Spain and England pushing for extra Champions League spot

England and Spain both breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday as Milan and Atalanta were knocked out of the Champions League in one fell swoop. Both had been drawn against a Feyenoord side in crisis and a Brugge side (1-3) who have become a surprise package in European football, but they will not be in the draw for the last 16.
The elimination of both sides has important consequences for Calcio in general terms. Italian football was fighting with Spanish and English football to have a fifth team in the top club competition in 2025-26. It is an extra place that goes to each of the two countries whose teams perform better in European competitions and Italy will have to say goodbye to the two clubs they were counting on for at least the two round of 16 clashes.
Although England may lose Manchester City on Wednesday - Guardiola's side lost 2-3 to Real Madrid in the first leg and play the return leg at the Bernabeu - the British nation has a fifth club in its sights next term. The English have a coefficient of 20,892, which is much higher than the countries that follow them in the ranking. Spain are second with 18,035 and their chances will increase dramatically should Real Madrid secure a place in the last 16 against the Sky Blues. Italy, in third place, will have little chance of improving on their current coefficient of 17,812.
Spain have six out of seven teams alive in European competitions and, barring catastrophe, look set to secure that fifth place in the next Champions League, which England are almost assured of. At the moment, in the Premier League, Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City will go to the next Champions League. Fifth would be a surprising Bournemouth, who are level on points with Chelsea.
In Spain's top competition, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club are the clubs that are currently assured of a place in the next Champions League. The fifth in contention is Villarreal, who could thus return to the competition in which they made their name on the continental stage.