Bundesliga
Bundesliga secures fifth Champions League spot - could it even be six?
Borussia Dortmund's semi-final first-leg victory over Paris Saint-Germain saw the Bundesliga secure a fifth spot in next season's UEFA Champions League. But could there even be six teams? bundesliga.com explains how it works...
The battle for spots in the top four - and with it the chance to play Champions League football - is usually one of the most thrilling storylines in the final weeks of a Bundesliga season, and this year is no exception, with Dortmund and RB Leipzig both still in the hunt for fourth.
However, Dortmund's win against the French champions courtesy of Niclas Füllkrug's strike means that both teams will be competing in next season's edition of Europe's premier club competition regardless.
But just how has the Bundesliga increased its quota for the 2024/25 term? Well, as part of its revamped format, Champions League organisers UEFA are awarding an extra qualification spot to the two best-performing leagues in the current season according to its own co-efficient rankings. There is a complicated points system behind that, but the more wins and further a league's teams go in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, the higher that league climbs in the rankings.
The Bundesliga has been in the top two all season, ahead of England's Premier League and behind Italy's Serie A. The efforts of the seven German teams in Europe in 2023/24 now mean the Bundesliga cannot be ousted from second place and will field five teams in the Champions League next year alongside Italy.
Current UEFA association club coefficients (as of 2 May 2024)
- Italy - 19.428
- Germany - 18.357
- England 17.375
- France - 16.083
- Spain - 15.437
It will not be the first time the Bundesliga has sent five representatives into Europe's elite club competition. Eintracht Frankfurt's 2021/22 Europa League victory saw them earn Champions League qualification for 2022/23 in addition to four sides that qualified via the league.
It's worth noting, though, that the prospect of Dortmund lifting the Champions League for the second time in their history could in fact throw up the potential for a sixth Bundesliga qualifier.
At this point, that would happen if they finished fifth. Dortmund would qualify as holders, the top four as normal, and then the next best-placed German team as well - currently Frankfurt.
However, if Borussia win the Champions League and finish in the top four, their berth as holders is passed to another country.
All will become clearer as we approach the finishing line for 2023/24...