Italy second in race for extra Champions League spot after Inter and Milan wins | OneFootball

Following victories for both Milan and Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday night, Italy are currently in second place in the UEFA Association rankings, which is used to determine which nation gets an extra spot in the tournament the following season.

It was a successful round of Champions League fixtures for the Italian clubs, who all managed to avoid defeat. In fact, Juventus were the only Italian side not to get a win in the Champions League this week.

Wednesday saw 1-0 wins for Milan and Inter against Girona and Sparta Prague respectively, Atalanta had a stomping 5-0 win over Sturm Graz on Tuesday, Bologna defied the odds to secure a 2-1 comeback win over Borussia Dortmund, while Juve were held at 0-0 by Club Brugge.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Rafael Leao of AC Milan scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between AC Milan and Girona FC at Stadio San Siro on January 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

As things stand in the Champions League table, Italy are the only nation with three sides among the top eight in Inter, Milan and Atalanta.

epa11845813 Denzel Dumfries of Milan (L) celebrates with teammates before his goal was ruled offside and disallowed during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Sparta Prague and Inter Milan, in Prague, Czechia, 22 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK

Italy second in race for extra Champions League spot again

Following the latest update to the UEFA Coefficient rankings on Thursday morning, Italy are now in second place in the race for an extra spot in next season’s Champions League. If the standings stay the same until the end of the season, that will be enough for Italy to have five teams in the competition again next year.

England are currently at the top of the rankings, Italy rank in second, with Portugal in third, Spain in fourth and Belgium in fifth.

Sixth to 10th place, in order, reads as follows: Germany, France, Czechia, the Netherlands, Sweden.