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With the qualifying and group stage complete for both the Champions and Europa Leagues, both Ajax and the Eredivisie score many points for UEFA coefficients.
Ajax started the 2020-21 European campaign in 21st place in the UEFA rankings behind Benfica. The club got 5.0 points for qualifying for the group stage. It earned 4.0 points from matches with Atalanta, and Midtjylland, Ajax has climbed into 19th place surpassing both Benfica and Napoli. Napoli is just 0.5 points behind Ajax and is still alive in the Europa League. So, Ajax’s hold on 19th is tenuous. Ahead of Ajax are Roma and Shakhtar, both on 75.0 points and both still in the Europa League.
Club coefficient points are important as they are used to determine seedings in future Champions or Europa Leagues matches for the preliminary rounds. They also determine which pot Ajax is in for the draws at the Group Stage.
League coefficients
Similarly, the Eredivisie did well in earning coefficient points as all five Eredivisie entries into European competition scored at least one win. The Eredivisie started the European season in 9th place behind Belgium’s First Division. Having earned 6.8 points to date in Europe, the Eredivisie has passed Belgium and assumed 8th place. The gap to Belgium is just 0.5 points, and Belgium has two teams (Antwerp and Club Brugge) left in the Europa League, so the battle is not over yet. The Russian Premier League sits 1.582 points ahead of the Eredivisie. With Krasnodar still active in the Europa League, catching Russia this year is a challenge.
League coefficients are important as they determine the distribution of Champions League entries. If Eredivisie stays in 8th place, the 2022-21 Eredivisie title winner will get an automatic berth into the Champions League. The second-place enters Champions League in the Third Qualifying Round.
All in all, it has been a good season for the Eredivisie so far. Both Ajax and the Eredivisie score many points for UEFA coefficients. Hopefully, the remaining clubs can gather some more in the remainder of the season! Ajax will face LOSC Lille in next round of the UEFA Europa League.
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