The battle in the Europa League is already shaping up to be one of the tightest in recent memory. After five matches, three teams share the top spot with 13 points each: Lyon under the guidance of Paulo Fonseca, Danish side Midtjylland, and Aston Villa. But don’t be fooled by the apparent lead — the margin is razor-thin, with Real Betis, Freiburg, and Ferencvaros just one point behind.

With three gameweeks still to play in the group stage, anything can happen. To put it into perspective, 15 teams are separated by just a single victory — 3 points. In such a congested table, predicting favourites is a risky business.

At the other end of the spectrum, the struggles are more clear-cut. Nice have yet to find their footing, remaining the only team with zero points. Four more sides sit on a solitary point, already lagging behind the pack and facing an uphill battle to keep their Europa League dreams alive.