Champions League extra fifth place update – Only La Liga and Serie A can catch Premier League now | OneFootball

A very interesting update on the chances of the Premier League getting a bonus Champions League fifth place next season.

As we all know, the two domestic leagues in European competitions this season whose clubs have the collective best average coefficient scores get an extra place in the next season’s Champions League.

The coefficient points gained by all clubs this season are added together and that total score is divided by the number of clubs a country has in Europe in the season. That gives the coefficient average.

Whilst Liverpool lost to PSG on Tuesday, Wednesday night saw both Villa and Arsenal reach the last eight of the Champions League. Villa winning against ten men Brugge, Arsenal drawing with PSV.

So last night, four countries lost a Champions League team, with PSV Brugge, Atletico Madrid and Lille exiting. With the Premier League seeing two clubs go through, whilst La Liga (Real Madrid) and the Bundesliga (Dortmund) also had a team progress on Wednesday night.

What this week’s results mean, is that with two bonus places in next season’s Champions League to play for, the Premier League can only be caught by La Liga and Serie A now.

England and Spain are dominant and the Premier League last night moved even further ahead of Serie A who are third.

England and Spain are out in front and have more clubs remaining (five) in European competitions than any other league.

England are all but there and it looks like a case of the Premier League and probably La Liga.

Only England, Spain, Italy and Germany are mathematically still able to get one of the bonus Champions League places next season.

However, Germany can’t catch England, but still have a very small chance of second ahead of Spain and Italy.

ESPN report on current position after Wednesday night’s Champions League games, including Villa and Arsenal progressing to the quarter-finals. Which countries in best position to get one of the two bonus places in the 2025/26 Champions League competition:

How does the average coefficient table look now for each country (in brackets how many teams remain for each league, so for England it is five out of seven)?

1. England, 23.035 – (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)

This is how ESPN describe the situation now on Wednesday 12 March 2025 after Tuesday’s Champions League results:

The Premier League is in a place of incredible strength even though Manchester City and Liverpool are out of the UCL.

Arsenal, however, have to face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, while Aston Villa take on PSG and they are on the path to a potential semi-final.

However, Man United and Tottenham are paired in the Europa League, which means they cannot face each other until the final — thus no prospect of knocking each other out.

In the UCoL, Chelsea have a tricky looking tie against FC Copenhagen but won the first leg in Denmark 2-1.

England can finish no lower than third so it would take an even worse collapse than last season to miss out on one of the extra places.

So, can Newcastle United qualify for the Champions League this season?

This is how the Premier League table currently looks on Thursday (13 March 2025) morning:

Eddie Howe’s side currently finding themselves level on points with Man City who are in fifth place.

That was a huge win at West Ham on Monday, as it has put NUFC in a great position. Especially with the next four matches seeing United play Brentford (Home), Leicester (Away), Man U (Home) and Palace (Home).

A Champions League qualifying route remains very much open to Newcastle United as things stand.

I would say that if the Premier League gets that extra fifth spot in next season’s competition, then it gives Newcastle United a four or five times greater chance, if having to finish top five rather than top four.

Upcoming Newcastle United fixtures:

Sunday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final Sky Sports

Wednesday 2 April – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm)

Monday 7 April – Leicester v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 13 April – Newcastle v Man U (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 16 April – Newcastle v Palace (7.30pm)