Race for Europe: How things stand, permutations and remaining fixtures

The race to secure places in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League during The Run In is becoming increasingly exciting - and difficult to predict. Here is all you need to know.  

The top seven clubs are guaranteed to be playing in Europe next season, but only the top five will get a Champions League spot, so there is all to play for. Indeed, there are only four points separating the five clubs who are ranked third to seventh. 

There is another thrilling race happening a little further down the table, with just four points between the four sides who are placed eighth to 11th. This is significant as finishing eighth might be worth a place in European competition next season. 

Race for Europe

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
2	Arsenal ARS	36	+33	68
3	Newcastle NEW	36	+23	66
4	Man City MCI	36	+24	65
5	Chelsea CHE	36	+19	63
6	Aston Villa AVL	36	+7	63
7	Nott'm Forest NFO	36	+12	62
8	Brentford BRE	36	+10	55
9	Brighton BHA	36	+3	55
10	Bournemouth BOU	36	+12	53
11	Fulham FUL	36	+1	51

Full table

How do teams qualify for European competition?

UEFA Champions League

The top five teams in the Premier League will qualify for next season’s Champions League.

This is because, thanks to the performances of Premier League clubs in all of UEFA’s competitions this season, England is guaranteed a top-two spot in UEFA's association club coefficient rankings, which earns a "European Performance Spot" (EPS).

The Premier League will actually have SIX clubs in next season's Champions League - the top five teams in the league, plus whoever triumph out of Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

The battle for a top-five spot in the league is heating up, with only the champions Liverpool guaranteed a top-five finish. The race to secure the other four remaining places is wide open, with SIX teams vying to secure a spot.

Second-placed Arsenal had looked to be in the strongest position, but a run of one win in six matches means they are now looking over their shoulder, needing another two points to guarantee a top-five finish (although their superior goal difference means one point should be enough).

The Gunners drew 2-2 at Liverpool on Sunday and next up have a home encounter with Newcastle United, who would go above Arsenal with a win at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 18 May.

Similarly, Manchester City were on a good run of four straight wins before a surprise 0-0 draw at bottom club Southampton on Saturday left them vulnerable to the chasing teams below them.

That allowed Newcastle to move above Man City into third when they beat 10-man Chelsea 1-0 in Sunday's early kick-off.

That result gave Nottingham Forest the chance to go fifth above Chelsea if they could beat Leicester City. But Forest’s dip in form continued as they conceded a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Leicester and now have only one win in six matches as they sit seventh.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side next face a trip to West Ham United before a potential top-five final-day decider at home to Chelsea. 

The Forest draw means Aston Villa stay sixth, level on 63 points with Chelsea, after winning six of their last seven matches, including what was arguably the toughest of their remaining fixtures - on Saturday, a 1-0 victory at AFC Bournemouth, who have European aspirations of their own.

Villa will hope to continue that form in their final two matches against Europa League finalists Man Utd and Spurs and profit from the teams above them dropping points.

Race for Champions League - remaining fixtures

UEFA Europa League

English football receives two Europa League places.

One is traditionally awarded to the fifth-placed finisher in the Premier League, but this season it will go to the sixth-placed team because England have received an additional fifth Champions League spot.

The other Europa League place goes to the winners of the FA Cup. Crystal Palace face Man City in the final at Wembley Stadium on 17 May.

UEFA Conference League

The winners of the EFL Cup qualify for the Conference League.

This season, Newcastle secured a European spot when they triumphed over Liverpool at Wembley, ending their 56-year wait for a trophy in the process.

How else can clubs make it to Europe?

So far, so simple. But things rarely play out as such. 

In addition to booking European berths by virtue of domestic performances, clubs can also do so through their showings in Europe. 

The winners of the Champions League and Europa League qualify for the following season’s Champions League, while the winners of the Conference League book a spot in next year’s Europa League. 

Still following? Now let’s chuck a few more possible scenarios into the mix, relating to the two European places awarded to England’s domestic cup winners. 

If the FA Cup winners qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League via their Premier League position, or by winning the Champions League, their (FA Cup-won) Europa League place is then transferred to the next-highest Premier League finisher not already qualified for UEFA competitions. 

Likewise, if the EFL Cup winners qualify for the Champions League or Europa League via other means - their league position, or by winning the FA Cup or either of those European competitions - their Conference League place will go to the next-highest Premier League side who have not qualified for Europe. 

That is what Newcastle are hoping for, to finish high enough in the Premier League to trade their Conference League spot from winning the EFL Cup this season for a place in one of the other European competitions. Here’s where things could get interesting… 

FA Cup could have an impact

The two FA Cup finalists, Man City and Crystal Palace, could have a bearing on the race for Europe.

If Man City qualify for the Champions League via their Premier League position and win the FA Cup, their reward for the latter - a Europa League place - would be passed to the next-highest team in the league who have not qualified for the Champions League or Europa League.

If Palace lift the FA Cup, they will take the Europa League place awarded to the winning side at Wembley Stadium.

How could eighth qualify for Europe?

An eighth-place finish in the Premier League could be rewarded with entry into Europe next season.

If Man City win the FA Cup while also qualifying for Europe through their league position, and Newcastle also qualify through their league position after winning the EFL Cup, the two European places given to the domestic trophy-winners will be passed down the league table. 

The prospect of the eighth-placed team qualifying for Europe means Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham all have European football as an incentive as they head into their remaining Premier League matches. 

The only head-to-head match within the quartet is on 18 May, when Fulham visit Brentford in a west London derby.  

Race for eighth - remaining fixtures