Italian teams received some good news today after UEFA announced that Serie A will be amongst the league receiving four Champions League spots starting in the 2018/19 season. Below is UEFA's statement on the new development:
Spain, Germany, England and Italy are confirmed as the top four associations regardless of what happens in the quarter-finals and beyond of the two club competitions. And despite ending last season in fifth place, Portugal have fallen outside the top six and with all their clubs now out of Europe will not be able to overtake France or Russia (in the top six for the first time since 2010).
The nations from seventh to tenth will all receive one automatic group berth and one qualifying spot, and Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium and Turkey currently hold those posititions. The Czech Republic and Switzerland, in 11th and 12th, would see their champions enter the play-offs and also join the top ten in being assured of at least one UEFA Europa League group slot.
In the club rankings, the calculations for which will change in 2018 but for determining next season's seedings remain the same, Real Madrid retain a comfortable lead at the top over Bayern München of more than ten points, with Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Juventusalso in the top five. Notable rises include Monaco up to 32nd (from 58th at the end of last season) and Leicester City effectively a new entry in 56th.
