Tips

News

Predictions

Blogs

Videos

Quizzes

Betting Sites

Which European Teams Are Over Performing This Season?
Blogs

Which European Teams Are Over Performing This Season?

31/03/25 11:04

Which European Teams Are Over Performing This Season?

There has been a lot of focus this season on Nottingham Forest’s excellent performances that have seen them make a strong claim for the top four in the Premier League. There are similar stories of teams like Forest all across Europe that have received little to no attention, so we thought that we should highlight them in this article.

Rayo Vallecano - La Liga

Rayo Vallecano have a history of over performing in La Liga, especially in more recent times. For most of their history, they have bounced between the first and second tiers of Spanish football, however in the 2000s they fell on especially hard times, spending four seasons in the third tier. Since they were promoted back into La Liga under Andoni Iraola in 2021, they have been perennial overachievers.

They finished 12th and then 11th with Iraola at the helm, despite being by far the smallest club in the division. They also progressed far into the Copa del Rey in both seasons, reaching the semi final for the first time since 1982. Iraola joined Bournemouth prior to the start of last season and without him, Vallecano struggled slightly, finishing 17th.

This year they are on track for their highest ever finish in a La Liga campaign. They finished eighth back in 2013, however this season, they currently sit in seventh. Rayo Vallecano are sitting at the top of the European outsiders group that stretches all the way down to Osasuna in 14th, so the Madrid club could see themselves slip down the season if they don’t keep up their performances, however it has still been an incredible season for them.

Mainz 05 - Bundesliga

Mainz have been a side that have enjoyed Bundesliga football for some time now, however it wasn’t always like that. They first tasted Bundesliga football in 2004, with Jurgen Klopp at the wheel and have since then remained in the top flight, except for two years in the 2000s. Despite this recent history in the German top flight, they have only managed a top 10 finish on five occasions, and a top five finish just once, back in 2011.

Last season they struggled, and only managed to survive by going unbeaten in the last nine matches. They finished 13th but many assumed that they would struggle again this season, having not made many significant signings in the transfer window. This was not the case, and they are currently sitting in fourth position, two points ahead of fellow overachievers Borussia Monchengladbach.

One player who has stood out this season has been Jonathan Burkardt. The 24-year-old striker has scored 15 goals in 23 matches in the league this campaign and has even taken on the responsibilities of captain. These performances have earned him his debut for the German national team and even seen him turn the heads of Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur. He has undoubtedly been Mainz’s best player this season, however the campaign is not over yet and there are still three other teams within three points of them, so Burkardt will need to continue leading the club in the same vein should he want them qualify for the Champions League.

Bologna - Serie A

Unlike Rayo Vallecano and Mainz 05, Bologna have spent most of their history in the top flight. Their most recent extended period out of Serie A was between 2005-08 and they also had one season in Serie B in 2014/15. Despite this, the club haven’t sustained a long period at the top of Italian football since the 60s and 70s, when top five finishes for them was the norm. Since they were promoted back into the league in 2015, they have tended to finish mid-table, with a couple of years in a relegation fight.

That was until last season when, under Thiago Motta, they managed to finish fifth and qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1964. Many assumed that this was an outlier season for the club and that they’d return to mid-table in this season. In the summer they lost Motta and two of their most influential players, Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori to Juventus, Manchester United and Arsenal.

This season they have kicked on from the last campaign, bringing in quite a few squad players for low fees, however the most important business was keeping hold of vice captain Riccardo Orsolini. The 28-year-old winger has been the club’s top goalscorer in four of the last six seasons and has played over 200 times for them. This season, his goal scoring has continued and he has helped his side to fourth in the league. Soon, finishing in the European places won’t be over performing for Bologna, but expected.

FC Utrecht - Eredivisie

FC Utrecht have been a strong Eredivisie side for much of their history, however they have never won the competition in their current form. They did win the competition as VV DOS in 1958 however they merged with another local club in 1970 to form Utrecht. As Utrecht, they have won the KNVB Cup on three occasions, but not since the early 2000s have they put up much of a title fight in either the cup or the Eredivisie.

In their recent seasons, Utrecht have consistently finished just outside the European qualification places. The last time they finished anywhere other than sixth or seventh was back in 2018 where they managed to break into fifth, but were still significantly behind Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and PSV. Their European record is pretty poor too, last managing to make the Group Stage of the Europa League back in 2010/11, finishing bottom of their group.

This season however, looks to be one of their best in recent history. They are currently in third place in the league, having held down that position pretty consistently since the beginning of September. They have already secured at least a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying spot and could even reach Champions League qualifying should they maintain their strong performances. Surprisingly this hasn’t come about from an over performing individual or a change of manager. Their top goalscorer is young American forward Paxten Aaronson, brother of Leeds United midfielder Breden, with just six in the league, while their manager, Ron Jans, took charge at the beginning of last campaign, where they finished seventh.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Jake Martin

Website Editor

Videos

See more
From Non-League to the AFCON Final - The Story of Kwesi Appiah
Listen to our full podcast with Kwesi Appiah as he discusses his sensational rise from non-league all the way to starting in the AFCON final.
Is it time for Luton Town to make THE DECISION?!
Watch out latest edition of EFL Hot Takes as the lads give their opinion on the Rob Edwards situation at Luton Town.
WHO is in our Championship TEAM OF THE SEASON so far?!
Find out how we would put in our Championship Team of the Season so far on YouTube as we approach the busy period.

Join our newsletter

Become a part of our community and never miss an update from Football Park.