New Delhi: The Premier League is on track to secure an extra Champions League place for the 2025-26 season, thanks to the strong performances of English clubs in European competitions. UEFA awards two additional spots each season based on coefficient rankings, which measure the success of teams across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. England currently leads the coefficient standings, meaning the club finishing fifth in the Premier League could earn a coveted UCL spot.
The coefficient rankings are determined by awarding points for wins and draws across all three continental tournaments and then dividing the total by the number of clubs from each league. Which means the more successful performances from teams across Europe, the better the chances of those leagues to earn the extra spot. With more English teams consistently performing well, the Premier League has built a strong case for an extra Champions League qualification berth.
If England secures one of the top two coefficient spots, the additional Champions League place would be awarded to the highest-ranked team outside the usual qualification slots. In the Premier League’s case, this means the team finishing fifth would qualify instead of only the traditional top four. Last season, Bologna and Borussia Dortmund benefited from this system, earning UCL spots after finishing fifth in Serie A and the Bundesliga.
Who’s leading the current coefficient table?
The Premier League is currently leading the coefficient table as six of their seven clubs competing in Europe have made it into the last 16 of all European competitions. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have all progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League, while both Spurs and Manchester United making it to that stage in the Europa League and Chelsea stormed into the last 16 stage of the UEFA Conference League.
Following them closely behind is Italy who have four teams remaining in Europe with Inter Milan, Lazio, AS Roma, and Fiorentina all still competing in all three competitions. They could be pipped by Spain though as they’re in third currently and still have six of their seven teams in Europe with only Girona being knocked out of any competition in Europe.
Both Germany and France though seem to miss out on an extra spot this year with teams from both these countries not performing that well in Europe. France only have three teams that are left in Europe with only PSG, Lille, and Olympique Lyon still competing in competitions as teams like Stade Brest, Monaco, and Nice all being eliminated before the Round of 16. With Bayern Munich facing Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16, their chances will also dwindle with one of them sure to be eliminated.
Which Premier League teams can benefit from an extra spot?
The current race for Europe is getting really hot in the Premier League with multiple clubs competing for a spot in Europe’s top competition. The top two are more or less reserved by Liverpool and Arsenal, leaving the other clubs to compete for the remaining two spots. Currently, only six points separate the teams from third to seventh with Nottingham Forest sitting in third on 47 points while Newcastle are seventh with 41 points.
Given Manchester City’s downturn in form this season and Chelsea’s regression since the end of December, getting an extra Champions League spot for next season would help both these clubs as well. Looking further down the table, only 10 points separate teams from third to 10th, adding more gravitas to this season’s race for Europe. Smaller teams like Bournemouth, Brighton, and Fulham are also mounting up a challenge.
Aston Villa and Newcastle, both of whom occupied the fourth spot in the previous two seasons, are hoping to repeat their appearance in Europe’s premier competition and the addition of the fifth spot would help them out in securing a European spot as well. As Chelsea and Manchester City remain in danger of finishing outside the top four this season, they’d be hoping for England to get the extra spot to ease pressure on them.
Six English teams could compete in the Champions League next season
England could have six teams in the Champions League next season, thanks to changes in UEFA’s qualification rules. Alongside the top five finishers in the Premier League, the Europa League winners are also guaranteed a spot in Europe’s top competition. Previously, a single league could send a maximum of five teams, but that restriction has now been removed. This means an extra English club could qualify if they win the Europa League.
This opens the door for teams like Manchester United and Tottenham, who are still in the Europa League but struggling in the Premier League. If either wins the competition without finishing in the top five, they would still make it to the Champions League. That could see six English sides competing in next season’s tournament, reinforcing the Premier League’s dominance in Europe.
England’s top flight, the Premier League, is currently on course to secure the extra spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, following the performances of English clubs across Europe. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
