The draw of Ajax against Benfica in the eighth final of the Champions League is also spicy in terms of the coefficients. The champion of the Netherlands can give Portugal a very sensitive slap on the nose by eliminating Benfica. Sporting Portugal also had a tough opponent on paper with Manchester City.
The Netherlands is engaged in a battle with Portugal for place six in the coefficient ranking. At the end of each season, the final standings determine how many European tickets each country claims. That position is determined on the basis of the last five seasons. At the current position, the Netherlands is still well behind Portugal, but in the ranking from 1 July 2022, the Netherlands is already virtually in sixth place, which entitles them to two group stage tickets for the Champions League. In seventh place, a country only gets one group stage ticket.
The coefficient ranking as of 09-12-2021
| COUNTRY | CURRENT SCORE | SCORE AS OF 01/07/’22 | ACTIVE TEAMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. France | 55.748 | 44.248 | 6/6 |
| 6. Portugal | 50.049 | 40.383 | 4/6 |
| 7. Netherlands | 44,300 | 41,400 | 5/5 |
| 8. Austria | 37.850 | 28,100 | 3/5 |
| 9. Russia | 34.282 | 21.682 | 2/5 |
| 10. Scotland | 34,100 | 30,100 | 2/5 |
The Netherlands has a full point lead in the rankings from next season. If that lead is still in place after the 2022/23 season, the Netherlands will receive two tickets for the group stage of the Champions League in 2024. The five remaining Eredivisie clubs in Europe may be able to further expand the current lead over Portugal after the winter break.
As said, Ajax can do that in a direct duel with Benfica. Sporting also plays against Manchester City in the Champions League. Portugal also has two irons in the fire in the play-off round of the Europa League: FC Porto will face Lazio, while Sporting Braga will face Sheriff Tiraspol.
The Netherlands itself has five clubs left in Europe, provided that Vitesse is not officially qualified yet. It seems that the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Stade Rennes cannot be overtaken, so that the Arnhem team would continue. Vitesse will play against Rapid Wien in the play-off round of the Conference League. PSV will face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the same round, while AZ and Feyenoord are already certain of the last sixteen of the Conference League.
Which place is good for which tickets?
| PLACE | CL TICKETS | EL TICKETS | COL TICKETS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 4 direct | 2 direct | 1 preliminary round |
| 5 | 2 direct, 1 preliminary round | 2 direct | 1 preliminary round |
| 6 | 2 direct, 1 preliminary round | 1 direct | 2 preliminary round |
| 7 to 10 | 1 direct, 1 preliminary round | 1 preliminary round | 2 preliminary round |
| 11 to 15 | 2 preliminary round | 1 preliminary round | 2 preliminary round |
| 16 to 50 | 1 preliminary round | 0 | 3 preliminary round |
| 51 to 55 | 1 preliminary round | 0 | 2 preliminary round |
It is wishful thinking, but it is not even completely excluded that the Netherlands will make up for the gap with Portugal this year. For this, the Portuguese participants would have to be eliminated (almost) immediately, while the Eredivisionists would have to get very far in their European tournaments. The Netherlands would then have to make up almost six points against Portugal in six months. In that (unlikely) case, the Netherlands would already receive two direct Champions League tickets for the group stage of 2023.