The Premier League will have at least five teams in next season’s Champions League after securing a European Performance Spot for the second consecutive year.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the bonus place was sealed on Tuesday night when Arsenal defeated Sporting CP 1-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final. UEFA awards the extra slot to the two leagues with the strongest collective results across its three club competitions.
English clubs have topped the coefficient standings for most of the campaign after all nine entrants reached the last 16.
Points collected during the league phase put England firmly in control, meaning fifth place in the table now guarantees Champions League qualification. Newcastle United benefited from the same rule last season.
Spain are favourites to secure the second extra place, although Germany and Portugal remain in the hunt.
The Bundesliga kept its challenge alive as Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1, while SC Freiburg face Celta Vigo in the Europa League. If England and La Liga finish top, it will mirror last season’s outcome.
The fight for fifth is intense. Liverpool FC lead the race on 49 points, just ahead of Chelsea FC on 48. Brentford FC and Everton FC have 46, followed by Fulham FC on 44.
Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland AFC sit on 43, with AFC Bournemouth close behind. Only seven points separate fifth from 13th.
More places could still open up. Aston Villa FC would create a sixth English entrant if they win the Europa League and finish outside the top four.
The same applies to Liverpool, who face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. If two English sides win European trophies while finishing fifth and sixth, seventh would also qualify.
There is another route through the Europa League. Nottingham Forest FC could follow last season’s example set by Tottenham Hotspur by lifting the trophy from mid-table and pushing the Premier League’s total to six Champions League teams once again.
