NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United reacts during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and AC Milan at St. James Park on December 13, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Despite a shaky period of form, Newcastle United remain firmly in the hunt for the Champions League. In fact, just one point separates the Magpies and fifth-place in the Premier League - with that particular position looking increasingly likely to be enough to guarantee a spot in Europe's premier competition next term.
As ever, two European leagues will be rewarded with an extra place in the continent's biggest club competition, based on performances this season. The collective success of all teams taking part in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League affects the all-important coefficient scores for each country, which determines who the extra places are dished out to.
It works as such: Regardless of competition, each win is worth two coefficient points, a draw gets you one point, and you get nothing for a defeat. All points gained by one country are added together and then divided by the number of clubs they have in Europe in that season to work out each nation's average coefficient.
Last season it was the Bundesliga and Serie A benefitting from the additional spots in the Champions League, with Borussia Dortmund and Bologna booking their spot in the tournament despite initially falling short in their respective divisions. As it stands, with England and Spain both having six out of seven teams remaining in Europe in the knockout stages, those are the two countries leading the way.
The coefficient rankings as it stands:
1. England, 22.178 - (6/7)
2. Spain, 19.892 - (6/7)
3. Italy, 18.937 - (4/8)
4. Germany, 16.671 - (4/8)
5. Portugal, 16.250 - (2/5)
6. France, 15.285 - (3/7)
7. Belgium, 15.250 - (2/5)
8. Netherlands, 15.083 - (4/6)
9. Greece, 12.187 - (2/4)
10. Czechia, 10.812 - (1/5)
England's relatively substantial buffer between third-placed Italy means it would be a surprise if they were to fall out of the top two, with six sides still going strong across UEFA's three competitions. Manchester City are the only Premier League side knocked out at present, with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal all winning their last-16 first legs this week.
Manchester United and Chelsea both avoided defeat in their opening knockout ties too, while Tottenham Hotspur tasted defeat away at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening. Elsewhere, Spain also have six of their seven remaining clubs in action, while the chasing pack of Italy and Germany have four of their eight initial sides in the hat.
Back on Tyneside, Newcastle sit sixth in the Premier League, just two points behind Chelsea (5th), three points adrift of Manchester City (4th) and four off Nottingham Forest (3rd). Meanwhile, a win in next weekend's Carabao Cup final would guarantee a spot in the Europa Conference League, at least, next season.