Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 10:58 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 22:58

The chance of a place in Pot 1 in the draw for the next group stage of the Champions League has increased considerably for the champion of the Eredivisie. If the winner of the Champions League also becomes champion in their own country, Ajax or PSV will end up in Pot 1. Since Villarreal did not become champion in Spain, a victory by Villarreal would have meant that the champion of the Eredivisie would end up in a lower pot . El Submarino Amarillo however, was eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-final on Tuesday evening.

Ajax has the best papers to become champion of the Netherlands. The team from Amsterdam has a coefficient of 82.5 and therefore seems almost certain of at least Pot 2. If PSV causes a surprise by claiming the national title, the club will enter the draw with a coefficient of 33 points. This makes the unfavorable Pot 4 unavoidable. However, the people of Eindhoven would also be saved if the Champions League winner also becomes champion in their own country. Then the Eredivisie champion goes to Pot 1, no matter who it is.

After all, a place in Pot 1 becomes available for the seventh country in the coefficient ranking if a club from a top six country becomes national champion and wins the Champions League. The Netherlands is in seventh place in the UEFA ranking. A similar rule ensured that PSV ended up in Pot 1 of the Champions League in 2015. Unlike Villarreal, Liverpool still have a chance to become champions in their own country. The other semi-final will be between Real Madrid and Manchester City on Wednesday. The superpower from Spain is already certain of the national title; in England, Liverpool and Manchester City compete for the championship.

A place in Pot 1 would undeniably be an advantage for PSV, but for Ajax that is not a fait accompli. For example, two of this season’s four semi-finalists (Real Madrid and Liverpool) were in Pot 2 in the draw for the current season. Pot 1 only contains national champions and the Europa League winner. Thus, clubs like Barcelona and Manchester City/Liverpool can end up in Pot 2, while the champions of Portugal (presumably FC Porto) and the winner of the Europa League, smaller clubs on paper, are in Pot 1. Ajax was in Pot 3 this season, but got a favorable opponent from Pot 1 with Sporting Portugal.