ROME (AP) — Italy is the first nation to benefit from UEFA’s move to award an extra Champions League qualifying spot based on countries’ overall records in European competitions.
With Roma and Atalanta qualifying for the Europa League semifinals and Fiorentina advancing to the last four in the Europa Conference League, the top five finishers in this season’s Serie A will qualify for next season’s expanded 36-team Champions League.
And the Italian league could even have a sixth team in the Champions League if Roma or Atalanta win the Europa League.
In UEFA’s European performance standings, Italy leads with 19.428 points, ahead of Germany (17.928), England (17.375), France (16.083) and Spain (15.312). The points total is averaged across all of each country’s teams that played in the three UEFA competitions this season and rewards their consistency.
A former Russian tycoon who once led separatist region launches a hunger strike in Azerbaijan jail
Public servants want to know if management positions will be on the chopping block
Hainan island: Known as 'China's Hawaii,' the vacation hotspot is also a strategic military base
Gay Games Hong Kong unfazed by potential censorship, organiser says
Taylor Swift RELEASES The Tortured Poets Department! Grammy
VOX POPULI: Seven years on, the Moritomo Gakuen scandal still unexplained
VOX POPULI: Voters won’t forget ‘politics of oblivion’ in the next election
VOX POPULI: Seven years on, the Moritomo Gakuen scandal still unexplained
Emma Roberts keeps it casual in a hoodie and Dragon Ball Z t
Luke Littler's Premier League darts rival Michael van Gerwen, 34, says the 17
Larry David reunites with onscreen ex
Israeli parliament approves amended 2024 budget to fund Gaza war