England are in a strong position to secure five spots in the Champions League – and they could seal those places as early as tonight if two Italian teams are dumped out of Europe
Premier League clubs have a huge chance to seal a place in the Champions League this season, with fifth place looking increasingly likely to be enough for a spot in Europe’s elite.
This year’s race for the Champions League spots has been one of the closest-run ever, and with teams knowing they can finish fifth and claim a spot, the pressure has been cranked up a notch.
Liverpool and Arsenal look nailed on to qualify for the Champions League but it is far less certain for the teams below them. There are just seven points between Nottingham Forest in third and Bournemouth in ninth and clubs must be aware they can make a real push if they can put together a winning run.
It would be a fairytale story if clubs like Nottingham Forest, Brighton or Bournemouth could seal a place in the Champions League and that is looking like a real possibility if one of the two coveted extra Champions League spots is given to England.
And that could happen as early as tonight should two Italian clubs be eliminated from the Europa League and Conference League in the last-16 second legs, with Lazio, Roma and Fiorentina all in action.
Last season, Italy and Germany were both handed five Champions League spots, with Borussia Dortmund and Bologna benefiting from that advantage, after teams from those countries outperformed clubs in England and Spain.
Performance in Europe is key to boosting a league’s co-efficient and with England are in a strong position for an extra place. They still boast two teams in the Champions League despite Liverpool’s exit – after Aston Villa and Arsenal cruised into the quarters after beating Club Brugge and PSV respectively.
Meanwhile, there are two in the Europa League (Tottenham and Manchester United) and one in the Conference League (Chelsea) – giving England a co-efficient of 23.035.
Spain are second in line for a spot with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad in the Europa League and Real Betis in the Conference League, with their division having a co-efficient of 20.892.
Italy is currently third in that race on 19.375 with only four teams left in Europe – and only one of those (Inter Milan) left in the Champions League.
Lazio face a Viktoria Plzen on Thursday, with the aggregate score at 2-1, while Roma are also 2-1 up on aggregate ahead of their trip to Athletic Bilbao.
In the Conference League, Fiorentina are 3-2 down on aggregate to Panathinaikos and Premier League teams only need two of them to go out on Thursday to ensure England gets the extra Champions League spot.
Manchester City currently hold fifth spot but face a battle to even finish that high after some sketchy from in the Premier League following their 1-0 defeat to rivals Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle are level on points with them on 47, while Brighton are on 46, Aston Villa are on 45 and Bournemouth are on 44 – so that final spot is really anyone’s for the taking if one team can enjoy a strong finish to the season.
Nottingham Forest are third on 51 points so their qualification is far from secured, while Chelsea are just two points behind them on 49.
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