When European football returns in February, all eyes tend to be on how the bigger clubs fare in the Champions League, but Barcelona's demotion into the Europa League has made things different this time around. The La Liga giants are competing in the secondary continental competition for the first time since 2003-04 and that will bring its own interest, but there are several other high-profile teams who are being forced to compete in the last 32. With that in mind, can each of these teams avoid being dumped out of a tournament that they may be expected to win?
Just like punters can make use of bemybet.com, Barcelona took advantage of the January transfer window to supplement their squad with the additions of Ferran Torres, Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. With Napoli challenging for the Serie A title, there is an argument that such signings were required to match the Italian outfit, and it is naturally the most anticipated tie of the next round. Many will insist that Barcelona's quality in the final third will give them the edge, but the smart choice is to back a Napoli side who have only conceded 17 goals in their 25 league matches. On that basis, a Barcelona exit should not be deemed as a surprise, but eyebrows will be raised if Napoli can edge out Xavi's team over two legs.
Sevilla, the 2020 winners, are back competing in this competition after their poor showing in the Champions League group stages, as are Atalanta BC who finished behind Manchester United and Villarreal. Of all the ties that they could have been provided with, Dinano Zagreb and Olympiacos are as favourable as they could got have got, and it would take the most pessimistic of football fan to not conclude that the Spanish and Italian sides will not progress with ease. The same can be said of Borussia Dortmund against Rangers. While that tie could prove to be an absolute goalfest, Dortmund could run riot against opponents who have recently conceded the advantage to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
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So where might the surprise results occur? RB Leipzig have been very much a mixed bag during 2021-22 and it is difficult to make them favourites to see off Real Sociedad, particularly when the second leg of their tie takes place in Spain. Even with Leipzig winning four of their last five Bundesliga fixtures, Sociedad's superior defensive record in La Liga stands out for us, as well as their bouncebackability from a disappointing run during November and December.
The other tie which could arguably throw up a shock exit for a big club involves Porto and Lazio. Again, who is favourite for this tie is open to perception, but Porto have certainly been rendered weaker over the past two weeks on the back of Luis Diaz's transfer to Liverpool. From Lazio's perspective, they are the second top scorers in Serie A, something which is no mean feat given that they are sixth in the table, but Porto cannot be ignored having avoided defeat in 22 Primeira Liga fixtures this campaign. Like the Dortmund versus Rangers tie, this could be goals aplenty, but Porto have our backing for this contest, helped by Lazio unable to use the away goals rule to their benefit.
