Nottingham Forest receive huge Champions League boost as fifth-placed finish truth explained
Nottingham Forest receive huge Champions League boost as fifth-placed finish truth explained
Nottingham Forest’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have been given a lift.
As is customary, the top four Premier League clubs will automatically qualify for the Champions League, bypassing any qualifying rounds.
This year, however, the team finishing fifth could also secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, rather than participating in the Europa League.
Last season, Tottenham Hotspur finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League, but this time around, things could be different.
Two European leagues this season will be granted an additional Champions League place based on their clubs’ performance across all UEFA competitions this campaign, reports Birmingham Live.
Moreover, the victors of this season’s Champions League and Europa League will each secure a place in the 2025/26 Champions League, assuming they haven’t already qualified through their league position.
This could result in up to seven Premier League clubs participating in next season’s Champions League: the top five league teams, along with the Champions League and Europa League winners, if they finish outside the top five.
But how might the fifth-placed team qualify?
This is determined by tallying coefficient points based on the performances of clubs from each league in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
This means that the various leagues are vying against each other in a ranking known as the “association club coefficient.”
Each victory for a club in any of UEFA’s competitions this season awards two points to the league, while a draw earns one point, and no points are given for a loss.
Moreover, bonus points are allocated based on a club’s position in their respective European league table, with the points weighted according to the competition.
For example, finishing first in the Champions League earns 12 bonus points, while the top spot in the Europa League gives six points, and the top team in the Conference League receives four.
Bonus points are also awarded for progressing to each round from the last-16 onwards, with the points also weighted by competition.
Current standings
At present, England is leading the table and has five teams who made it to the quarter-finals – more than any other league.
Spain, currently in second place, have four sides still in Europe, while Italy and Germany only have three.
UEFA coefficient rankings*.
England – 169.750 points.
Spain – 151.750 points.
Italy – 159.500 points.
Germany – 143.375 points.
Portugal – 81.250 points.
*Correct at the time of writing.
Forest are currently third in the Premier League, six points ahead of Manchester City so they will hope to finish in the top four and remove any jeopardy whatsoever.
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