Who Could Win the UEFA Europa League?

AGF Aarhus welcome SL Benfica to Ceres Park for the second leg of their Europa League qualifying play-off on August 27, 2026, facing a daunting task after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the Estádio da Luz in the first leg. The Danish champions, competing in European competition for the first time in decades, must overturn a two-goal deficit against a Benfica side that has demonstrated formidable attacking prowess under new manager Marco Silva. With a place in the Europa League league phase at stake, Aarhus will need a near-miraculous turnaround on home soil to keep their continental campaign alive.

Recent form offers little encouragement for the home side, as Aarhus have struggled in domestic and European fixtures alike. Their 0-1 loss to Midtjylland in February and the 2-1 reverse in the return fixture in April highlight ongoing challenges against top-tier opposition. Benfica, meanwhile, arrive in Jutland in confident mood following a dominant 0-7 victory away to Casa Pia and a 2-2 draw against Academico Viseu to open their Primeira Liga campaign. The Eagles have scored freely across all competitions and will look to exploit an Aarhus defence that has conceded heavily in recent European outings.

AGF Aarhus welcome SL Benfica to Ceres Park for the second leg of their Europa League qualifying play-off on August 27, 2026, facing a daunting task after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the Estádio da Luz in the first leg. The Danish champions, competing in European competition for the first time in decades, must overturn a two-goal deficit against a Benfica side that has demonstrated formidable attacking prowess under new manager Marco Silva. With a place in the Europa League league phase at stake, Aarhus will need a near-miraculous turnaround on home soil to keep their continental campaign alive.

Recent form offers little encouragement for the home side, as Aarhus have struggled in domestic and European fixtures alike. Their 0-1 loss to Midtjylland in February and the 2-1 reverse in the return fixture in April highlight ongoing challenges against top-tier opposition. Benfica, meanwhile, arrive in Jutland in confident mood following a dominant 0-7 victory away to Casa Pia and a 2-2 draw against Academico Viseu to open their Primeira Liga campaign. The Eagles have scored freely across all competitions and will look to exploit an Aarhus defence that has conceded heavily in recent European outings.

CSKA Sofia face a monumental task when they host OFI Crete in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Stadion Balgarska Armija in Sofia. Following a disappointing 3-0 defeat in the first leg at Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, where Taxiarchis Fountas netted twice and Lorenzo Dickmann added a goal in fourth-minute stoppage time, the Bulgarian side must overcome a three-goal deficit to keep their European dreams alive. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 local time, and the Army Men will need to summon their best European performance under manager Hristo Yanev to turn the tie around.

The hosts enter this crucial encounter on the back of mixed domestic form during the early stages of the 2026-27 First League campaign. CSKA Sofia edged past Botev Plovdiv in a thrilling 3-2 encounter on July 27, shared the spoils in a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Slavia Sofia on July 20, and suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to champions Ludogorets on May 25. Despite these results, the Sofia-based club has shown resilience in European qualifying, having already eliminated Derry City, Qarabag on penalties, and Maccabi Tel Aviv to reach this stage.

The UEFA Europa League play-off second leg between Ferencváros and Trabzonspor is set for August 27, 2026, at the Groupama Aréna in Budapest. Ferencváros hold a slender 1-0 aggregate lead after Kristoffer Zachariassen's first-half header secured a hard-fought away victory at Papara Park in Trabzon on August 20. With a coveted place in the Europa League league phase on the line, the Hungarian champions will look to defend their advantage in front of a passionate home crowd, while Trabzonspor must chase the game after finishing third in the Turkish Süper Lig and winning the Turkish Cup last season to reach this stage.

Ferencváros have built a well-balanced squad for the 2026/2027 season, mixing seasoned internationals with promising youth under manager Robbie Keane. Captain Dénes Dibusz provides leadership between the posts, while the defensive unit features Mariano Gómez, Toon Raemaekers, and Cadu. In midfield, Kristoffer Zachariassen—who netted the decisive goal in the first leg—partners with Philippe Rommens, Márius Corbu, and the dynamic Bamidele Yusuf. The attacking department relies on Lenny Joseph and Gabi Kanichowsky to stretch opposing backlines. Having already eliminated Vojvodina, Twente, and Górnik Zabrze during an unbeaten away qualifying campaign, the Green Eagles enter the second leg with significant momentum. Their recent domestic form was highlighted by a 2-1 success against Puskás Akadémia.

Ferencváros host Trabzonspor at the Groupama Arena in Budapest on August 27, 2026, for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie. The Hungarian champions carry a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead into the return fixture after Kristoffer Zachariassen's decisive strike secured a hard-fought away victory at Papara Park on August 20. With a place in the Europa League group stage on the line, both sides will field their full 2026/2027 squads in what promises to be a tense evening under the lights in the Hungarian capital.

The home side will rely on their experienced 2026/2027 squad, with captain Dénes Dibusz between the posts and a defensive unit featuring Mariano Gómez, Nathan Zohoré and Attila Osváth. Midfield creativity comes from Cadu and Philippe Rommens, while Kristoffer Zachariassen and Lenny Joseph provide the attacking thrust. Ferencváros have shown solid domestic form this season, and their most recent league outing saw them record a 2-1 victory over Puskás Academy as they continue to balance European commitments with NB I obligations.

The UEFA Europa League play-off return leg between Kauno Žalgiris and Beşiktaş is set for Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas. The Lithuanian champions face a daunting task after the first leg in Istanbul, where Vincenzo Italiano's side leveraged their superior quality at Tüpraş Stadium. With a place in the Europa League group stage on the line, Kauno Žalgiris will need an extraordinary performance to overturn the deficit against the Turkish giants.

