Newcastle United can still qualify for the Champions League this season even if they finish outside of the top five - UEFA have confirmed.
The Magpies reached the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in four attempts, only to lose 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona in the last-16.
Despite drawing the first leg 1-1 at St James’ Park and bouncing back twice in the second leg at Camp Nou with the score level at 2-2 before the final kick of the first half, Newcastle capitulated in the final 45 minutes of the tie as they ended up losing 7-2 on the night.
It was a crash back down to earth for Newcastle, who sit ninth in the Premier League table and nine points off the top four with eight games remaining.
But UEFA rules give them fresh hope not only of qualifying for Europe once again but also of qualifying for the Champions League.
Last season, Newcastle became the first Premier League side to qualify for the Champions League on league position alone after finishing fifth in the table.
UEFA rules introduced in 2024 mean the two nations with the highest coefficients for the 2025-26 campaign will each be handed an extra qualification spot. The performance of English clubs in Europe this season has virtually guaranteed England a top-two UEFA coefficient for the 2025-26 campaign and an extra Champions League place as a ‘European Performance Spot’ (EPS).
The top four in the Premier League typically qualify for the Champions League. The European Performance Spot grants qualification to fifth place while the Europa League spot is passed down to sixth.
An extra Europa League spot is granted to the winners of the FA Cup while the winners of the Carabao Cup earn a Conference League place. If the winners of those competitions have already qualified for Europe on league position alone, their respective qualification place would be granted to the next highest finisher in the Premier League.
But there is a further complication which relates to the current European competitions taking place.
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How Aston Villa & Liverpool could help Newcastle United qualify for the Champions League
Aston Villa currently sit fourth in the Premier League table while Liverpool are two points behind them in fifth and Chelsea are a further point behind in sixth.
Villa are favourites to win the Europa League this season, which also grants a Champions League qualification spot. Should Unai Emery’s side win the Europa League but drop to fifth, sixth place would be granted Champions League qualification through the European Performance Spot.
If Liverpool and Villa were to finish fifth or sixth and win the Champions League and Europa League respectively, then seventh place would be granted Champions League qualification through the European Performance spot.
UEFA confirm seventh place can qualify for the Champions League
That complicated scenario has been confirmed to The Gazette by UEFA, who said: “If Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League and finish 5th and Aston Villa win the UEFA Europa League and finish 6th, the EPS would be awarded to the seventh-ranked club in the EPL, in accordance with Article 3.08 and 3.09 of the competition regulations.”
If that specific set of events occurs and seventh place is granted Champions League football for next season, suddenly Newcastle’s nine-point gap on the Champions League places could be cut down to just three points. Brentford currently occupy seventh place, three points above the Magpies in the table.
How will other European competitions be impacted?
Should seventh place be granted Champions League football based on the aforementioned criteria, the Premier League’s Conference League spot would be forfeited, and eighth place would be granted Europa League football if the FA Cup winners finish in the top seven.
If Villa finish fifth and with the Europa League, sixth place would be granted Champions League football and the Europa League spot would be forfeited, with seventh getting Conference League football.
Should the FA Cup winners finish outside of the top seven in the Premier League, they would still be granted a Europa League spot. Crystal Palace would also be granted a place in the Europa League next season if they win the Conference League this season.
Newcastle finished seventh two seasons ago and missed out on European football entirely after the season had concluded due to Manchester United finishing eighth and winning the FA Cup. This season, they could finish in the same position and still qualify for the Champions League, but only if a very specific set of conditions occurs.
It’s also good news for the likes of Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Brighton and even Sunderland heading into the final run of games as they compete for the final European places.
Full breakdown of Premier League European places in 2025/26
Standard season
Champions League: 1st to 4th
Europa League: 5th and FA Cup winners/6th
Conference League: 6th or 7th (as Carabao Cup winners Arsenal or Manchester City are already set for European football)
EPS season
Champions League: 1st to 5th
Europa League 6th and FA Cup winners/7th
Conference League: 7th or 8th
EPS season + Aston Villa win Europa League & finish 5th
Champions League: 1st to 6th
Europa League: FA Cup winners/forfeited
Conference League: 7th
EPS season + Aston Villa win the Europa League & finish 6th
Champions League: 1st to 6th
Europa League: FA Cup winners/7th
Conference League: Forfeited
EPS season + Aston Villa win the Europa League & finish 6th + Liverpool win the Champions League & finish 5th
Champions League: 1st to 7th
Europa League: FA Cup winners/8th
Conference League: Forfeited
EPS season + Aston Villa win the Europa League & finish 5th + Liverpool win the Champions League & finish 6th
Champions League: 1st to 7th
Europa League: FA Cup winners/forfeited
Conference League: 8th
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