Tottenham Hotspur’s quest for Champions League football in the 2024/25 season received a significant boost following Thursday night’s Europa League and Europa Conference League action.
The last-16 line-ups for Europe’s two competitions were finalized after the conclusion of the play-off knockout round. AC Milan, Benfica, Freiburg, Marseille, Qarabag, Roma, Sparta Prague, and Sporting CP progressed in the Europa League, while Ajax, Maccabi Haifa, Dinamo Zagreb, Servette, Molde, Sturm Graz, Olympiakos, and Union Saint-Gilloise qualified in the Europa Conference League.
Although the outcomes of these competitions do not directly impact the Champions League, they determine which nation receives additional spots for next season’s ‘Swiss league’ style of the Champions League.
The allocation of the extra spots will be based on coefficient points earned by each league, making it a competition between leagues. Currently, Italy and Germany hold these positions, but England’s chances of surpassing the Bundesliga received a boost thanks to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.
Union Saint-Gilloise’s victory over German side Eintracht Frankfurt contributed to England’s position in the coefficient table, as they are closer to Germany than to Italy.
Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund remain in the Champions League, though they all faced setbacks in the first leg of their ties. Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg are in the Europa League last-16.
With six participants across Europe’s three competitions, the Premier League’s representation has decreased from eight after Manchester United and Newcastle exited in the group stage.
Tottenham, currently fifth in the league after 25 games, are closely trailing Aston Villa in fourth by only two points. If England overtakes Germany in the coefficient table, fifth-place could secure Champions League qualification for Ange Postecoglou’s side next season.
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