The Premier League will retain a record NINE clubs in Europe next season after Crystal Palace’s Conference League win. The Eagles secured their debut European crown in Leipzig as they beat Rayo Vallecano thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half strike.
It represents their third major trophy in just 12 months and also sees Palace bag a spot in the Europa League for next season. In all, they are the ninth English side to have secured a European campaign this season, which represents a record for the Premier League.
The division also boasted nine last season, but there are a few noteworthy tweaks heading into next season. Let’s start with the Champions League.
Premier League champions Arsenal will obviously be in the competition and will be joined by Manchester United and Manchester City. Aston Villa will also return to the Champions League; Unai Emery’s men booked their spot via two routes having finished fourth and also won the Europa League.
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The Premier League also sealed an extra Champions League spot courtesy of their UEFA coefficient – Arne Slot’s Liverpool securing that position after finishing fifth.
There was a situation where the Premier League would potentially have had six Champions League spots but only if Villa would have finished fifth. As it is, they only have five.
Usually, the other European spots would be handed out to the clubs winning the respective cup competitions. But with Man City claiming both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in Pep Guardiola’s final season, those spots have been handed to those in the league positions instead.
View 2 ImagesJean-Philippe Mateta helped Crystal Palace to the Conference League in Leipzig(Image: Getty Images)
Bournemouth have qualified for Europe for the first time, with their sixth-placed finish seeing them go into the Europa League. The Cherries will be joined by Sunderland, who have qualified for a continental competition during their first season back in the Premier League. The third Premier League side to qualify is Palace following their Conference League victory.
The Premier League will also have one representative in the Conference League next season. Despite having the chance to be in the Europa League, Brighton sealed their spot in UEFA’s third tier competition on the final day of the season.
The Seagulls were last in Europe during the 2023/24 season, having reached the last 16 of the Europa League under the management of Roberto De Zerbi.
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