Portuguese League: Champions League Qualification Hinges on Europa League and More
Lisbon, Portugal – With the Portuguese league season nearing its climax, the battle for Champions League qualification is intensifying. Benfica and Sporting Lisbon have mathematically secured at least a top-two finish, guaranteeing them spots in both the Super Cup and next season’s Champions League. However,the path to the Champions League group stage is far from straightforward,especially for the team finishing second.
The Stakes: Direct Entry vs. Qualification Rounds
- Champion: Secures direct entry into the Champions League league phase.
- Runner-Up: Faces a more complex scenario, with direct entry uncertain.
Benfica’s Complicated Path
Benfica’s hopes for direct entry took a hit following Manchester United’s dominant 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League. Benfica now needs a specific outcome to secure their spot.
The Key Scenario:
Benfica requires Athletic Bilbao to win the Europa League.If Bilbao defeats Manchester United in the semi-finals and then triumphs over the winner of Tottenham vs. Bodo/Glimt, the Basques would effectively “offer” direct entry into the Champions League to the team with the highest coefficient that hasn’t already qualified – which would be Benfica.
However, Bilbao’s chances appear slim after their heavy defeat. As one report noted, they lost 3-0 at this Thursday meeting
and face an uphill battle in the return leg at Old Trafford on May 8.
Sporting’s Even More Precarious Position
Sporting’s situation is even more complex.Like Benfica, they need Athletic Bilbao to win the Europa League. However, even with that outcome, Sporting faces additional hurdles.
The Coefficient Conundrum:
Several clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Benfica, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, ajax, and Lille, have a higher coefficient than Sporting.This means that their performance in their respective leagues could impact Sporting’s chances.
Specific Scenarios Affecting Sporting:
- Belgium: Club Brugge is currently second in the Belgian Championship, which grants access to the Champions League play-off. If they maintain this position and Sporting finishes second in Portugal, Club brugge would take the direct entry spot. Sporting needs club Brugge to not finish second.
- Netherlands: Sporting hopes that ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV do not finish third, as this would grant access to the Champions League pre-qualifiers. Currently,
Ajax leads with 74 points,the PSV is second,with 67 points and Feyenoord is third,with 62
. Utrecht also has 62 points but a lower coefficient than Sporting. - france: The situation in France appears more favorable.
Lille is in third position, with 56 points, more than Monaco, the fourth classified
, which is the position that leads to the third pre-qualifying round of the Champions League.
The Bottom Line for Sporting
To secure direct entry into the Champions League as the second-place team, Sporting needs a series of favorable outcomes:
- Athletic Bilbao must win the Europa League.
- Club Brugge must not finish second in the Belgian Championship.
- Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV must not finish third in the Dutch eredivisie.
- Lille must not finish fourth in the french Ligue 1.
These conditions,combined with Athletic Bilbao’s uphill battle in the Europa League,make Sporting’s path to direct Champions League qualification extremely challenging.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What happens if Benfica or sporting finish second and don’t get direct Champions League entry?
A: They will have to go through Champions League qualifying rounds. - Q: Why is Athletic Bilbao’s Europa League performance so important?
A: If they win the Europa League, they can open up a direct Champions League spot for a team with a high coefficient. - Q: What is a coefficient ranking?
A: It’s a ranking system used by UEFA based on a club’s performance in European competitions over the past five seasons.