Home of football statistics and historySuccess in sports is often difficult to define because it cannot be objective. Every fan, player, coach, and owner can agree that winning trophies means being successful. However, in the complex game of European football, not all trophies are made the same. Not all teams play in the same league in terms of quality and competitiveness. This means that winning silverware cannot always be the measuring factor, but winning certain trophies that are most prestigious can.
Two of the biggest ones in UEFA club competitions are the Champions League and the Europa League. Respectively, they are the first and second tiers of club football in Europe. One is reserved for the elite, the best of the best, and the other for the second tier teams that are always there but not at the very top. If FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are in the CL, Sevilla and Villareal are in the EL. Think of it as Liverpool and Manchester City on one side and Aston Villa and Newcastle on the other.
But what happens when a team overperforms and surprises one year and plays in the CL, only to fail the following and qualify for the EL? Or if a European giant plays poorly and finds themselves in the EL despite being a perennial CL team? Well, football happens. It is how redemption stories are made. From Champions League to Europa League, many teams seek redemption each year, and in this article we focus on the upcoming 2025/2026 season.
Teams Seeking Redemption in Europa League 2025/2026
1. Aston Villa (England, Premier League)
Villa qualified for the 2024/25 Champions League (league phase) where they performed very well. They finished 8th with 5 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, and +7 in goals. They lost to PSG 4-5 on aggregate in the quarter finals. However, in the 2024‑2025 Premier League season, they finished 6th in the Premier League, which put them out of the Champions League places for 2025‑2026 and into the Europa League. According to most UEFA Europa League Expert Picks and Predictions, Villa has the best odds to win the title. They are managed by Unai Emery, a coach who has a strong pedigree in European competitions and plenty of titles to back it up. A deep run in the Europa League could restore prestige, solidify the squad, generate revenue, and help them challenge again for a Champions League spot via domestic performance. Also, winning the Europa League would be particularly symbolic given how long it has been since they last won major silverware. Emeri has won the EL with two teams with “Villa” in their name, Villareal and Sevilla. Can he do it again and take them to the CL next season?
2. Crvena Zvezda / Red Star Belgrade (Serbia, Serbian SuperLiga)
Red Star finished 29th in the Champions League last season with 2 wins, 6 losses, and -9 in scoring. They were then eliminated in the Champions League qualifying for 2025/26, which means they will not make the Champions League league phase this season. After this elimination, they entered the Europa League and will play the second tier competition this year.For Crvena Zvezda (Red Star), redemption would involve leveraging their status in the Europa League to reassert themselves in European competitions. Securing good results will rebuild their UEFA coefficient, attract better transfers, earn them money, and pressure their domestic rivals. They will look to make a strong European showing, possibly advance deep, to show that they belong at the higher level. Next year, we can again expect them in the CL.
3. Celtic (Scotland, Scottish Premiership)
Celtic finished their 2024-2025 Champions League league phase in 21st place. They won 3, drew 3, and lost 2 matches, with a -1 goal difference. They were eliminated in the Champions League knockout rounds by Bayern Munich 3-2 on aggregate. In the 2024-2025 play-off qualifiers, they lost to Kairat 3-2 on penalties after a 0-0 aggregate score, resulting in a Europa League season in Europe this year. For Celtic, the Europa League offers a chance to rebuild their confidence, especially after a tough playoff exit. They won the domestic league title last season, but they will want to show that they can compete at a high European level. The team will focus on salvaging their continental season, improving squad depth and performance, and possibly using good showings in Europe to help challenge for better qualification. Strong performances could also help in terms of finances, recruitment, and morale. Visit Stake.com for the latest odds before the start of the league phase.
Comparing the Champions League to the Europa League
Beginning with the 2024/25 season, both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League adopted a new structure that replaced the traditional group stage with a single league phase. Each competition now features 36 teams in this phase. In both tournaments, each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away.
In the Champions League, the top eight clubs at the end of the league phase qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th enter a knockout play off to secure a place in the round of 16. Clubs ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated from European competition. The Europa League uses the same model, where the top eight move on to the round of 16, teams ranked 9th to 24th face off in knockout play offs, and the bottom 12 are eliminated.
Oftentimes, to bet on UEFA Europa League is more exciting and fun than doing so on the Champions League because the teams are more balanced. While the formats are now similar, the Champions League features higher-quality opposition and more intense competition on average due to the calibre of clubs involved. It is still the higher tier of competition and the place where teams want to be.
Prize Money and Financial Distribution
The Champions League commands a significantly higher financial pool than the Europa League. For the 2025/26 season, the total prize money pool allocated to the Champions League and related competitions is around €2.467 billion, while the Europa League’s total pool is approximately €565 million, only about a fifth of that.
Each of the 36 clubs participating in the Champions League league phase receives a guaranteed base fee of €18.62 million for making it. In contrast, Europa League clubs entering the league phase are awarded approximately €4.31 million each. It is significant for many clubs, but not for some of the bigger ones that spend incomparably more.
