Italy down to ninth in race for extra Champions League spot

Italy down to ninth in race for extra Champions League spot The chances of Serie A gaining an extra qualification spot for next season’s Champions League are already looking slim, as Italy currently rank in ninth place in the UEFA rankings after the latest round of European fixtures earlier this week. How are the extra Champions League spots decided? Italy, along with England, Spain and Germany, are among the nations whose leagues are guaranteed four places in the Champions League, but there is also a chance of a fifth being added. Italy’s former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon shows the paper slip of Juventus (ITA) during the group stage draw of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League football tournament, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 29, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) Two nations are awarded an extra Champions League spot each, known as the European Performance Spot, which went to England and Spain for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 tournaments. Italy and Germany received the extra Champions League spots in 2024-25, the first edition of the tournament after its expansion to 36 teams. The European Performance Spot is awarded to the two nations that finish the previous season at the top of the UEFA Season Association Coefficient. In this system, nations are awarded points based on the performances of their teams competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. Each team is awarded two points for a victory, one point for a draw and zero for a defeat. Those points are halves for qualifying and play-off matches. Clubs are also awarded bonus points depending on their positions at the end of the league phases, and extra points for each round they progress through after that. Those scores are added up and divided by the number of clubs a nation has competing in UEFA competitions that season. Where do Italy stand in the race for an extra Champions League spot in 2027-28? MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint-Germain kisses the UEFA Champions League trophy after his team’s victory, to secure Paris Saint-Germain’s first ever UEFA Champions League title in the club’s history and a record UEFA Champions League Final winning scoreline of 5-0, following the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) As things stand, Italy sit in ninth place in the UEFA Season Association Coefficient, which was last updated on Friday following the most recent round of European fixtures over the last few days. England are at the top of the rankings with a score of 6.611, Portugal are in second with 6.300, Norway are in third with 6.200, Germany are in fourth with 6.142 and Spain are in fifth with 6.125. Italy’s current tally stands at 5.214. Latest UEFA Season Association Coefficient Ranking LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: Zinedine Zidane places the Champions League Trophy onto the plinth after the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 01, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) England – 6.611 Portugal – 6.300 Norway – 6.200 Germany – 6.142 Spain – 6.125 Turkiye – 5.900 Azerbaijan – 5.625  Greece – 5.400 Italy – 5.214 France – 5.214