Brighton & Hove Albion debuted in Europe’s second-largest European tournament this season, marking a significant milestone in their 121-year history that hadn’t previously been reached. This achievement comes on the back of their best-ever finish in the top flight, securing a commendable 6th place under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi.
The Seagulls will face tough competition from renowned clubs across the continent as they enter the Europa League at the group stage. Formidable teams such as Villarreal, AS Roma, Sporting Lisbon, and Liverpool are among their opponents.
However, they must first excel and conquer the group stage format with Marseille, AEK Athens, and Ajax breathing down their neck.
Despite their lack of experience in European competition, Brighton was favoured by bookmakers pre-tournament to make a strong showing in the upcoming season of the Europa League. The Sussex-based club previously held odds of 8/1, placing them as joint third favourites alongside AS Roma, the finalists of the 2023 edition, and La Liga side Real Betis. Villarreal, the reigning champions of 2021, were ranked as the second-favourites with odds of 6/1. Meanwhile, Liverpool, the six-time winners of the Champions League, were the favourites to secure their 15th European title, including their fourth Europa League triumph, with odds of 4/1.
Through two Europa League match days to date, Liverpool stands strong as bookmakers favourite to win it all, but it’s been lacklustre for Brighton thus far.
Join us as we dive deeper into Brighton’s Europa League group-stage potential.
Europa League Group B Standings (Oct 2023):
| Club | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| AEK Athens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Marseille | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Ajax | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Brighton | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
We cannot forget where we started and who we were. We can’t lose our DNA. If we think we are better than we are, we make a big mistake.”
Roberto de Zerbi commented ahead of Brighton’s Europa League opener versus AEK Athens.
Wise words from the Brighton boss, but this mentality was unable to prevent the seaside club from obtaining victory at the AMEX.
The Seagulls Europa League Campaign: A Rough Beginning
Roberto De Zerbi attributed Brighton’s initial Europa League defeat to defensive errors while maintaining overall satisfaction with his team’s display. AEK Athens dampened the spirits of Brighton fans as they clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory at the American Express Community Stadium, marking the club’s maiden European competition appearance.
The absence of central defender and captain Lewis Dunk, sidelined by injury, seemed to have an impact as the home team conceded three easily preventable goals.
Bouncing back in France
De Zerbi’s team rebounded from the setback of conceding two goals in less than two minutes to Marseille. They managed to secure a crucial point through an impressive comeback, highlighted by substitute João Pedro’s equaliser from a penalty kick just two minutes before the end of the match.
Despite Brighton’s position at the bottom of their group in their inaugural Europa League campaign, having lost the opener fixture, their response demonstrated their competence at this level. It kept their hopes of advancing from the group stages very much alive.
“We are not playing well, and it is difficult to show our quality. But in football, playing with heart, passion, and the right behaviour is important. I’m proud of my players – this reaction is incredible.” De Zerbi said post-game.
How the Bookmakers Odds Have Changed
Previously listed as joint-third favourites at 8/1, oddsmakers haven’t lost too much faith following Brighton’s rocky beginnings. Currently, those wanting to bet on their favourite UK sportsbooks that wish to wager on Brighton winning it all can find odds of 16/1. This price positions Brighton as the fourth favourite to win the competition behind Liverpool, Roma, and Bayer Leverkusen.
Regarding qualification beyond the group stage, the same bookmakers firmly believe Brighton will qualify with a top-2 finish – showing odds of 13/25 to achieve this feat.
Transitioning League Form into Europe
Brighton significantly focused on attacking through the central area last season, surpassing other teams with a frequency of 30%. This season, they have continued to emphasise this approach, with approximately 32% of their attacks originating from the middle of the pitch.
Dunk remains a key contributor in distributing the ball, as Brighton persists in constructing their attacks through the central midfield. However, there have been alterations in personnel, with Gilmour and Pascal Gross now available instead of Mac Allister and Caicedo. These players are entrusted with receiving the ball before transitioning possession to the flanks, where Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma can cause havoc in the opposing team’s final third.
Although this attacking strategy may appear predictable, it has proven incredibly difficult to counter, akin to Arjen Robben cutting inside from the right onto his left foot. Despite notable changes in the playing squad, De Zerbi remains committed to his original game plan, and the results speak for themselves.
No team has scored more goals in the Premier League this season, who currently sit in sixth position with 21 goals scored. This has unquestionably transitioned into European outings thus far, having netted four goals in two meetings.
The Biggest Concern
However, the attacking prowess of Brighton and the open attacking style of De Zerbi aren’t without their risks. When the squad flows in unison on the attack, they’re often left vulnerable at the back. This has resulted in Brighton owning the fourth-worst goals-conceded record (16) in the Premier League, with only the current relegation battlers – Burnley, Bournemouth, & Sheffield Utd – displaying a worse tally.
Brighton’s formidable goal-scoring efforts make qualification into the Europa League knockout stage possible. Still, to overcome AEK, Marseille, and Ajax, they must first recognise the defensive frailties that have allowed so many goals across all competitions this term.
