The Premier League has taken a major step towards securing an additional Champions League qualification spot after Lille’s elimination from the tournament ended France’s chances.
Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 comeback victory over Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy sealed a 3-2 aggregate win, knocking out the French side and officially ruling Ligue 1 out of contention for one of the two extra UCL places available for next season.
How the Extra Champions League Spots Work
UEFA introduced a new rule this season, awarding two additional UCL spots to the leagues with the best performances across European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League). These spots are determined by UEFA’s coefficient rankings.
With France eliminated, the race is now between four leagues: England, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
Current UEFA Coefficient Standings
1️⃣ England – 23.035 points (5/7 teams still in Europe)
2️⃣ Spain – 20.892 points (5/7)
3️⃣ Italy – 19.375 points (4/8)
4️⃣ Germany – 17.546 points (3/8)
5️⃣ Portugal – 16.250 points (1/5)
6️⃣ France – 15.785 points (2/7, eliminated from UCL race)
Premier League’s Strong Position
Despite Manchester City and Liverpool exiting the Champions League, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Tottenham are still competing in Europe.
- Arsenal and Aston Villa could meet in the UCL semi-finals.
- Manchester United and Tottenham are in different Europa League brackets, ensuring England continues to earn points.
With England leading the coefficient race, the Premier League could secure its extra UCL place before the end of March, giving the league five automatic Champions League spots for the 2025/26 season.
