Champions League and Europa League qualification for Premier League teams explained

Champions League and Europa League qualification for Premier League teams explained

Who will go into the Champions League and Europa League group stages? Who faces qualifying for those competitions? And how could Chelsea salvage a European spot?

With the season reaching its climax, a complicated pattern of potential outcomes means domestic and European results will have a major effect on a number of Premier League clubs and their fixture list in 2016/17.

Here, we explain the permutations…

Methods of qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League

There are several ways Premier League teams can qualify for the Champions League and Europa League.

League position 

Winners will be seeded in the Champions League group stage. Second and third also make the group stages. Fourth would qualify for Champions League play-off round - although this is not currently assured. There are a further three positions for Europa League qualification which will be split between cup winners and league positions.

- Champions League win 

 Guarantees a place in the group stage of the Champions League for the following season.

- Europa League win - 

Guarantees a place in the Champions League play-off round for the following season but could also secure a group stage spot.

- FA Cup win - 

Guarantees a Europa League group stage spot.

- League Cup win - 

Guarantees a Europa League third-qualifying round spot.

European limits

No more than five clubs can enter the Champions League and no more than three can enter the Europa League from one national association.

Sky Sports