Manchester United +150 Favorites to Win Europa League After Quarterfinal Draw
- Manchester United and Arsenal lead the Europa League odds after the quarterfinal draw
- The draw pitted Ajax and Roma against each other in the last eight
- Which team represents the best value to win the competition?
Following a dramatic Thursday of Europa League action, the draw for the last eight and semifinals took place on Friday. Manchester United were drawn with Granada in the quarterfinals and sit as favorites to win the competition. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team were +400 before the round of 16, but that price has shortened here with a favorable last eight draw.
Having been +450 before the last round, Arsenal have moved in to +275 and are clear second favorites to win the competition. Unsurprisingly, Dinamo Zagreb’s price has shortened drastically following their stunning comeback against Tottenham.
Europa League Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Manchester United | +150 |
| Arsenal | +275 |
| Villarreal | +550 |
| Ajax | +600 |
| Roma | +900 |
| Granada | +2800 |
| Slavia Prague | +3300 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | +5000 |
All odds taken Mar 19 at William Hill
Manchester United Strike Gold
Manchester United, inspired by Paul Pogba, knocked AC Milan out in the round of 16. They were going to be near the top of the Europa League odds regardless of their opponent, but they will have been delighted with this draw.
Granada are eighth in La Liga, and lost the second leg of their tie with Molde. This is no walkover for Manchester United, but they will be heavily favored to progress despite Granada toppling Napoli earlier in the competition. Their form in 2021 has been poor with just three league wins in 12 matches.
Quarter-finalists. Who's your team? 🤷
🇳🇱 Ajax
🏴 Arsenal
🇭🇷 Dinamo Zagreb
🇪🇸 Granada
🏴 Manchester United
🇮🇹 Roma
🇨🇿 Slavia Praha
🇪🇸 Villarreal#UEL— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 18, 2021
After a slump, Manchester United have regained some form. Inconsistency has plagued them throughout the campaign, and teams who sit deep have caused them problems.
Granada average under 44-percent possession in La Liga. They rank 18th in pressures in the attacking third. The underdogs are set up to make this difficult for Manchester United by absorbing pressure and springing counter-attacks.
🗣"We need to start winning trophies"
Marcus Rashford says Manchester United are focused on winning the Europa League this season pic.twitter.com/80skzXgnHl
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 18, 2021
Facing Ajax or Roma in the semifinals will be a real challenge for Solskjaer’s side, too. Their favorites status is understandable even if the price doesn’t represent good value.
Ajax and Roma Meet in Last Eight
Ajax and Roma are fourth and fifth favorites respectively. Both will feel they got a rough deal in the draw. The winner of the tie will likely face the tournament favorites.
Roma vs Ajax vibes 💥 pic.twitter.com/sNpMZ3aFFk
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) March 19, 2021
Though inconsistent in Serie A, Roma have failed to win just two of their ten Europa League matches this term. Ajax, as expected, cruised past BSC Young Boys in the last round, but they struggled in their Champions League group with Atalanta and Liverpool.
Early odds for this tie cannot split the two teams. Where Manchester United, Arsenal and Villarreal will hope to effectively secure their semifinal spot in the first leg, this is going to be a fiercely competitive 180 minutes.
Proud of this team, we are in the next round.❌❌❌ @AFCAjax pic.twitter.com/0i083X9Y5N
— Edson Álvarez (@EdsonAlvarez19) March 18, 2021
It could go either way. With such an evenly balanced matchup, though, it’s a surprise to see Roma out at +900 with Ajax at +600. The Italian side are the best bet of the two, but neither are going to be popular picks with such a difficult route to the final in Gdansk.
Villarreal Are Worth Backing
Villarreal must have been celebrating this draw. Dinamo Zagreb’s heroics against Spurs are fresh in the memory, but the Spanish side are still the overwhelming favorites for the tie. If they progress, it’s a matchup with Arsenal or Slavia Prague.
The Yellow Submarine hasn’t been in the best form of late, with one win in eight La Liga matches, yet they continue to impress in Europe. It’s nine wins and one draw in ten Europa League outings this season for Villarreal, and they have made it look easy against both Salzburg and Dynamo Kyiv in the knockout rounds.
If Arsenal get past Slavia Prague, they could face Unai Emery's Villarreal in the semifinals and then Man United in the final of the Europa League 👀 pic.twitter.com/s1XADXHPJV
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 19, 2021
Out of contention for a top four spot in La Liga, winning the Europa League is Villarreal’s only route to next season’s Champions League. They can prioritize European matches throughout the rest of the season.
Arsenal Not Worth Backing
A lot of bettors will be drawn to Arsenal at that price. The Gunners have won four of six in all competitions and got a very kind draw with Slavia Prague followed by Villarreal or Dinamo Zagreb. Mikel Arteta’s side are still inconsistent, however, and lost to Olympiacos on Thursday.
They will be favored if they face Villarreal over two legs, but not by enough to justify how much shorter their price is. Villarreal have enough quality to beat Arteta’s team over two legs, and anything is possible in a one-off final against Manchester United, Ajax or Roma.
Best bet: Villarreal (+550)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
