Premier League, Serie A To Get Extra Champions League Slot Next Season

The Premier League and Serie A are likely to secure another Champions League slot from next season, taking their combined UCL slot tally to ten.

The new Champions League format which is set to take effect from next season will involve 36 clubs – four clubs more than the traditional format which will end this season.

UEFA announced the decision to extend the premier club competition in Europe to promote increased participation and competitiveness from next season. Instead of the traditional group stage system, matches will be played in a ‘Swiss-styled format’ with each club playing eight matches before the playoffs and then Knockout.

Based on the new format, two of the additional four Champions League slots will be allocated to UEFA associations whose clubs have been performing better than others in all three tiers of UEFA competitions.

Currently, Italy and England are leading the table of countries with high-performing clubs in UEFA club competitions. Manchester City won the Champions League playing against an Italian finalist Inter Milan.

An Italian club Roma reached the Europa League final last season before losing to serial winners Sevilla. Another Italian club Fiorentina reached the Europa Conference League final last season before losing to English outfit West Ham.

This season, English and Italian clubs have the most representatives in the knockout stage of all three European club competitions, hence they are leading the ladder of high-performing UEFA association members.

Spain and Germany are trailing the top two leagues. The projections are that the Spanish and German leagues are not likely to overtake the Serie A and Premier League this season to win the two additional slots.

And for the records, the Premier League have been among the top-performing leagues in the last ten years save the 2020/21 season.