Key Takeaways:
- On Tuesday night, both Napoli and Juventus secured Champions League victories, enhancing Italy’s standing in the UEFA Coefficient rankings
- Italy have moved into third place with 8.714 points, trailing Germany (9.428) and leaders England (10.166), while Spain sit fourth with 8.500
- The allocation of an extra Champions League spot for next season remains at stake, with upcoming European fixtures potentially altering the rankings by the end of the week
Recent Champions League Wins Boost Serie A’s European Ambitions
Napoli and Juventus delivered significant victories on Tuesday night to improve Italy’s prospects of securing an extra Champions League position for the coming season. Napoli, spurred by Scott McTominay, clinched a 2-0 win against Qarabag. Meanwhile, Juventus overturned a deficit to defeat Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the sub-zero conditions of Northern Norway. Weston McKennie also found the net for the Turin club during their away triumph.
❌ 🇪🇸 Spain are getting OUT of the Race for an extra Champions League spot, with new defeats and Villarreal set for an early UCL elimination!
🔥 🇩🇪 Germany keep being favoured to secure an extra Champions League spot, with 🇮🇹 Italy currently being their only realistic opponent! pic.twitter.com/tQdB0MwCFD
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) November 26, 2025
Updated UEFA Coefficient Standings
These wins propelled Italy up the UEFA season association coefficient rankings, with the nation now occupying third place behind England and Germany. The current standings are as follows:
| Country | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|
| England | 10.166 | 1st |
| Germany | 9.428 | 2nd |
| Italy | 8.714 | 3rd |
| Spain | 8.500 | 4th |
Only the top two nations at the season’s end will receive an additional Champions League qualifying spot in the following edition of the tournament. The rankings remain fluid, with the potential for movement based on results from Wednesday’s Champions League matches and Thursday’s Europa and Conference League fixtures.
Explaining the Race for Extra Champions League Qualification
Beginning last season, a new rule began granting two associations an extra spot in the subsequent Champions League. Italy and Germany were immediate beneficiaries, fielding five clubs each – Inter, Milan, Juventus, Atalanta and Bologna – in the 2024-25 campaign. Currently, England and Spain also have five clubs apiece, exceeding their typical quota of four.
The UEFA association coefficient is determined by awarding each country two points per win and one point per draw recorded by their clubs in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Additional half-points are given for results in qualifying and play-off rounds, along with bonus points for group progression and knock-out achievements. The aggregate is then divided by the number of teams each nation has entered; for Italy this season, that figure is seven. With a total of 61 points currently amassed, Italy’s coefficient stands at 8.714.
