The Netherlands slightly overtook Portugal on Wednesday after Benfica-Ajax, but had to give up some ground again on Thursday. PSV on Speed did in the Conference League their duty to the Netherlands, but FC Porto on Sporting Braga did just that little bit more for Portugal.
Early in the evening, PSV had enough with a 1-1 in the Conference League diptych with Maccabi Tel Aviv and FC Porto could afford a 2-2 against SS Lazio in the Europa League. Then it was the turn of Vitesse in the Conference League and Sporting Braga in the Europa League: the Arnhem team convinced at home against Rapid Wien, while Braga won the home game against Sheriff Tiraspol and the subsequent penalty series.
PSV and Vitesse have raked in 0.600 for the Netherlands: 0.200 for the PSV draw, 0.400 for the Vitesse victory, but bonus points are not yet to be earned at this stage of the Conference League. That is the case in the Europa League: Porto and Braga took 0.833 for Portugal. The virtual difference was 1,137 at the start of the football evening, but Portugal has caught up again. That is not a cause for concern, however.
The virtual coefficient ranking 2022/2023
5. France 45,581
6. NETHERLANDS 42,800
7. Portugal 41.716
How will things continue from March 8? Portugal then has four clubs left, but after Manchester City-Sporting Portugal will say goodbye to the lions† Ajax-Benfica of 15 March will be an important match. Feyenoord, AZ, PSV, Vitesse, FC Porto and Sporting Braga will also hear on Friday who will be their next opponents in the Europa League and Conference League. It’s a cliché, but it can go either way in March.
For the sake of completeness, this is what the top ten of the current coefficient rankings look like. After England, the Netherlands is the best performing European country this season.
The coefficient ranking 2021/2022
1. England 101,354 (15,714) (6/7)
2. Spain 91,855 (14,142) (6/7)
3. Italy 74,045 (12,857) (4/7)
4. Germany 71,641 (12,642) (4/7)
5. France 57,081 (15,416) (6/6)
6. Portugal 51.382 (10.916) (4/6)
7. NETHERLANDS 45,700 (15,600) (5/5)
8. Austria 38,450 (10,000) (2/5)
9. Scotland 34,900 (5,900) (1/5)
10. Russia 34,482 (5,300) (1/5)
Source: Bert Kassies
