L
LequteMan
Guest
Manchester United on Wednesday night lifted the Europa League in Stockholm, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
This is the third season in which the winners of the UEFA Europa League will gain automatic entry into the UEFA Champions League.
Only Sevilla have enjoyed this privilege in the past. They took the berth last season despite finishing fifth in the Liga in 2014/15, meaning Spain had a record five teams in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage. Another UEFA Europa League triumph in Basel last May meant the Andalusian side, only seventh in the Liga, again took a group stage spot this campaign.
Here's how it happens:
If two clubs from one country win the Champions League and the Europa League, and neither of these teams finish their domestic league in a position that qualifies them for the Champions League, the following will happen:
– The club that won the UEFA Champions League will go straight into the group stage.
– The UEFA Europa League winners will go into the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
– The club that had qualified for a UEFA Champions League play-off spot via their domestic league competition (i.e. finished fourth) will go to the UEFA Europa League.
This is the third season in which the winners of the UEFA Europa League will gain automatic entry into the UEFA Champions League.
Only Sevilla have enjoyed this privilege in the past. They took the berth last season despite finishing fifth in the Liga in 2014/15, meaning Spain had a record five teams in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage. Another UEFA Europa League triumph in Basel last May meant the Andalusian side, only seventh in the Liga, again took a group stage spot this campaign.
Here's how it happens:
- The UEFA Champions League winners enter in the UEFA Champions League group stage as normal.
- The UEFA Europa League winners enter in the UEFA Champions League (at a minimum level of the play-offs).
- The UEFA Europa League winners enter in the group stage if the UEFA Champions League winners qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage via their domestic league programme. This is what happened the past two seasons after success for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
- With Juventus and Real Madrid (who will play this season's Champions League final) already qualified for next season's Champions League via league position, Manchester United will go straight to the group stage of the competition.
- No more than five clubs can enter the UEFA Champions League from one national association.
If two clubs from one country win the Champions League and the Europa League, and neither of these teams finish their domestic league in a position that qualifies them for the Champions League, the following will happen:
– The club that won the UEFA Champions League will go straight into the group stage.
– The UEFA Europa League winners will go into the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
– The club that had qualified for a UEFA Champions League play-off spot via their domestic league competition (i.e. finished fourth) will go to the UEFA Europa League.
