Belgium remained out of reach and Willem II’s European adventure passed, but Dutch football can look back on a reasonably good evening for the coefficient list. Chasers Turkey and Ukraine left it.
The Netherlands entered the European week as number nine in the UEFA ranking and still is after Thursday evening. PSV defeated NS Mura (1-5), Willem II was lost by Rangers FC (0-4). Belgium, which is one place higher, was delayed by the Europa League victories of Standard Liège and Charleroi. This is offset by AA Gent’s Champions League elimination against Dinamo Kiev.
It is important for the Netherlands to maintain its place in the top ten of the coefficient list this season. In that case, the champion of 2022 can enter the Champions League immediately, just like in 2021. The poor results of Turkey and Ukraine – at the start of the evening respectively the numbers eleven and twelve of the UEFA ranking – are therefore extra good news.
Besiktas lost on Thursday evening after penalties from Rio Ave and Alanyaspor found his Waterloo against PSV opponent Rosenborg BK. Galatasaray won partly due to a goal from Ryan Babel from Hajduk Split. Ukraine also lost two clubs with Desna and Kolos Kovalivka and even had to give up twelfth place to Scotland. Turkey and Ukraine now only have three irons in the fire, compared to four from the Netherlands (Ajax, AZ, Feyenoord and PSV).
The current middle section of the coefficient ranking:
8. Belgium 32,500 (2,000)
9. NETHERLANDS 31,900 (1,900)
10. Austria 30,125 (1,000)
11. Turkey 28,800 (1,800)
12. Scotland 28,125 (3,250)
13. Ukraine 28,100 (1,800)
Source: Bert Kassies
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