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has included the entire senior squad, including Isco (despite his injury struggles), in their UEFA “List A”. This suggests they have enough depth for a sustained run in Europe.
FC Porto
Porto’s continued strength in Europe comes from a balanced squad that blends youthful energy with veteran guidance. Their history in knockout formats and their ability to grind out results make them a consistently effective team in tournaments.
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s rise is a testament to a well-structured squad with emerging stars. While last season’s Premier League campaign was all about grit over possession (they averaged only 41%), this style might translate well to the intense nature of the Europa League. Despite being less fancied than some of their rivals, their competitive spirit and upward trajectory make them a quietly effective contender.
Sportmonks: A strategic tool for Europa League analysis
Sportmonks offers comprehensive coverage for the UEFA Europa League, providing data-rich applications from live match tracking to predictive analysis. Here’s how their tools can enhance your content or support a live-updating website.
Comprehensive Europa League coverage
The Europa League API gives you full access to match schedules, live scores, and season tracking, so you can easily follow every game throughout the campaign. You’ll also get comprehensive tournament data like team line-ups and formations.
Live data, stats & analytical depth
You can get up-to-the-minute in-play events as they happen, including goals, cards, and substitutions. You’ll also have access to a wide range of statistics, such as goals, shots, passes, and tackles. You can also dive into advanced analytics like xG, live betting odds, and prediction data to help with betting insights or tactical analysis.
Team & player insights
You can get full squad lists and player information for your team detail pages, which is useful for scouting, fantasy football, or creating stories that focus on specific players. You can also get historical results and data on past Europa League winners to provide context for a club’s success.
Standings & competitive tracking
You can show real-time group tables, track qualifying positions, and understand which teams are fighting for a place in the knockout stages or facing an early exit. This allows you to create stories about “form battles” and “group drama.”
Flexible pricing & developer-friendly design
Sportmonks offers a range of plans, which are suitable for content creators, media, and betting platforms. Whether you need just basic data or advanced features like ball tracking and trend analysis, pricing starts from around €34 per month when paid yearly. The API is designed by developers for developers, with intuitive, well-documented APIs, quick onboarding, and strong support, which makes it perfect for building match centres or betting tools.
Bring the Europa League closer with Sportmonks
The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League promises another season of fierce competition, and with Sportmonks you can capture every moment in detail. Our Europa League API delivers live scores, line-ups, in-play events, advanced statistics, predictive insights, and historical data so you can create richer content or build engaging platforms for fans. Whether your goal is to enhance a media site, power a betting platform, or develop an interactive match centre, Sportmonks provides the reliable data and tools you need. Start exploring the Sportmonks Europa League API today and take your coverage to the next level.
Faqs about the Europa League