Recent form highlights the challenge ahead for the home side. Kauno Žalgiris secured a comfortable 0-3 victory over BFA Vilnius in the Lithuanian Cup back in June, but their European campaign suffered a heavy blow after dropping down from Champions League qualifying. Beşiktaş arrive with mixed recent results, having played out a 2-2 draw away to Rizespor, suffered a surprising 0-1 home defeat to Konyaspor in the Turkish Cup, and managed a 0-0 stalemate against Karagümrük in league action.

Lillestrøm SK host KF Egnatia on Thursday 27 August 2026 at Åråsen Stadion for the second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 play-off round. The tie is perfectly balanced after a goalless 0-0 draw in the first leg at Arena Egnatia in Rrogozhinë, meaning everything will be decided in Norway. Lillestrøm enter this European campaign after winning the 2025 Norwegian Cup while competing in the second tier, and have since earned promotion back to the Eliteserien. Egnatia arrive with remarkable momentum having overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Shamrock Rovers with a stunning 5-1 home victory to advance 6-4 on aggregate in the previous round.

The home side's domestic form has been concerning ahead of this European showdown, with Hans Erik Ødegaard's side going four matches without a victory in the Eliteserien. Their recent results include a 2-0 defeat away to HamKam, a 1-2 home loss against Kristiansund, and a 0-0 draw at Tromsø. In contrast, Egnatia have been far more prolific in European competition, scoring 17 goals across their last five continental matches including a 6-1 aggregate thrashing of Petrocub Hîncești and that memorable 5-1 comeback against Shamrock Rovers.

Omonia Nicosia host Sint-Truiden on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia for the decisive second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2026/2027 play-off round. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Belgium, Omonia must win by a two-goal margin in regular time to secure a place in the Europa League group stage. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM local time (CEST), and the Cypriot side will rely on their strong home record and passionate support to overturn the deficit.

For the 2026/2027 season, Omonia's squad features experienced goalkeeper and captain Fabiano between the posts, with a defensive line including Loïc Nego, Senou Coulibaly, Nikolas Panagiotou, and Jure Balkovec. In midfield, Mateo Marić and Panagiotis Andreou provide stability, while the attacking trio of Muamer Tanković, Willy Semedo Costa, and Jaden Montnor supports striker Loïs Diony, who opened his account for the club in the previous European fixture. Omonia enters this match in solid form, having recently recorded a 2-1 victory over Pafos and a 1-1 draw against Apollon in domestic action, showcasing their ability to grind out results when it matters most.

Viktoria Plzeň face a monumental task on August 27, 2026, as they host Crvena Zvezda at Doosan Arena in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League playoff round. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg in Belgrade, the Czech side must produce a historic comeback to keep their European campaign alive. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 CET, and the atmosphere in Plzeň is expected to be electric as the home faithful rally behind Miroslav Koubek's squad.

Plzeň's 2026/2027 squad features a blend of experience and emerging talent, with key figures including goalkeeper Dominik Ťapaj, defenders Karel Spáčil and Václav Jemelka, midfielders Lukáš Červ and Patrik Hrošovský, and forwards Matěj Vydra and Salim Fago Lawal. The team has shown resilience in domestic competition, as demonstrated in their recent 0:0 draw away to Sparta Prague in the Chance Liga championship round. However, overturning a three-goal deficit against a disciplined Serbian side will require a near-perfect performance on home soil.

The second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2026/2027 play-off between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Mjällby AIF is set for August 27, 2026, at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg. The Austrian champions hold a slender but decisive 1-0 aggregate lead following the first leg in Sweden, where Tom Pettersson's unfortunate 91st-minute own goal broke Mjällby hearts. Salzburg now require only a draw to book their place in the Europa League group stage, whereas Karl Marius Aksum's side must win by at least two clear goals to avoid dropping into the UEFA Conference League.

Salzburg approach the return leg with a confident 2026/2027 season squad that has started the campaign unbeaten across all competitions. Head coach Danny Röhl has a potent attack at his disposal, with Haris Tabaković in prolific form after scoring four goals in the previous qualifying round against Pafos, supported by the creative midfield trio of Dominik Schmid, Yorbe Vertessen, and Samson Baidoo. European odds heavily favor the hosts, with Salzburg offered at 1.20, the draw at 6.25, and Mjällby priced as distant outsiders at 14.00, reflecting the gulf in continental experience between the two clubs.

FC Thun faces an uphill battle in the UEFA Europa League play-off round second leg as they host Lech Poznań at Stockhorn Arena on August 27, 2026. The Swiss side suffered a humbling 7-0 defeat in the first leg at Enea Stadion in Poznań, leaving them with a near-impossible task to overturn the deficit and reach the Europa League group stage. Despite the heavy loss, Thun will aim to restore pride in front of their home supporters in what represents a crucial European night for the club during the 2026/2027 campaign.

Thun's squad for the 2026/2027 season has been bolstered by several key arrivals, including defenders Nicolas Bürgy from Odense and Mats Seiler from Young Boys, alongside midfield reinforcements Dorian Derbaci and Nassim Zoukit. The team has shown fighting spirit in domestic competition, recently securing a 1-3 away victory against Luzern in the Swiss Super League on July 25, 2026. Earlier this year, they also earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against St. Gallen at Stockhorn Arena on March 5, results that demonstrate their capacity to compete with quality opposition even when facing difficult circumstances.