The Premier League has received a significant boost in the race for an additional Champions League qualification spot after Lille got eliminated.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Dortmund secured a 2-1 comeback victory at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, clinching a 3-2 aggregate win and advancing to the quarter-finals. Lille’s defeat means that the French league is officially out of contention for one of the extra UCL places available for next season.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
This season, UEFA introduced a rule granting two additional Champions League spots to the leagues with the best collective performance in European competitions. These extra spots are determined based on the coefficient rankings, which track results across the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. With France now out of the equation, the race for these coveted slots is narrowed down to just four leagues – England, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite Manchester City and Liverpool exiting the Champions League, English clubs remain well-represented across all European competitions. Arsenal and Aston Villa have both progressed and if they continue their runs, they could meet in a potential semi-final showdown. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Tottenham are still competing in the Europa League, but since they are in separate brackets, they cannot eliminate each other before the final. This ensures that England will continue to rack up valuable coefficient points regardless of their progress.
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT STANDINGS?
1. England, 23.035 – (Five out of seven English teams are still in Europe, aka 5/7)
2. Spain, 20.892 – (5/7)
3. Italy, 19.375 – (4/8)
4. Germany, 17.546 – (3/8)
5. Portugal, 16.250 – (1/5)
6. France, 15.785 – (2/7)
7. Belgium, 15.250 – (1/5)
8. Netherlands, 15.250 – (3/6)
9. Greece, 12.187 – (2/4)
10. Norway, 10.812 – (2/4)
For the Premier League it will look like this:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, FA Cup winners
Conference League: Carabao Cup winners
Whereas, for LaLiga, the Bundesliga, or Serie A it will be:
Champions League: 1-5
Europa League: 6, Cup winners
Conference League: 7
WHAT NEXT?
The Premier League appears set to lock in its extra place earlier than usual, possibly before the end of March. With multiple English teams still in contention across all three European competitions, England’s standing is stronger than ever. As the knockout stages progress, all eyes will be on the remaining Premier League clubs, whose performances will dictate how early England secures its additional Champions League place for the 2025/26 season.