Unai Emery's Aston Villa are battling to qualify for the Champions League once again this season
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Aston Villa given Champions League boost(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Aston Villa have been handed a boost in their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
As usual, clubs who finish first to fourth in the Premier League, will all qualify for the Champions League - without having to go through any qualifying rounds.
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This year, a team who finishes fifth could also join the top four in next season's Champions League, instead of playing in the Europa League.
Tottenham Hotspur finished fifth last season and qualified for the Europa League, but this time it could be different.
Two leagues in Europe this season will be rewarded with an extra place in the Champions League, based on clubs' record in all of Uefa's competitions this campaign.
Additionally, the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League will each earn a spot in the 2025/26 Champions League, provided they haven't already qualified through their league position.
This means the Premier League could have up to seven clubs in next season's Champions League: the top five teams in the league, along with the Champions League and Europa League winners, if they finish outside the top five.
But how could the fifth-placed team qualify?
This is calculated by adding up coefficient points based on the performances of clubs from each league in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
This means the different leagues are competing against each other in a ranking known as the "association club coefficient."
Each win for a club in any of Uefa's competitions this season awards two points to the league, while a draw earns one point, and no points are given for a loss.
In addition, bonus points are granted based on a club's position in their respective European league table, with the points weighted according to the competition.
For instance, finishing first in the Champions League earns 12 bonus points, while the top spot in the Europa League gives six points, and the top team in the Conference League receives four.
Bonus points are awarded for progressing to each round from the last-16 onwards, with the points also weighted by competition.
Current standings
England currently lead the table and have five teams who made it to the quarter-finals - more than any other league.
Spain, in second place, have four sides still in Europe, while Italy and Germany only have three.
UEFA coefficient rankings*
England - 169.750 points.
Spain - 151.750 points.
Italy - 159.500 points.
Germany - 143.375 points.
Portugal - 81.250 points.
*Correct at the time of writing
Villa are currently eighth in the league, only three points off fifth-placed Manchester City. An eighth place finish could see them qualify for the Conference League.
A team that has already secured a spot in Europe through the league must win the FA Cup and England needs to earn an additional Champions League spot based on this season’s coefficient averages for that to happen.
Where do you think Villa will finish this season? Have your say in the comments section