THE Benfica took, this Thursday, a potentially ‘giant’ step towards qualifying for the next phase of the Europa League, by getting the better of Omonia, in Neo GSP, by a clear 1-4, a result that keeps them at the top of the table, now, with nine points, as many as Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth, Ferencváros and Olympiacos.
The prospects are increasingly positive, especially if we take into account the most recent prediction made by the much-hyped supercomputer from Opta, a company specializing in the processing of sports data, which estimates that it will even finish in first place, with between 19 and 20 points ‘in its pocket’.
A scenario that, if confirmed, would place the Eagles directly in the round of 16, where they would face the winner of the playoffs that include the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th classified, which, in this estimate, would be AC Milan (who have already defeated, at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, by 0-2), Real Sociedad, Sturm Graz and Anderlecht, respectively.
It is now up to Marco Silva’s men to continue the good moment, knowing in advance that, from now on, they will face Lech Poznan (on November 5th, at the Estádio da Luz), Viktoria Plzen (on November 26th, at the Doosan Arena), OFI Creta (on December 10th, at the Estádio da Luz), NEC (on January 21st, at the Gofferstadion) and AZ Alkmaar (on the 28th of January, at Estádio da Luz).
Only a ‘miracle’ saves Torreense
There are far fewer reasons to smile for Torreense, who, after their historic entry into the scene in what is the second biggest club competition on the Old Continent, with a victory over Lillestrom, by 1-2, suffered two consecutive defeats, first, against Sunderland, by 1-2, and, now, against Ferencváros, at the Groupama Arena, by 4-1.
The team coached by Luís Tralhão thus remains with three points, which leaves it in 28th place (i.e. in the elimination zone), equal with Anderlecht, Hoffenheim, AC Milan, OFI Creta, Celta de Vigo and Jagiellonia Bialystok. And this tool doesn’t bode well for you.
At the moment, they estimate that they will finish in 30th place, with between six and seven points, so they will have to fight against fate, against Ararat-Armenia (on November 5th, at the Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium), Celtic (on November 26th, at the Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium), Real Sociedad (on December 10th, at the Anoeta Stadium), Lech Poznan (on January 21st, at the Stadion Poznan) and Olympiacos (on January 28, at the Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium).
Benfica among the favorites to win the Europa League
As far as the group of favorites to win the 2026/27 season of the Europa League are concerned, Benfica remains up there, more specifically, in second place, with a 14.54% chance, 0.36 percentage points less than the main candidate, Bayer Leverkusen, and 0.02% more than Bournemouth, which is right behind.
This is followed by Union St. Gilloise (9.09%), Juventus (7.73%), Crystal Palace (6.26%), Sunderland (6.12%), AC Milan (5.06%), Olympique Lyon (4.21%) and Olympiacos (3.73%), completing the top10. Torreense, on the other hand, lives at the bottom of the table, being, along with NK Celje, Ararat-Armenia and Lillestrom, the only team that is given a 0.00% chance.
