Overview
- The competition begins this week in a Champions League-style league phase featuring 36 clubs, eight league fixtures per team and a final set for May 20, 2026 at Besiktas Stadium in Istanbul.
- Pre-tournament odds make Aston Villa the early pick at 6/1, with Roma at 9/1 and Bologna, Porto and Nottingham Forest clustered at 10/1.
- Ange Postecoglou leads Nottingham Forest into Europe after lifting last season’s trophy with Tottenham, while Gian Piero Gasperini takes charge at Roma with a track record that includes Atalanta’s 2023–24 Europa League win.
- Fenerbahce responded to a Champions League playoff loss to Benfica by replacing Jose Mourinho with Domenico Tedesco and signing Milan Skriniar, Fred, Marco Asensio, Jhon Duran, Youssef En-Nesyri and goalkeeper Ederson.
- English clubs’ recent pedigree frames the narrative after Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 in last season’s final in Bilbao, and viewers can watch this season on Paramount Plus in the U.S. and TNT Sports in the U.K.