Arsenal’s stunning 3-0 victory over Real Madrid has ensured that at least five Premier League clubs will feature in next season’s Champions League, the English top division confirmed on Wednesday.
The top four teams in the Premier League automatically earn a spot in Europe’s premier club competition. However, due to the impressive performances of English teams across all three major European tournaments, England has secured a top-two position in UEFA’s association coefficient rankings, which grants them an additional “European Performance Spot.”
Currently, England leads the rankings, followed by Spain and Italy.
Five Premier League clubs are competing in the quarter-finals of various European competitions this season: Arsenal and Aston Villa in the Champions League, Manchester United and Tottenham in the Europa League, and Chelsea in the Conference League.
Next season, the Premier League could have as many as seven teams in the Champions League — the top five finishers in the league, plus the Champions League and Europa League winners, should they finish outside the top five.
Liverpool are on track to win the Premier League, with Arsenal in second place. However, the battle for the remaining Champions League spots is tight, with just six points separating third-place Nottingham Forest from seventh-place Villa.
Arsenal’s dominant 3-0 first-leg win over 15-time European champions Real Madrid on Tuesday adds an exciting twist to the race, while Villa is set to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
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