It's a tight race in EPL as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all battling for the top four.But thanks to a Champions League rule change that came into force this season, it doesn't matter if the triumphant clubs finish third or fourth.

With Manchester City and Liverpool clear at the top all four English teams are now be given a direct route into the Champions League group stages.This was after Uefa changed the rules, and scrapped the play-off games for clubs from the bigger leagues.

This also means clubs from Italy, Germany and Spain, as well as the current holders of the Champions League and the Europa League, all benefit. And with that it means Arsenal and Chelsea can get into Europe's elite competition via winning the second tier competition.

However it's still worth busting a gut to finish third rather than fourth. Premier League prize money sees whoever finishes in third get £34.6m - where you 'only' get £32.6m in third. The lack of qualifying rounds is a huge boost for English sides who have seen themselves navigate tricky ties in order to qualify for the tournament over the years.

Despite finishing fourth, the season before last, Liverpool had to overcome German side Hoffenheim in the qualifying rounds before going on all the way to the final. This season they went straight through to the group stage - despite finishing in fourth in 2017/18, 25 points behind Manchester City.

A further two teams from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga will also qualify directly for the Europa League group stages as well as two from France. But sides from lesser leagues will still have to play off. This means that from next season, the top six will all be guaranteed a place in both European competition's group stage and will not have to play a two-legged qualifier.

UEFA also revealed more teams will be directly qualifying for the group stages, with 26 in total compared to 22 from this season. Now, only six teams will gain entry via the qualifying round opposed to 10 this term, but this format will still remain a mini knockout tournament. Their final change sees more clubs trickle down into the Europa League from the group stages, with 10 sides now playing in Europe's second club competition.

Seventeen teams will qualify for the tournament directly through domestic league positions and a further 21 clubs will make it through the normal qualifying route.

More @ http://www.exlinklodge.com/2019/05/champions-league-new-rule-huge-boost.html?m=1

Nice decision from FIFA

Waw

Hazard >>>> Messi

Nice

Good

Rule or no rule, Chelsea dey qualify.

This league go hot

Leave this one and let us celebrate this Nigerian man

FIRST Black Mayor in Brent, UK


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fld_eFWc38&t=2s

please someone should summarise this for me......I didn't understand

ayanleye12:
Nice decision from FIFA

UEFA

ayanleye12:
Nice decision from FIFA

fifa indeed

this is what you call new rule? this is what qualified man utd for ucl in 2017, they finished 6th in the league but won europa by beating ajax in the final and they qualified only to get dumped out by shite sevilla

I have a question....
Is MESSI really human ...??

old news

Finally... oya Arsenal and Manutd, fight for 4th.

The sad thing remains is that no EPL team will win this elusive UCL trophy for a long time to come. I still remember my Chelsea’s incredible win of 2012 but often wonder when the next English club is ever going to win this UCL again.

New Game awon boys ma para

exlink10:
It's a tight race in EPL as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all battling for the top four.But thanks to a Champions League rule change that came into force this season, it doesn't matter if the triumphant clubs finish third or fourth.

With Manchester City and Liverpool clear at the top all four English teams are now be given a direct route into the Champions League group stages.This was after Uefa changed the rules, and scrapped the play-off games for clubs from the bigger leagues.

This also means clubs from Italy, Germany and Spain, as well as the current holders of the Champions League and the Europa League, all benefit. And with that it means Arsenal and Chelsea can get into Europe's elite competition via winning the second tier competition.

However it's still worth busting a gut to finish third rather than fourth. Premier League prize money sees whoever finishes in third get £34.6m - where you 'only' get £32.6m in third. The lack of qualifying rounds is a huge boost for English sides who have seen themselves navigate tricky ties in order to qualify for the tournament over the years.

Despite finishing fourth, the season before last, Liverpool had to overcome German side Hoffenheim in the qualifying rounds before going on all the way to the final. This season they went straight through to the group stage - despite finishing in fourth in 2017/18, 25 points behind Manchester City.

A further two teams from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga will also qualify directly for the Europa League group stages as well as two from France. But sides from lesser leagues will still have to play off. This means that from next season, the top six will all be guaranteed a place in both European competition's group stage and will not have to play a two-legged qualifier.

UEFA also revealed more teams will be directly qualifying for the group stages, with 26 in total compared to 22 from this season. Now, only six teams will gain entry via the qualifying round opposed to 10 this term, but this format will still remain a mini knockout tournament. Their final change sees more clubs trickle down into the Europa League from the group stages, with 10 sides now playing in Europe's second club competition.

Seventeen teams will qualify for the tournament directly through domestic league positions and a further 21 clubs will make it through the normal qualifying route.

More @ http://www.exlinklodge.com/2019/05/champions-league-new-rule-huge-boost.html?m=1

ok

I don't understand

Utd must make ucl with or with the new rule

Chelsea to lose tomorrow

Man u win

If u know u know

See as Nairaland mods make am look like say na today UEFA make this rule. Rule wey dem make since last year. If na Tonto and Regina topic dem go move them to FP as e dey hot. Mtcheeeeeeew!