Aston Villa go into Wednesday's Europa League final against SC Freiburg knowing they have already qualified for the Champions League next season
Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park
Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park (Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa’s victory over Liverpool confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League.
In doing so Villa became the 20th club who will definitely dine at Europe’s top table in 2026/27 – and have access to the kind of revenue streams the club craves if it is to challenge at the very top of the Premier League.
Not only did the 4-2 win fulfil Unai Emery’s main objective, it also jeopardises Liverpool’s participation with their bid for a top five finish now taken to the final game of the season with potentially both Brighton and Bournemouth still in contention.
Villa’s first crack at the competition a couple of years ago saw them make it all the way to the quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain but only after riproaring nights against the likes of Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. All three are potential opponents next term.
Here’s who’s qualified so far.
Confirmed
Arsenal (Premier League)
Manchester City (Premier League)
Manchester United (Premier League)
Aston Villa (Premier League)
Inter Milan (Serie A)
Barcelona (La Liga)
Real Madrid (La Liga)
Villarreal (La Liga)
Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Real Betis (La Liga EPS)
Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Paris St-Germain (Ligue 1)
Lens (Ligue 1)
PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)
Feyenoord (Eredivisie)
Porto (Liga Portugal)
Slavia Prague (Czech First League)
Galatasaray (Super Lig)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Titleholder replacement)
Overall 36 teams will compete in the league phase, 29 of which will be decided before the end of the current campaign. Seven more will come from qualification, taking place in the summer.
Remaining places
Europa League winner
Premier League fifth (Elite Performance Spot)
Serie A top four
Serie A top four
Serie A top four
Bundesliga top four
Ligue 1 top three
Belgian Pro League winners
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Play-offs
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (League Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (League Path)
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