UEFA Scraps Champions League Playoff For Clubs In Italy, Spain, Germany

UEFA has adjusted its rule which stipulates Champions League and Europa League playoff games for teams that finishes fourth in the bigger leagues.

It means that clubs in that category from Italy, Germany, and Spain, as well as the current holders of the Champions League and the Europa League will all benefit.

The absence of qualifying rounds is a huge boost for English clubs, who have seen themselves navigating tricky ties to qualify for the tournaments over the years.

Despite finishing fourth last season, Liverpool had to overcome German side, Hoffenheim, in the qualifying rounds before going all the way to the final.

This season, they went straight through to the group stage, despite finishing fourth in the 2017/18 season and 25 points behind Manchester City.

Two more teams from the EPL, Serie A, La Liga, and Bundesliga will also qualify directly for the Europa League group stages, as well as two from France. But sides from lesser leagues will still have to face play off.

This means that from next season, the top six clubs will all be guaranteed a place in both European competition’s group stage.

UEFA also revealed that more teams will qualify directly for the group stages, with 26 in total compared to 22 from this season.

But for now, only six teams will gain entry via the qualifying round, as opposed to 10 this term, but this format will still remain a mini knockout tournament.

The final change sees more clubs go into the Europa League from the group stages, with 10 sides now playing in Europe’s second club competition.

Seventeen teams will qualify for the tournament directly through domestic league positions, while 21 clubs will make it through the normal qualifying route.