The UEFA Europa League trophy
AC Milan and Juventus go into the Europa League with the obligation to win as many games as possible and to go as far as they can.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write how it’s no longer just a matter of winning or losing, of groups and simple qualification as it was before. For some years now, European fixtures have left a trail of calculations and predictions behind every matchday, with the big ‘league’ phase.
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The top two federations in the European standings are entitled to an additional club in the subsequent edition of the Champions League. Italy achieved this feat in 2024, with Bologna benefiting.
A chance to help themselves
The underlying message is that, although Europe’s top competition awards a greater number of points in terms of the UEFA rankings, the Europa League path can still be decisive.
Specifically, teams playing in the Champions League can earn 29.5 points, which drops to 23 in the Europa League and 20.5 in the Conference League. Each team’s score is calculated by adding together wins, draws, qualification for the next round, and placement in the league phase.
With all these variables, reaching the final stage of the Europa League would not only be a positive thing for Italian football, but it would also give Milan and Juventus the opportunity to help themselves in the race for the Champions League.
amorim europa league
Photos: AC Milan + Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Milan and Juventus last season saw the Champions League slip away on the final day, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Therefore, they had to ‘settle’ for the Europa League.
Coefficient points translate to the possibility of having an extra spot for the Champions League. If obtained, this allows the fifth-placed team to qualify for the top tournament, precisely where the Rossoneri finished last season.
The Serie A standings after the first four rounds see Milan two points off fourth place and Juve three. With only the first game of the Champions League done, the top three currently consists of teams from Azerbaijan, Norway, and Portugal.