The first rounds of the Champions League and Europa League group stages are over. The Netherlands can add one victory, one draw and two defeats. Despite this, good business was done for the coefficient ranking: number 8 Belgium was slightly out, but the pursuers performed equally or less.
After the previous European round we have already concluded that the Netherlands need not worry, because number 12 Turkey is lagging behind for the time being. However, Belgium has come to an end this season and Austria and Ukraine are also scoring better, it turned out on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Club Brugge took the full pound against Zenit St. Petersburg for our southern neighbors and Shakhtar Donetsk stunted against Real Madrid. Austria also gathered points thanks to the 2-2 between Red Bull Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow.
Ajax received compliments after Liverpool away, but could not mean anything for the Netherlands in the coefficient battle. After the Europa League Thursday, we were able to add 0.6 point: PSV lost at home to Granada, AZ stunted a visit to Napoli and Feyenoord stepped off the field with a 0-0 draw against Dinamo Zagreb.
Competition also hit and miss
The competition performed just as unstable in the Europa League. Royal Antwerp took the points against Ludogorets on behalf of Belgium, but Standard Liège and AA Gent lost their first group match: the southern neighbors, however, have been slightly delayed. However, the closest attacker Austria has to give up ground: Wolfsberger AC took a point against CSKA Moscow, but Rapid Wien and LASK Linz had to swallow a defeat.
Ukraine was unable to continue after Shakhtar’s sensational Champions League victory: Leicester City was a size too big for Zorya Luhansk at home. The number eleven in the ranking remains at a safe distance for the time being, just like Turkey: Sivasspor scored three times against Villarreal, but also conceded five goals and could not contribute to the coefficient race. Scotland has even taken over twelfth place.
The current top fifteen of the coefficient rankings
1. Spain 82,569 (4,214) (7/7)
2. England 80,997 (4,785) (7/7)
3. Italy 63,581 (4,428) (7/7)
4. Germany 62,427 (4,071) (6/7)
5. France 51,081 (2,916) (5/6)
6. Portugal 41.749 (2.800) (3/5)
7. Russia 37,049 (3,000) (4/6)
8. Belgium 33,700 (3,200) (4/5)
9. NETHERLANDS 32,800 (2,800) (4/5)
10. Austria 31,825 (2,700) (4/5)
11. Ukraine 29,500 (3,200) (3/5)
12. Scotland 29,375 (4,500) (2/4)
13. Turkey 28,900 (1,900) (2/5)
14. Denmark 27,375 (3,625) (1/4)
15. Cyprus 27.250 (3.500) (1/4)
(In brackets the number of points for this season and the number of European participants)
‘Our’ place in the top-eleven – and thus a Champions League ticket for the Eredivisie champion of 2022 – has therefore not been jeopardized during the first group matches of the season. It is a pity that number 8 Belgium is running out, but not a disaster. The numbers 8 and 9 in Europe are entitled to the same number of European tickets. We are already looking forward to next season, when the points from 2016/2017 will expire: the Netherlands will deliver a score of 9,100, Belgium no less than 12,500.
Source: Bert Kassies
(Hein Nooijens / VoetbalPrimeur)
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