Bundesliga secures fifth UEFA Champions League spot
Borussia Dortmund's narrow semi-final first leg victory over Paris Saint-Germain saw the Bundesliga secure a fifth spot in next season's competition. But could there even be six teams? bundesliga.com explains how it could play out...
The battle for spots in the top four - and with it the chance to play Champions League football - is usually one of the most thrilling storylines in the final weeks of a Bundesliga season, and this year is no exception, with Dortmund and RB Leipzig both still in the hunt for fourth.
However, Dortmund's win against the French champions courtesy of Niclas Füllkrug's strike means that both teams will be competing in next season's edition of Europe's premier club competition.
But just how has the Bundesliga increased their quota for the 2024/25 term? Well, Champions League organisers UEFA are awarding an extra qualification spot to the two best-performing leagues in the current season according to its own co-efficient rankings. There is a complicated points system behind that, but the more wins and further a league's teams go in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, the higher that league climbs in the rankings.
The Bundesliga has been in the top two all season, ahead of England's Premier League (17.375). The Bundesliga has a coefficient of 18.357, just behind Italy's Serie A (19.428) in first place, meaning the division can no longer by caught.
Current UEFA association club coefficients (as of 17 April 2024)
- Italy - 19.428
- Germany - 18.357
- England 17.375
- France - 16.083
- Spain - 15.437
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German's elite league could now extend its advantage, with themselves and Bayern Munich still have return legs ahead of them and Leverkusen still to play either match of ther Europa League clash with AS Roma.
Now, whoever finished fifth in the Bundesliga has extra reason to be proud of their successes in Europe earlier in the season and appreciate the European exploits of their domestic rivals.
It will not be the first time the Bundesliga has sent five representatives into Europe's elite club competition. Eintracht Frankfurt's 2021/22 Europa League victory saw them earn Champions League qualification for 2022/23 in addition to four sides that qualified via the league.
It's worth noting, though, that the prospect of Dortmund lifting the Champions League for the second time in their history could in fact throw up the potential for a sixth Bundesliga qualifier.
At this point, that would happen if they finished fifth. Dortmund would qualify as holders, the top four as normal, and then the next best-placed German team as well.
However, if Borussia win the Champions League and finish in the top four, their berth as holders is passed to another country.
All will become clearer as we approach the finishing line for 2023/24...
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