PSV will start next season thanks to the second place in the Eredivisie in the preliminary round of the Champions League. Depending on the winner of the Europa League final, which will be played on Wednesday, trainer Roger Schmidt’s team must survive two or three preliminary rounds to get into the group stage.
The most favorable for PSV is when Manchester United wins the Europa League on Wednesday by winning against Villarreal. In that case, the Eindhoven team will start in the third heat of the Champions League. After the third preliminary round, a play-off round may follow, in which a ticket for the group stage can be earned. If the Europa League is won by Villarreal, PSV will play an extra round and the Eredivisionist will join the second qualifying round.
Scenario for Manchester United’s Europa League win
Clubs are awarded placed or unplaced status in the draw based on their coefficient. Seeded clubs can then only draw unseeded clubs against which two matches are played. With an EL win from Man United, PSV therefore starts in the third heat. In this scenario, AS Monaco (number three in France) receives a direct ticket for the Champions League and disappears from the preliminary rounds.
It is not certain whether the Eindhoven team will have a seeded status, that depends on whether Celtic push through from the second heat. Celtic has a higher coefficient than PSV and would displace the Dutch club to an unseeded status. Other clubs in the third heat in this scenario are at least Shakhtar Donetsk, AS Monaco, Racing Genk, PSV, Spartak Moscow and Galatasaray. The four clubs that make it to the play-offs will fight for two tickets in the last round.
Second qualifying round (with EL win Man United)
| POSTED | COEFFICIENT | UNPLACED | COEFFICIENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | 34,000 | Rapid Wien | 17,000 | |
| Sparta Prague | 17,500 | FC Midtjylland | 13,500 |
Third qualifying round (with EL win Man United)
| POSTED | COEFFICIENT | UNPLACED | COEFFICIENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakhtar Donetsk | 79,000 | Spartak Moscow | 18,500 | |
| AS Monaco | 36,000 | Galatasaray | 17,000 | |
| Racing Genk | 30,000 | Club from Q2 | ||
| PSV | 29,000 | Club from Q2 |
Play-offs (with EL win Man United)
| POSTED | COEFFICIENT | UNPLACED | COEFFICIENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club from Q3 | Club from Q3 | |||
| Club from Q3 | Club from Q3 |
Scenario for Europa League win of Villarreal
A much less favorable scenario for PSV is that the Europa League is won by Villarreal. In that case, the Eredivisie club starts with a seeded status in the second heat. PSV can only draw lots with unseeded status: Rapid Wien, Galatasaray and FC Midtjylland. PSV cannot draw lots against Celtic and Sparta Prague, the other seeded clubs.
If PSV survives the second heat, the club will go to the third heat with an unseeded status. PSV can play against Shakhtar Donetsk, Benfica, AS Monaco and Racing Genk in it. If Celtic survives the second preliminary round, the Scots will take over the seeded status of Genk. The other club that, besides PSV, is already certain of an unseeded status is Spartak Moscow. The four clubs that remain decide in the play-offs who the two get tickets for the group stage.
Second qualifying round (with EL win Villarreal)
| POSTED | COEFFICIENT | UNPLACED | COEFFICIENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | 34,000 | Rapid Wien | 17,000 | |
| PSV | 29,000 | Galatasaray | 17,000 | |
| Sparta Prague | 17,500 | FC Midtjylland | 13,500 |
Third qualifying round (with EL win Villarreal)
| POSTED | COEFFICIENT | UNPLACED | COEFFICIENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakhtar Donetsk | 79,000 | Spartak Moscow | 18,500 | |
| Benfica | 58,000 | Club from Q2 | ||
| AS Monaco | 36,000 | Club from Q2 | ||
| Racing Genk | 30,000 | Club from Q2 |
Play-offs (with EL win Villarreal)
| POSTED | COEFFICIENT | UNPLACED | COEFFICIENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club from Q3 | Club from Q3 | |||
| Club from Q3 | Club from Q3 |