Although the UEFA Champions League is the best-known soccer competition, another similar format offers excitement and opportunity with soccer betting odds. Founded in 1971 as the UEFA Cup and rebranded in 2009 as the UEFA Europa League, this second-tier competition complements the UEFA Champions League. But it is above the UEFA Europa Conference League. At the onset, the UEFA Cup replaced the Inter-Cities Fairs Up, which was founded in 1955. The current season began on September 25, 2024, and runs through May 21, 2025.
Odds to win the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League Championship
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Manchester United | +470 |
| Tottenham | +470 |
| Athletic Bilbao | +500 |
| Lazio | +800 |
| Real Sociedad | +800 |
| All Other Clubs | +1300 or higher |
A stunning Ademola Lookman hat trick handed Atalanta the 2023-24 Europa League title foray. Accordingly, it was just the second major trophy in their 117-year history after a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. The Sports betting result ended the German champions’ remarkable unbeaten streak.
Previously, Lookman struggled to establish himself in the English Premier League with Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City. In turn, he revived his Soccer lines career in Italy under Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, struck twice inside the first 26 minutes before sealing the win 15 minutes from full-time.
Correlate that the victory ended Gasperini’s two-decade-long pursuit of major silverware. His side outmatched Xabi Alonso’s formidable Leverkusen side, who went an incredible 51 games unbeaten.
As they did against Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and three-time finalists Marseille in the previous two rounds. Yet Atalanta didn’t give their opponents a sniff to mark their first European final with a famous victory.
At the onset, Leverkusen looked decidedly unsure of themselves. And some uncharacteristically sloppy play handed the first chance of the game to Gianluca Scamacca. But he didn’t get enough on his header from a fine Matteo Ruggeri cross. It was an early warning shot. The purposeful Italians struck within minutes when Davide Zappacosta was allowed far too much space down the right. In turn, Lookman beat a flatfooted Exequiel Palacios to the cutback to stroke home the opener. Lookman was mobbed by his teammates and substitutes, who were in dreamland 14 minutes later.
Yet another Leverkusen error gifted possession to the Nigeria forward. He skipped past one defender and curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner from just outside the box. Subsequently, the stunned Germans showed brief flashes of how quickly they could turn it on in attack. Still, little came of it, and it was Charles De Ketelaere who came closest on the break. Atalanta did not show a shred of debut final nerves nor any effects from the absence of injured captain Marten de Roon.
Leverkusen swapped defender Josip Stanisic for top scorer Victor Boniface at halftime. But it changed little as both sets of traveling fans continued to create the kind of Aviva Stadium noise matched only by some of the Irish rugby teams’ famous wins. Or memorable international soccer nights of years gone by.
Leverkusen only failed to score once during the run that featured 42 wins in all competitions. Also, he scored 17 goals in or after the 90th minute. Still, the chances of another comeback faded away against the resolute Atalanta backline.
Lookman completely extinguished them on the counterattack with another stunning strike into the top corner. This time with his left foot to complete his first-ever career hat trick. In sum, the sixth in a major European final and first since Jupp Heynckes’ for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 UEFA Cup.