Furthermore, performance bonuses differ greatly. In the Champions League league phase, each win earns a club about €2.1 million, and a draw nets €700,000. The Europa League awards around €450,000 for a win and €150,000 for a draw. Depending how many matches are won, it can be a big deal for mid tier teams.
Additional ranking bonuses are awarded based on league phase performance. In the Champions League, the highest ranked teams can receive up to €9.9 million in bonus payments. In the Europa League, the ranking bonuses are significantly lower, ranging from tens of thousands to a few million euros.
Knockout round progression also offers incomparable rewards. Champions League clubs receive around €11 million for reaching the round of 16, €12.5 million for the quarterfinals, €15 million for the semifinals, €18.5 million for being finalists, and €25 million for winning the final. In the Europa League, the round of 16 yields about €1.75 million, quarterfinals about €2.5 million, semifinals approximately €4.2 million, finalists around €7 million, and the winner gets an additional €6 million.
Beyond prize money, Champions League clubs also earn significantly more from broadcasting revenues, sponsorship deals, merchandise sales, market pool distribution, and UEFA coefficient bonuses. Europa League clubs benefit from these revenue streams as well, but the amounts are notably lower, which is understadable.
Qualification and Access
Qualification for both competitions depends on domestic league performance, with access allocated based on UEFA country coefficients. Top performing clubs from the strongest domestic leagues qualify for the Champions League. Clubs that finish lower in domestic leagues or win domestic cups typically qualify for the Europa League.
The winner of the Europa League is guaranteed a place in the following season’s Champions League league phase, regardless of their domestic league position. This offers an additional incentive for clubs in the Europa League, which is how Tottenham made it last season despite finishing poorly in the Premier League.
Under the new format, there is no longer a system that allows clubs to drop down from the Champions League into the Europa League once the league phase begins. In previous seasons, third place finishers in the Champions League group stage would enter the Europa League knockout rounds. Now, elimination in the Champions League means complete exit from all UEFA competitions for the season. This is more fair to the weaker and mid tier clubs and a net positive for the sport.
Prestige, Competition Level, and Other Differences
The UEFA Champions League is universally recognized as the most prestigious club competition in European football. It features elite clubs, intense media coverage, massive global viewership, and high caliber football. Success in the competition often elevates a club’s financial status, brand value, and attractiveness to top players.
The Europa League, while still important and respected, is considered a secondary tournament. It includes strong clubs, but typically not those at the very top of Europe’s domestic leagues. Either one, if they were in the CL, they would be absolute outsiders. Nevertheless, winning the Europa League provides considerable benefits: financial rewards, a major trophy, European prestige, and qualification to the Champions League.
Although the tournament formats are now aligned, the financial incentives and level of global attention remain vastly different. For many clubs, qualifying for the Champions League, even without advancing far, can be more financially rewarding than a deep run in the Europa League.
Teams that Redeemed Themselves
Sevilla (2022-23)
They dropped from the UCL group stage after finishing 3rd behind Man City and Dortmund.
Entering the UEL knockout round playoffs, they went on to win the Europa League, defeating Roma in the final on penalties. This was Sevilla’s 7th Europa League title, and a record extender. Sevilla’s 2022-23 Europa League win came despite finishing 12th in La Liga, showing how dropping from the Champions League can reignite European form even in a bad domestic season and be a sure ticket to next year’s edition.
Atlético Madrid (2017-18)
The team finished 3rd in the UCL group stage behind Roma and Chelsea, and were dropped into the UEL. Once there, they won the competition after defeating Marseille 3-0 in the final. Antoine Griezmann scored twice in the final. This was their third UEL title in 9 years (2010, 2012, 2018). Atlético won all four knockout rounds (Round of 32 to Final) with an aggregate score of 12-2, a very dominant redemption arc.
Manchester United (2020-21)
The Red Devils were knocked out of the UCL group stage since they finished 3rd behind PSG and RB Leipzig. A disappointment for the fans, but it would not be the last. They were demoted into UEL where they reached the Europa League final. However, they lost to Villarreal on penalties after an instant classic, 11-10 shootout marathon where goalkeepers decided the winner. David De Gea missed his, resulting in a win for the Spanish side. It was not a win, but a significant redemption effort.
Chelsea (2012-13)
Chelsea became the first team to drop from the UCL and win the UEL in the same season. After being eliminated from the UCL group stage as the defending champions no less, they entered the UEL Round of 32 and went on to win it, beating Benfica 2-1 in the final. Chelsea (2012-13) remains the only club to win the Champions League and Europa League in consecutive seasons (UCL in 2011-12, UEL in 2012-13). This unlikely event also gave Fernando Torres the honor of being the only footballer ever to hold the UEFA CL, UEFA EL, UEFA Euro, and FIFA World Cup trophies at once.
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