Ranking top five Europa League contenders: Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, AS Roma make list

Here are the leading candidates to win the competition

With one game left before the end of the UEFA Europa League group stage, it's time to rank the true contenders. This is also the last edition of the tournament that will see teams relegated from the UEFA Champions League playing in the knockout stage, and in this ranking we only consider the teams playing the group stages of the current season. While sides like Manchester United and AC Milan could very well find themselves in the knockout stage if they finish third in their UCL group, let's take a look at the current teams with the best chance of lifting the trophy in Dublin on May 22: 

It's impossible not to mention Atalanta when we talk about teams that can potentially win the competition. The Italian team have enough experience in the recent years in the European competitions and the next step is to win a trophy, as the Nerazzurri still have failed to win a cup since coach Gian Piero Gasperini took charge and started an incredible and exciting cycle at the club. The club in the summer signed some important players that can help to achieve such success like former West Ham Gianluca Scamacca, who also scored a stunner against Sporting CP in Thursday's 1-1 draw, and he's scored six goals so far this season in all competitions.