Who is the biggest dark horse in European football this season? There are several options, all of which are very competitive. For example, Girona, who was at the helm of Real Madrid and Barcelona's La Liga, was once at the top of the table, and although the momentum has slowed down recently, as a traditional weak team in La Liga, it is already remarkable to be able to get a Champions League place. Another example is Stuttgart, although they have won the Bundesliga in history, but in the last ten years, they can indeed be classified as underdogs and have been relegated, but this season Stuttgart has risen to prominence and is currently competing with Bayern Munich for the second place in the Bundesliga, which is really shocking.
In addition, although Ligue 1 has not received so much attention, it has also given birth to two dark horses this season, one is Brest and the other is Nice. At the moment, although Nice is a little unable to keep up, Brest is still strong, in second place, and in terms of position, they really feel like the first dark horse in Europe.
If the votes are given, each of these teams has enough reasons to win the title of Europe's No. 1 dark horse. However, it seems that anyone's advantage is not overwhelming. In addition, the season is not over after all, and everything will not be decided until the end of the season.
Although the biggest dark horse in European football does not know who it is, the luckiest dark horse in European football may have appeared. At the moment, the team is fourth in the league and if they hold on until the end, they can qualify for the Champions League, but the point is, even if they slip to fifth, it doesn't matter, because the new rules dictate that they can also play in the Champions League if they finish fifth.
Bologna.
Bologna is arguably the least visible of all the dark horses. They have no European games to play this season, so they have quietly cultivated in the domestic arena, and have eliminated Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia. And at the moment they are in fourth place, which many people did not expect, behind them, are the traditional powerhouses of Roma, Lazio, and Naples.
Now the situation in Bologna is clear, they will definitely not be able to catch up with the top three, and keeping fourth is the first priority. Luckily, even if they are overtaken by fifth-placed Roma, they don't have to worry about losing their Champions League spot. Because next season's Champions League will be restructured again and expanded, and the top two leagues in European points will be able to get five Champions League places. Now Serie A is in first place, which is equivalent to giving a layer of insurance to the fifth place in Serie A.
Truth be told, Bologna could be overtaken by Roma, who have been in good form lately, winning local derbies in Serie A and beating AC Milan away in the Europa League. However, it is unlikely that Bologna will be overtaken by sixth-placed Atalanta, who are separated by several points and will have to be distracted by the Europa League. Therefore, Bologna's final result this season, fifth place is guaranteed, and there is a high probability of fourth. A team like Bologna can play in the Champions League, at least it has a positive financial significance, if it really plays well, who knows if there will be a super dark horse in the Champions League next season?
Of course, Bologna also has to thank the Serie A brothers for being so powerful and objectively seeking a rare benefit for themselves. Actually, why don't Atalanta and Rome keep an eye on this welfare? Since the fourth and fifth can all qualify for the Champions League, can't they compete for the fourth and the fifth? Therefore, Rome and Atalanta also have to work hard.