Netherlands lose ground to Belgium in UEFA coefficient race
Dutch clubs collected fewer coefficient points than their Belgian counterparts this week, increasing the gap between the countries to almost eight points.
The Netherlands has fallen further behind Belgium in the UEFA coefficient standings after collecting 1.0 point over the past three days, compared with Belgium’s 1.6. Club Brugge’s victory away to PSV accounted for 0.4 points in the Belgian total.
Wins for NEC, Ajax and FC Twente prevented the deficit from growing further. They were the only Eredivisie representatives to win in Europe this week, while Feyenoord suffered a 3-0 Champions League defeat by Internazionale and AZ lost 2-1 to Juventus in the Europa League.
The Netherlands remains eighth with 56.395 points, almost eight behind seventh-placed Belgium on 64.050. Turkey is ninth on 53.075. The ranking determines how many clubs each country can enter in UEFA competitions and how those teams qualify.
If the Netherlands remains below Belgium at the end of the season, the consequences will apply from 2028: the KNVB Cup winner would no longer receive a direct Europa League place and would instead have to qualify through the play-offs. Dropping outside the top ten would also cost the Dutch champions direct Champions League qualification from 2028, although the Netherlands is not expected to face that danger this season. Next season could be more difficult when the 2022/23 results are removed from the calculation, but five of the six Dutch clubs currently occupy virtual qualification positions for the next round, offering the prospect of bonus points.
Reported first by
- Nederland ziet excellerende Belgen verder weglopen op coëfficiëntenranglijst | Voetbal | NU.nl— NU.nl Voetbal
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