The Netherlands did not have a very good week in terms of transactions. Ajax was the only club to win its match. FC Twente is threatened with exclusion, and the European future of Alkmaar is hanging by a thread. What is the situation compared to competitors France and Portugal?
The story is now known: the Netherlands is currently ranked fifth in the list of virtual laboratories. The lead over France is about 1.75 points. The Netherlands must maintain this lead to maintain the fifth place. This would allow the top three in the 2024/25 Eredivisie season to enter the Champions League and the number four could take part in the preliminary rounds for the billion-dollar ball.
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Only one French team played this week: Lille came from 1-0 down against HNK Rijeka to win 2-1. Next week, Lille will have to defend that lead. If successful, Lille will reach the group stage of the Conference League and France will be represented in Europe with all six potential participants. While France must divide the points achieved by six, the Netherlands divide them by five. But due to Twente’s imminent elimination (following a 5-1 defeat by Fenerbahçe in the last qualifying round of the Conference League), only a maximum of four clubs seem capable of picking up points for the Netherlands from the group stage.
AZ will have to go all out to reach the group stage of the conference league after being held to a 1-1 draw by SK Brann at home. For PSV, the question is whether the club will play in the Champions League or Europa League, after the 2-2 draw with Rangers FC. Ajax won 4-1 against Ludogorets and can prepare for the Europa League group stage.
Not only is the Netherlands trying to keep France under control, but also Portugal under control. If Portugal don’t beat the Netherlands, the two direct Champions League tickets (plus one ticket for the qualifying round) will be kept anyway. The Braga team, on behalf of Portugal, beat Panathinaikos 2-1 in the final preliminary round of the Champions League on Wednesday. A place in the group stage for Braga would give Portugal four more points. Of course, the same applies to the Netherlands if PSV qualify.
Portugal has already lost two European participants in the preliminary rounds of the Conference League with Arouca and Vitoria SC. As a result, only four of the six teams can earn points for Portugal.
Default parameter classification:
5. The Netherlands (54,000)
6. France (52,247)
7. Portugal (47,482)
Which seat is suitable for which tickets?
Place 1 to 4: 4 UEFA Champions League (live), 2 UEFA Europa League (live), 1 Conference League (preliminary round)
5th place: 3 UEFA Champions League (live), 1 UEFA Champions League (preliminary round), 2 UEFA Europa League (live), 1 Conference League (preliminary round)
6th place: 2 UEFA Champions League (live), 1 UEFA Champions League (preliminary round), 1 UEFA Europa League (live), 2 Conference League (preliminary round)
Place from 7 to 10: 1 UEFA Champions League (live), 1 UEFA Champions League (preliminary round), 1 UEFA Europa League (preliminary round), 2 Conference League (preliminary round)
Venue from 11 to 15: 2 UEFA Champions League (preliminary round), 1 UEFA Europa League (preliminary round), 2 Conference League (preliminary round)
Position from 16th to 50th: 1 UEFA Champions League (preliminary round), 0 UEFA Europa League, 3 Conference League (preliminary round)
Places 51 to 55: 1 UEFA Champions League (preliminary round), 0 UEFA Europa League, 2 Conference League (preliminary round)
