The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League is the 55th season of Europe’s secondary club football tournament. It’s the second soccer betting season using the revamped format introduced in 2024–25. It features a 36-team league phase instead of traditional groups.
Correlate that this tournament is just below the UEFA Champions League, the top competition for Europe’s elite clubs. and above the UEFA Conference League (the third-tier tournament. It features strong teams from across Europe that don’t qualify for the Champions League. Including domestic cup offshore betting winners, high-placing league sides from various countries, and sometimes teams dropping down from Champions League qualifiers.
Overall, this is a hugely competitive tournament with dramatic comebacks, big European nights, and a chance for underdogs to shine. Many gamblers love it for its passion and variety, compared to the more star-studded Champions League.
2026 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 First Leg Match Schedule and Odds at SBG
All Times EasternAll Games Televised on Paramount+
Stuttgart vs. Porto Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 1:45 p.m. |
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| Location: | MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany. |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| FC Porto | PK,+½ ( -110 ) | 2½ ( -120 ) | +245 |  |
| Stuttgart | PK,-½ ( -120 ) | 2½ ( -110 ) | +105 |
| Draw | – | – | +245 |
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Stuttgart qualified for the Europa League knockout stage after a solid league-phase campaign. In turn, FC Porto finished higher in the Europa League group stage.
Panathinaikos vs Real Betis Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 1:45 pm. |
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| Location: | |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| Real Betis | PK,-½ ( -120 ) | 2,2½ ( -105 ) | +111 | |
| Panathinaikos | PK,+½ ( -110 ) | 2,2½ ( -125 ) | +260 |
| Draw | – | – | +220 |
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Panathinaikos advanced dramatically through the knockout play-off round with a penalty shootout win over Viktoria Plzen. By contrast, Real Betis earned its spot via a strong league-phase performance.
Bologna vs. Roma Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 1:45 pm. |
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| Location: | Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna, Italy |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| AS Roma | PK,-½ ( EV ) | 2 ( -130 ) | +147 | |
| Bologna | PK,+½ ( -130 ) | 2 ( EV ) | +210 |
| Draw | – | – | +195 |
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Namely, Bologna finished lower in the Europa League soccer betting odds phase. But it advanced through the knockout play-off round with a solid 2-0 aggregate win over Brann. AS Roma secured a seeded spot by finishing in the top eight of the league phase.
Lille vs. Aston Villa Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 1:45 pm |
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| Location: | Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France. |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| Aston Villa | PK,-½ ( EV ) | 2½ ( -105 ) | +139 | |
| Lille | PK,+½ ( -130 ) | 2½ ( -125 ) | +195 |
| Draw | – | – | +225 |
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Lille advanced through the knockout play-off round with a comeback victory against Crvena Zvezda, winning 2-1 on aggregate. By contrast, Aston Villa earned a seeded spot by finishing high in the league phase. They were in 2nd place, with a strong record and a positive goal difference of +14.
Ferencvaros vs. Braga Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 4:00 pm. |
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| Location: | Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| Sporting Braga | PK,-½ ( -105 ) | 2,2½ ( -125 ) | +135 | |
| Ferencvaros | PK,+½ ( -125 ) | 2,2½ ( -105 ) | +195 |
| Draw | – | – | +230 |
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Ferencvaros advanced through the Europa League knockout play-off round. Including a win over Ludogorets in the playoffs. Meanwhile,
Braga earned a seeded spot via a strong league-phase campaign.
Genk vs. Freiburg Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 4:00 pm. |
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| Location: | Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| Freiburg | PK ( -115 ) | 2½ ( -120 ) | +165 | |
| Genk | PK ( -115 ) | 2½ ( -110 ) | +158 |
| Draw | – | – | +235 |
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Genk advanced via the knockout play-off round (e.g., dramatic wins including a 3-3 aggregate vs Dinamo Zagreb. In comparison, Freiburg earned a seeded direct spot in the round of 16 via a top-tier league-phase contender and has European experience.
Celta de Vigo vs. Olympique Lyonnais
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 4:00 pm. |
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| Location: | Estadio Abanca Balaídos, Vigo, Spain |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| Lyon | PK,+½ ( -110 ) | 2½ ( -115 ) | +245 | |
| Celta de Vigo | PK,-½ ( -120 ) | 2½ ( -115 ) | +108 |
| Draw | – | – | +240 |
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Celta de Vigo advanced through the knockout play-off round with a strong performance. Meanwhile, Olympique Lyonnais was among the top teams in the league phase.
Nottingham Forest vs. Midtjylland Match Details
| Date and Time: | Thursday, March 12, 2026, Kick-off Time: 4:00 pm. |
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| Location: | The City Ground, Nottingham, England |
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Odds at SBG Sportsbook
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
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| Midtjylland | +1 ( -115 ) | 2½,3 ( -115 ) | +450 | |
| Nottingham Forest | -1 ( -115 ) | 2½,3 ( -115 ) | -179 |
| Draw | – | – | +320 |
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Nottingham Forest advanced via the knockout play-off round with a 4-2 aggregate win over Fenerbahçe. On the other hand, Midtjylland earned a seeded direct spot by finishing high in the league phase.
Best Bets: Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Real Betis.
Over/Under Pick: Celta de Vigo/Lyon Over the Total.
Player Prop Picks: Samu Omorodion Anytime Goal and Golden Boot.
Patrick Jones
Published on: March 9, 2026
Last updated: March 9, 2026
