2 weeks Ago By ----
Spain’s LaLiga has officially clinched a fifth spot in the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League, joining England’s Premier League in benefiting from the newly introduced European Performance Spots (EPS). The EPS system, introduced last season, awards two extra Champions League places to countries whose clubs perform best across UEFA’s three club competitions—the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. These changes come as part of UEFA’s revamp to expand the tournament to 36 teams from next season.
England secured its additional spot earlier on April 8, following strong collective performances from its clubs. Spain locked in its second-place finish in the EPS ranking on Thursday night after Athletic Club’s elimination of Rangers from the Europa League, coupled with Lazio’s exit. This means both the Premier League and LaLiga will each be represented by five clubs in the 2025/26 Champions League campaign.
In the Premier League, the race for the top five remains intense. Newcastle United currently sit third with 59 points, closely followed by Nottingham Forest (57), Manchester City (55), and a tie between Chelsea and Aston Villa on 54 points each. Meanwhile in LaLiga, the top four positions appear stable, but the contest for the fifth spot continues between Villarreal (51 points, with a game in hand) and Real Betis (48 points).
A five-point gap follows to Celta Vigo and Mallorca. With the new Champions League format set to debut next season, this expansion offers clubs in both leagues greater opportunities for European competition and financial rewards..
