The Europa League is set to make its return to action at the beginning of August as Europe’s secondary elite club competition aims to crown the best team from the continent outside of the Champions League.

Clubs such as Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Sevilla all remain involved in the tournament, making it a hugely intriguing and spicy competition that can continue to whet the appetite of fans – with those who are inclined to have a wager being able to get a Unibet promo code to take full advantage of what is on offer.

With so many great sides with plenty of history in European football still involved, it can be rather difficult to predict what might just happen when the final stages of the Europa League take place in Germany. Before those games, though, clubs still have to compete in a second-leg tie to progress to the quarter-final stage of the draw, whilst other ties will need to be decided via a single leg.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs VfL Wolfsburg

The Ukrainian side currently hold a 2-1 advantage and, having scored two away from home, they appear to be in a solid position to progress to the last 16 of the tournament. Nonetheless, if Wolfsburg manage to get one, it’s them. A tie that can throw up any outcome.

Copenhagen vs Istanbul Basaksheir

The Danes hold a 1-0 lead heading into the game in the Danish capital and will certainly fancy their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition. However, with the Turkish outfit only requiring one-goal to take the tie to extra-time or penalties, it could be a hugely tight and nervy affair.

Manchester United vs LASK

Perhaps the only tie of the round that has already been decided, Manchester United hold a 5-0 advantage after trouncing the Austrians at their home. It would be a huge shock if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did not advance, however the form guide since the resumption of the sport would give LASK next to no chance.

Inter Milan vs Getafe

An incredibly appealing and attractive fixture on the eye, this match-up is one of the few that will need to be decided as a single-legged affair. With both sides having the ability to put on a masterclass as Getafe continue to impress, it could be an incredibly entertaining watch, although the Italians would be the wise option here.

Sevilla vs Roma

The only other single-legged fixture of the round, and another Spain vs Italy encounter, sees Sevilla go up against AS Roma. With both sides having been European powerhouses over the years, it would not be a surprise if additional time was needed to find a winner. Hugely difficult to predict, the encounter can truly go either way.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Rangers

German outfit Bayer Leverkusen already have a 3-1 lead over Steven Gerrard’s Rangers and it would be rather difficult to see the Glaswegians overturn that deficit. The Scottish side are also the only team not to have returned to football since the unprecedented break, whereas Leverkusen finished their Bundesliga campaign, as well as featuring in the DFB-Pokal final at the beginning of July.

Basel vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Basel would likely be favoured to go through to the next stage of the Europa League as well, as they hold a 3-0 victory over the Germans heading into the second-leg. Should Frankfurt be able to spring a huge shock in Switzerland, it would not be unwise for the hosts to think about who they could face in the next stage of the competition.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Olympiakos

With the aggregate score level at 1-1, all outcomes are possible between these two sides. Wolves have had a mixed run of form since returning to football, whereas Olympiakos managed to dump out Arsenal in the previous round.

Quarter-finals (likely ties)

Shakhtar vs Basel – Two of Europe’s ‘smaller’ clubs but most consistent in regards to appearances in major tournaments. This encounter will provide both with a solid chance of upsetting the odds in the later stages.

Man Utd vs Copenhagen – The Red Devils should overpower the Danes with ease and book their place in the semi-final without too many problems, especially with it being a single tie and with men like Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood playing the way they are currently.

Inter vs Leverkusen – One of the more difficult ties to work out, as both sides have the ability to beat the other. However, the Germans may have to rely too much on Kai Havertz, whilst the Italian’s appear to be going in the right direction with Antonio Conte at the helm.

Wolves vs Sevilla – Both of these sides face incredibly difficult last 16 fixtures and may not even get to this point, however if they were, it would not be a surprise to see the English side advance as their power might be too much for the former multiple winners to handle on the day.

Semi-finals

Wolves vs Man Utd – An all-English semi-final is a real possibility in this year’s edition of the Europa League and one that is incredibly difficult to call. However, if pushed, the Red Devils will likely take the win considering their experience of playing in top competitions and their current form, whilst their ability to overcome them in the FA Cup may provide them with added confidence.

Inter vs Shakhtar – The adage of “there are no easy ties” certainly appears to run true as this fixture is one that can certainly be decided because of a bad performance. The two play extremely well in European competition and have a vast experience of playing in tournaments of this level. However, Inter certainly have more, so it would not be a surprise if they advanced over their Ukrainian opponents.

Final

Man Utd vs Inter – A final that the Europa League is worthy of, as two of footballs’ biggest clubs to have ever been formed could be ready to lock horns and square off against each other in Germany. A match that could really go all the way to a penalty shoot-out, it will be a tight contest and one that will prove to be extremely equal. Man Utd, though, might just edge it with how they have been performing, whilst a Champions League spot could also be up for grabs if they do not obtain one through the Premier League.