The top three associations now get three teams guaranteed in the group stages, and the fourth association, two.
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The change won’t have any repercussions for Barcelona, who will continue to be part of a top-ranked association and are always likely to qualify for the group stages automatically.
Factbox on the principal changes to the Champions League which will come into effect from the 2018-19 season and were announced on Friday.
Under the present system, the top three leagues – Spain, Germany and England at present – have three places each, while their fourth-placed teams must contest a play-off over two legs for a place in the group stage.
Numerous continent’s biggest and most powerful clubs wanted the route, which former UEFA president Michel Platini introduced seven years ago to enable clubs from smaller footballing nations to qualify, to be scrapped.
The top four clubs in the leading four leagues in Europe – England, Italy, Germany and Spain – will all get into the group stages automatically. Go #Beyondthegame and visit www.enterprise.com to help follow your team’s journey.
In Italy only the top two qualify automatically with third contesting a play-off, which their clubs have failed to negotiate for the last three seasons. However, the fact the “champions route” will be retained will increase the chances of the Scottish champions getting into the group stages.
Ronaldo pipped French forward Antoine Griezmann and club teammate Gareth Bale to win the gong after a stellar season in which he won the Champions League and the European Championships both.
“However, we will monitor this issue and these changes very closely and pledge to continue to fight to protect the best interests of Scottish football in the wider European and global context”.
It is understood representatives from UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA) discussed a variety of options to ward off the threat of a breakaway Super League.
Nevertheless, UEFA confirmed that the current qualifying format, separating domestic champions and teams who qualify via a lower league placing, will be retained.
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“We are happy that European football remains united behind the concepts of solidarity, fair competition, fair distribution and good governance”.
