Champions League extra place for Premier League? How looks after Real Madrid v Man City

The Mag

·20 de fevereiro de 2025

Champions League extra place for Premier League? How looks after Real Madrid v Man City

At the end of last (2023/24) season, an extra place in the Champions League was awarded to the Bundesliga and Serie A, as those countries had the two best overall collective performances from their clubs in European competitions last season.

It was the first time these extra places were awarded, as part of the expanded 36 club ‘Swiss League’ Champions League format.

Vídeos OneFootball

If though this had been operating previously, then five of the six seasons before 2023/24 saw England one of the top two countries overall, in European competitions.

The two leagues with the best average coefficient scores get the extra place in the next season’s Champions League.

Regardless of which European competition, each match win is worth two coefficient points, a draw gets you one point, and you get nothing for a defeat. So basically, the longer a league’s clubs stay in the European competition the better, once they are eliminated they can’t pick up any more points towards the overall total. There are other points awarded and this is where the Champions League generates far more bonus points than the other two competitions, as Liverpool earned 13.500 bonus points by winning the Swiss League phase, Arsenal added 13.000 bonus points for finishing third. Aston Villa, in eighth, added 11.750, while Man City, who were 22nd, only 6.750 bonus points.

The points gained by all clubs are added together and that total score is divided by the number of clubs a country has in Europe in the season. That gives the coefficient average.

This season’s combined results in European competition for each of the competing leagues?

ESPN report on current position after Wednesday night’s Champions League games – Which countries in best position to get one of the two bonus places in the 2025/26 Champions League competition:

How does the coefficient table look now (in brackets how many teams remain for each league, so for England it is six out of seven after Man City were knocked out last night)?

1. England, 20.892 – (6/7) 2. Spain, 18.535 – (6/7) 3. Italy, 17.812 – (4/8) 4. Portugal, 16.050 – (3/5) 5. Germany, 16.046 – (5/8) 6. France, 14.857 – (3/7) 7. Belgium, 14.250 – (5/5) 8. Netherlands, 14.250 – (5/6) 9. Greece, 11.062 – (3/4) 10. Sweden, 10.125 – (1/4)

Whilst Spain benefited by Real Madrid remaining in the Champions League and Manchester City eliminated, it has actually been an excellent week for England and the Premier League when it comes to the chances of an extra Champions League place.

Spain lost Girona from the Champions League and have two clubs that need to get through their Europa League play-offs tonight.

However, third highest challenger for the two extra Champions League places, Italy have had a nightmare. Juventus eliminated last night by PSV, means Serie A has lost four of their five clubs who were in the Champions League, only four of their eight clubs still in Europe now. Whilst back in fourth, Portugal lost Sporting as Dortmund knocked them out of the Champions League, Portugal now with only three of their five European clubs remaining.

It would need an incredible slump and set of circumstances for the Premier League now not to get one of the extra two Champions League spots next season.

So, can Newcastle United qualify for the Champions League this season?

This is how the Premier League table currently looks on Thursday (20 February 2025) morning after Wednesday night’s matches, Liverpool coming from behind to draw 2-2 at Villa: