The Netherlands has overtaken Russia in the coefficient ranking list due to Ajax’s victory against Young Boys. This means that the Netherlands will finish in seventh place in the UEFA ranking for the first time since the 2005/06 season. That may result in a place in pot 1 in the Champions League for the Eredivisie champion of the 2021/22 season.
The differences between seventh and eighth place on the coefficient ranking are minimal: the five European tickets that can be earned remain the same. These are: 1x group stage Champions League, 1x preliminary round Champions League, 1x preliminary round Europa League and 2x preliminary round Conference League. Nevertheless, the Netherlands can offer advantages in two areas that the seventh place has now been reached:
The coefficient ranking as of March 11, 2021
| COUNTRY | 20/21 | POINTS | ACTIVE TEAMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. Portugal | 9,200 (+0.2) | 48.149 | 1/5 |
| 7. The Netherlands | 8,400 (+0.4) | 38,400 | 1/5 |
| 8. Russia | 4,333 | 38,382 | 0/6 |
| 9. Belgium | 6,000 | 36,500 | 0/5 |
| 10. Austria | 6,700 | 35.825 | 0/5 |
| 11. Scotland | 8,500 (+0.25) | 33.375 | 1/4 |
| 12. Ukraine * | 6,800 (+0) | 33,100 | 2/5 |
| 13. Turkey | 3,100 | 30,100 | 0/5 |
| 14. Denmark | 4.125 | 27.875 | 0/4 |
* Shakhtar Donetsk will play on behalf of Ukraine on Thursday evening.
Significant chance of pot 1 in the Champions League
This gives the champion of the 2021/22 season a considerable chance of a place in pot 1 in the draw for the group stage of the Champions League in 2022/23. What is certain is that the champions of the first six countries in the ranking will end up in pot 1. Those are the numbers one of Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France and Portugal. In addition, the Champions League winner and the Europa League winner are entitled to a place in the first pot, which consists of eight clubs in total. If the winner of the Champions League or Europa League is a champion from one of the top six countries, then a place in pot 1 will become available: that is for the champion of number seven Netherlands.
Possible advantage for the Dutch cup winner
The cup winner of the current number seven Russia automatically qualifies for the main tournament of the Europa League for 2021/22. The play-offs may be skipped, because the winner of the Conference League, the third European club tournament that UEFA has devised, will not have a winner until next year. If the Russian cup winner qualifies for the Europa League or Champions League through the competition in 2021/22, that direct ticket for the Europa League group stage for the 2022/23 season will be taken over by the Dutch cup winner.
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