LaLiga has clinched the second European Performance Spot for next season’s UEFA Champions League, joining the Premier League in sending five clubs to the 2025/26 edition of the competition. This move is part of UEFA’s revamped 36-team Champions League format, where two leagues are rewarded with extra places based on club performance across all European competitions, including the UEFA Champions League (UCL), UEFA Europa League (UEL), and UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL).

This change marks a significant step forward for LaLiga, which now has the potential to send five teams to the prestigious tournament next season, matching the Premier League’s representation. The extra spot is granted to the league whose clubs perform the best in European competitions, ensuring that the top-performing leagues can showcase even more talent on the continental stage.

How It Was Secured

England secured the first European Performance Spot (EPS) on April 8, thanks to the consistent performances of its clubs in European competitions. Spain, on the other hand, secured the second EPS just a few days later, on April 11, with a few key events influencing the decision.

One of the key factors that helped Spain clinch the second EPS was Lazio’s exit from the Europa League, which significantly dented Italy’s coefficient in European competition rankings. Additionally, Spain’s athletic clubs performed well in the Conference League, with Athletic Club securing a crucial victory over Rangers in the quarterfinals of the competition. This combination of results boosted LaLiga’s chances, ensuring they were awarded the second spot.

What It Means

For both LaLiga and the Premier League, this new format means that the fifth-place finisher in each league will now qualify for the Champions League next season, in addition to the top four spots. This is a huge incentive for clubs to push harder in their league campaigns, as finishing in fifth place will now grant them access to the lucrative and competitive Champions League group stages.

In LaLiga, the race for that coveted fifth spot is heating up, with Villarreal (51 points and one game in hand) and Real Betis (48 points) vying for the position. Both teams will need to continue performing at their best to secure the Champions League qualification spot, while also competing against other clubs in Spain’s top flight.

Similarly, the Premier League is also seeing intense competition for the fifth spot, with Newcastle United (59 points), Nottingham Forest (57 points), Manchester City (55 points), Chelsea (54 points), and Aston Villa (54 points) all fighting for a chance to qualify for Europe’s elite competition. As the season draws to a close, these teams will be looking to pick up crucial points to seal their Champions League spots for next season.

What’s the Max Number of Premier League Teams in Europe?

Under the new rules, it is now possible for the Premier League to send up to six teams to the Champions League if the results align perfectly. This would include the top four teams in the league, as well as the team finishing fifth through the European Performance Spot (EPS) and the winner of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), if they are from England. This opens the possibility of even more English teams being part of the Champions League next season, further solidifying the Premier League’s dominance in European football.

In total, the Premier League could send up to 10 teams to Europe if English clubs continue to excel in the Champions League and Europa League. For example, if Arsenal were to win the UCL but finish outside the top four, no additional spot would be created. However, if Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur were to win the UEL and finish outside the top five, they would qualify for the Champions League as titleholders, further bolstering the Premier League’s presence in European competitions.