The Premier League has now been confirmed as having (at least…) five places in the 2026/27 Champions League.
A point or more for Arsenal in Lisbon on Tuesday night was needed to mathematically guarantee it.
It might have been the most boring game imaginable but in the end a Havertz goal in added time gave the Gunners a 1-0 win (see image above) against Sporting Lisbon, ensuring that fifth place in the Champions League next season.
Only La Liga can now manage a higher average co-efficient in their clubs’ collective performances this season, so the Premier League guaranteed to get one of the two extra Champions League places next season.
However, with Real Madrid losing 2-1 at home last night to Bayern Munich, it was a blow to La Liga’s hopes of the other extra Champions League spot. The Bundesliga have now closed the gap on La Liga with that result and are the biggest challengers to join the Premier League with an extra place, Portugal the only only other who can deprive Spain.
Tonight sees Barcelona v Atletico Madrid and PSG v Liverpool, with Europa League and Conference League quarter-finals also seeing their first legs played out this week.
So fifth spot in the Premier League this season is now guaranteed to play in the Champions League, after Newcastle United benefited in the 2024-25 campaign when finishing fifth.
The race for fifth place in the Premier League is very tight, currently Liverpool in fifth on 49 points but just seven points separate the scousers from 13th-placed Bournemouth.
Premier League table as at Wednesday 8 April 2026
Aston Villa are currently fourth in the Premier League on 54 points, if they win the Europa League AND finish outside the top four in the Premier League, then that would mean six teams in the Champions League for the Premier League
It is the same with Liverpool, if they win the Champions League but finish outside the Premier League top four this season, then that would also mean six PL teams in the Champions League next season.
So if either of those scenarios happen then the team finishing sixth in the Premier League would qualify for next season’s Champions League, via the extra place that Arsenal’s result confirmed last night. Currently Chelsea are sixth on 48 points.
It then becomes even more bizarre if both Liverpool and Villa win their respective European trophies and then fill fifth and sixth in the Premier League, as that would mean the team finishing seventh in the Premier League this season would qualify for next season’s Champions League. Brentford are currently seventh on 46 points.
Plus of course, Nottingham Forest could win this season’s Europa League and become a sixth English club in next season’s Champions League. However, just like Tottenham last season, as they are fighting relegation that wouldn’t mean a place potentially opening up for whoever finishes sixth in the Premier League this season.