As we head into spring, the business end of the 2025/26 European football season is now here. It's a time when silverware is won and lost, both domestically and continentally. But which teams are poised and ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come their way?
The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of club football, and this year, the bookies have a clear favorite in mind. That, of course, is runaway Premier League leaders Arsenal, with the latest Sportaza online gambling odds installing them as the short-priced 5/2 front-runner to secure the famous 'Big-Eared' trophy for the first time in their history. In both the Europa League and the Conference League, it's a similar story, with the Gunners' compatriots Aston Villa and Crystal Palace the favorites to win those two tournaments, respectively.
Every season, however, underdogs rise to the fore. Last season, no one expected Inter Milan to outlast both Bayern Munich and Barcelona en route to the final. The year before, it was Borussia Dortmund upsetting Paris Saint-Germain to seal their spot opposite Real Madrid in the Wembley showpiece. But which teams are flying under the radar this season, and could they actually go on to claim one of Europe's three major trophies on offer? Let's take a look.
Atletico Madrid - Champions League: 20/1
The door is wide open in the Champions League this season. Arsenal are the favorites despite never winning the trophy before. Bayern Munich join them as a strong contender. Outside of those two, though, teams are faltering. Both Liverpool and Real Madrid are in the midst of disappointing campaigns by their lofty standards, while Manchester City also looks to be a shadow of the team that Pep Guardiola once made an all-conquering machine.
As such, the lay of the land seems perfect for a dark horse to sneak through. And the one team that seems best positioned is Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. Los Rojiblancos have long been a team that all of Europe's biggest names wished to avoid in the latter stages of the Champions League. This season, they will feel as though they can beat anybody, despite not delivering their best displays in La Liga.
Simeone once built his sides to be defensively resolute. Now, however, they play possession-based attacking football that can take the fight to anybody. Alexander Sørloth finds the back of the net with regular aplomb, while strike partner Julian Alvarez is the perfect foil. Antoine Griezmann continues to ooze class even just a few weeks away from his 35th birthday, while the January addition of Ademola Lookman from Atalanta has provided some much-needed explosiveness out wide.
Atleti have already thumped both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the league this season. A meeting with the latter is possible in the Champions League quarterfinals, should the capital city side make it past Spurs as expected in the Round of 16. Simeone will fancy his chances of beating the Blaugrana once again should that prospective last-eight tie become a reality.
Stuttgart - Europa League: 12/1
In the Europa League, English outfit Aston Villa are the clear 4/1 favorites, and considering their efforts in the Premier League this term, we shouldn't be surprised. They are closely followed by European regulars in Lyon, Roma, and Porto, all of whom will fancy their chances. However, just outside the main contender bubble, value can be found in the 12/1-priced Stuttgart.
The German outfit has been flying in the Bundesliga so far this season and currently find themselves in fourth place. They have lost just once domestically since the start of December, with their home form - four wins in their last five - being particularly impressive.
Manager Sebastian Hoeneß has Die Roten playing free-flowing attacking football, Strikers Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirovic provide the goalscoring firepower, while former Leicester City man Bilal El Khannouss brings the creativity. Fullback Maxi Mittelstädt is one of the finest creative fullbacks on the planet, constantly whipping in dangerous crosses from the left-hand touchline for his strikers to latch onto.
There are, however, question marks over Stuttgart's away form. They lost three of their four away games in the Europa League initial league phase, while they haven't picked up a domestic win on the road in two months. Still, their 4-1 drubbing of Celtic in Glasgow in the UEL knockout playoff round suggested that they do have quality away performances in their locker. If they can prove that consistently in the coming rounds, then they become a genuine dark horse threat in the competition this term.
AZ Alkmaar - Conference League: 14/1
The Conference League currently seems to be a two-horse race, with Crystal Palace and high-flying French outfit Strasbourg the main protagonists. Two-time finalists Fiorentina, Rayo Vallecano, and Mainz will all harbor genuine championship hopes as well. However, Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar is a team that can't be ruled out just yet.
Irish striker Troy Parrott has been one of Europe's most lethal marksmen this term, netting 24 times in 37 games in all competitions. He is supported by playmaker Sven Mijnans, who has chipped in with 14 goals of his own. Those two are as dangerous as any pairing remaining in the Conference League this term, and they will fancy their chances of beating anybody in the tournament, including both of the two frontrunners.
