Serie A will have five teams in the Champions League next season after securing one of the two extra places for performance across the three European competitions this season. The European Performance Spots initiative, part of the revamp to expand the Champions League to a 36-team competition, will reward two leagues with an additional place.
Italy's dominance in European competitions this season was evident as three of its teams made the semifinals, securing its place in the top two. Despite no Italian team reaching the Champions League quarterfinals, AS Roma and Atalanta's presence in the Europa League semis, along with Fiorentina's advancement in the Europa Conference League, contributed to Serie A having the highest coefficient score among all leagues.
In contrast, the Premier League suffered setbacks with four of its five remaining clubs being eliminated in the quarterfinal stage. Only Aston Villa remains active in the Europa Conference League, leaving England's hopes for additional Champions League spots in jeopardy.
Germany's Bundesliga is poised to benefit from England's misfortunes, with Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Borussia Dortmund advancing in European competitions. Ligue 1, with two teams still in contention, also has the potential to surpass England's coefficient score.
Germany needs 0.488 coefficient points to secure the remaining extra place, while Italy's fifth-place team, currently Roma, is in line to qualify for the Champions League. If Roma or Atalanta win the Europa League and finish outside the top four, Serie A could potentially have six representatives in the Champions League next season.
Similarly, Borussia Dortmund, currently fifth in the Bundesliga, could secure an additional spot for Germany if they meet the criteria. The race for Champions League spots highlights the competitive nature of European football and the significance of performance across multiple competitions in determining qualification.
