UEFA Europa League 2013: Top Contenders Heading into Round of 16

Europa League play continues on Thursday with the first leg of the Round of 16 matchups. Although the event doesn't get as much attention as the Champions League, there are still some high-profile encounters, including Tottenham against Inter Milan.

After last year's tournament was dominated by Spanish clubs, which made up three of the four semifinal sides, only one team from Spain remains (Levante). As it stands now, the English Premier League sides seem to have the edge.

With that in mind, let's examine the top contenders to win the Europa League trophy heading into the Round of 16. The final will take place in May.

1. Chelsea

Last season's Champions League winners were eliminated from that competition in the group stage. Since Chelsea finished third in their group, they were shifted to the Europa League and should now be considered the favorites after a strong defensive showing against Sparta Prague.

The trio of Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard should allow the Blues to control the pace of play in the midfield. If they can get increased production from the inconsistent yet talented Fernando Torres, the attack should thrive.

They don't need a ton of offense to keep advancing, though. The one bright spot despite Chelsea's recent slide in the Premier League has been the back line, which enters the first leg against Steaua Bucuresti having kept two straight clean sheets, with the help of goalkeeper Petr Cech.

2. Tottenham

The only reason Tottenham didn't earn top billing was their matchup with Inter Milan. It makes their road to the championship much tougher than Chelsea's simply because they have to survive one more huge test starting on Thursday.

That said, Gareth Bale seems like he could carry Spurs to the title by himself right now. The Wales international has been on another planet, alongside guys like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with some truly awe-inspiring form lately.

Tottenham has been playing better than any other team in the event recently, mostly due to Bale's dominance. As long as he continues to get enough secondary support, Spurs should advance past Inter and become the favorites heading into the quarterfinals.

3. Zenit St. Petersburg

The top contender from outside the Premier League is Zenit. After narrowly surviving a comeback attempt from Liverpool in the last round, the Zenitchiki should be able to handle Basel without any late drama.

Zenit's attack is headlined by Hulk, who they acquired from Porto last September. He scored in both legs against the Reds and it seems like he's finally starting to settle in with his new club. The Brazil international got off to a slow start in Russia.

If he can continue to build off those strong showings, captain Roman Shirokov and Igor Denisov should provide enough support in the midfield to make Zenit a serious title threat. Some concerns along the back line keep them behind the EPL clubs, though.