The stats experts at Opta have produced an updated predicted final Europa League table.

Sunderland have made a solid start to their first ever Europa League campaign after collecting seven points from their first three games of the league phase.

There was some disappointment from Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Polish champions Lech Poznan after youngster Timur Tutierov’s first senior goal had put the Black Cats in front with just two minutes on the clock - but that should not detract from what has been a promising opening to the campaign. The 1-0 home win against Dutch Cup winners AZ Alkmaar provided a memorable return to European competition for the Black Cats after an absence of half a century and there were more memories created when Noah Sadiki struck a late winner in a victory at Portuguese second tier side Torreense last week.

Thursday’s trip to Poznan was always likely to provide a step up in class for Regis Le Bris and his players - and the draw could prove invaluable as they look to progress into the knockout stage of the competition when the league phase comes to an end in the new year. As it stands after the draw in Poland, the Black Cats are sitting in ninth place and that would secure qualification to the play-off round with the top eight moving directly into the last 16 of the competition. But where could Sunderland sit when the league phase comes to an end following their home clash with Levski Sofia in late January?

We take a look at the latest predicted final Europa League table pieced together by the stats experts at Opta.

placeholder image — The Echo’s Europa League coverage is sponsored by Amari Plastics. | Amari Plastics.

Opta’s predicted final Europa League table

The UEFA Europa League trophy. | Getty Images.

1. Benfica - 19.80 points

2. Bournemouth - 19.29 points

3. Bayer Leverkusen - 18.50 points

4. Olympiakos - 17.31 points

5. Sunderland - 15.97 points

6. Juventus - 15.72 points

7. Real Union Saint-Gilloise - 15.63 points

8. Ferencvaros - 15.53 points

9. Lyon - 14.10 points

10. Crystal Palace - 13.45 points

11. Besiktas - 13.18 points

12. Omonia Nicosia - 13.12 points

13. Rennes - 13.04 points

14. AZ Alkmaar - 12.23 points

15. AC Milan - 12.18 points

16. Real Sociedad - 11.74 points

17. Sturm Graz - 10.86 points

18. RB Salzburg - 10.51 points

19. Anderlecht - 10.12 points

20. Dinamo Zagreb - 10.12 points

21. Marseille - 8.90 points

22. Celta Vigo - 10.05 points

23. Sparta Prague - 9.53 points

24. NEC - 9.53 points

25. Hoffenheim - 9.34 points

26. Lech Poznan - 8.08 points

27. Olympique Marseille - 7.36 points

28. Jagiellonia - 7.28 points

29. OFI - 7.04 points

30. Torreense - 6.79 points

31. Hapoel Be’er Shava - 6.27 points

32. Celtic - 6.06 points

33. Celje - 5.60 points

34. Viktoria Plzen - 5.32 points

35. Ararat-Armenia - 5.18 points

36. Lillestrom - 4.93 points

The Echo’s Europa League coverage is sponsored by Amari Plastics. Covering all of North East England and Cumbria, Amari Plastics launched in 1975 and has built a reputation as the region's leading plastic distributor. During this time, we’ve established strong working relationships with businesses in three main market sectors: sign, display & large format printing, building & construction and industrial & engineering.

Your next Sunderland read: Robin Roefs’ furious reaction and Régis Le Bris’ surprise Sunderland switch – moments missed at Lech Poznań