Five unlikely champions in Europe this season

There's some great football going on

But if you cast the net across Europe this season, then there are a number of sides threatening to do a ‘Leicester’ and capture unlikely glory.

Here are 5 surprise champions in the making.

ETO FC Győr

Ask the average football fan to name a Hungarian team and the chances are they will say Ferencváros. The club has won a record 36 top division titles in Hungary, including the last 7. But ETO FC Győr are threatening to derail Robbie Keane’s Hungarian adventure, topping the Nemzeti Bajnokság with 10 games to go. One of those is a monster clash against Ferencvaros, so get it in your diary.

CS Universitatea Craiova

Romanian football actually loves to share its honours around, at least by most European standards. Nine different clubs have won Liga 1 this century, and now CS Universitatea Craiova are threatening to make that ten. What’s more, they haven’t been Romanian Champions since 1991, making this particular title charge extra special.

FC Thun

You can bank on something truly amazing happening in Switzerland this season. That’s because FC Thun have arrived to take the Swiss Super League by storm. Despite only being promoted last summer, they sit 14 points clear at the summit of Swiss football at the time of writing. And with regular contenders FC Basel and Young Boys both in a funk, FC Thun look poised to pull off the ultimate upset.

Levski Sofia

For 14 seasons running, Ludogorets have enjoyed a stranglehold over Bulgarian football. Their success in the Parva Liga is the most dominant in Europe, but this year Levski Sofia are determined to break free. And they are doing it in some style, with a commanding lead at the top. There is still plenty of football left, so don’t write off Ludogorets just yet. But Levski Sofia have the rest of Bulgarian football daring to dream once more.

Hearts

Who else would be our first choice but Hearts. Multiple generations have only known two names atop of the Scottish Premiership; Celtic (mainly Celtic) and Rangers. In fact, 1985 was the last time Scotland enjoyed a unique Champion thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen. Yet we could be on the brink of history, with Derek McInnes’ Hearts of Midlothian closing in on a colossal upset. Everyone is praying they can keep the Old Firm at bay and restore glory to Edinburgh for the first time in over 60 years.