Greece’s representatives for the 2019/20 UEFA Champions & Europa League
AGONAsport’s Sarantos Kaperonis brings you the lowdown on Greece’s representatives in next year's UEFA Champions and Europa League competitions.
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Another Greek footballing season is in the books with PAOK claiming their first Super League title in 34 years and becoming only the second team ever to win the Greek top flight without tasting defeat. The Dikefalos tou Vorra also went on to win the their third consecutive Cup and recorded their first League/Cup double in club history.
Olympiacos finished as the league’s runner-ups while defending champions, AEK, finished in a disappointing third place. Atromitos put together another memorable season to claim fourth place for second year running as newly promoted Aris snatched up Greece’s final European spot with a fifth-place finish. The Thessalonikis will compete in Europe for the first time since 2011.
At the end of the 2017/18 UEFA season, Greece finished 15th in UEFA's Associations’ Club Coefficient Ranking. With this placement, Greece were awarded five representatives for next year's 2019/20 UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
The top two teams from the 2018/19 Super League will enter the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds (PAOK, Olympiacos) while the third (AEK) and fourth (Atromitos) placed teams will enter the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. The Greek Cup winner (PAOK) is also assured a place in UEFA Europa League qualifying, however since PAOK will be playing in next year’s Champions League, the Super League’s fifth-placed team (Aris) will enter the UEFA Europa League.
No Greek team is assured a place in the Champions & Europa League group stages and as a result, all five teams will begin in the qualifying rounds.
PAOK*: UCL third qualifying round (Champions Route)
PAOK will need to progress through two qualifying rounds to advance to the Champions League group stages.
Olympiacos: UCL second qualifying round (League Route)
Olympiacos will need to progress through three qualifying rounds to advance to the Champions League group stages
AEK**: UEL third qualifying round (League Route)
AEK will need to progress through two qualifying rounds to advance to the Europa League group stages
Atromitos: UEL second qualifying round (League Route)
Atromitos will need to progress through three qualifying rounds to advance to the Europa League group stages
Aris: UEL second qualifying round (League Route)
Aris will need to progress through three qualifying rounds to advance to the Europa League group stages
*Originally, the 2019 Super League champions (PAOK) were to begin in the UCL second qualifying round (Champions Route). However, since the 2019 Champions League champions (Liverpool or Tottenham) have already secured Champions League group stage football for next season through their domestic performance, PAOK will receive a bye to the third qualifying round.
**Originally, the 2019 Cup champions (PAOK) were reserved a spot in the Europa League third qualifying round. However, since PAOK are competing in next year’s Champions League, the Super League’s third placed team (AEK) will begin in the third qualifying round (instead of the Cup champions) as opposed to the second qualifying round (Aris, the Super League’s fifth placed team, will begin at this stage).
If PAOK or Olympiacos are eliminated in UEFA Champions League qualifying, they will continue their European journey in the UEFA Europa League. An exit for AEK, Atromitos, or Aris in Europa League qualifying will signify an end to their respective European campaigns.
2019/20 UEFA Champions League qualifying
18 June: Second qualifying round draw (OLY enter here)
22 July: Third qualifying round draw (PAOK enter here)
23/24 July: Second qualifying round, first leg (OLY begin play here)
30/31 July: Second qualifying round, second leg
5 August: Playoff round draw
6/7 August: Third qualifying round, first leg (PAOK begin play here)
13 August: Third qualifying round, second leg
20/21 August: Play-off round, first leg
27/28 August: Play-off round, second leg
2019/20 UEFA Europa League qualifying
19 June: Second qualifying round draw (ATR, ARIS enter here)
22 July: Third qualifying round draw (AEK enter here)
25 July: Second qualifying round, first leg (ATR, ARIS begin play here)
1 August: Second qualifying round, second leg
5 August: Playoff round draw
8 August: Third qualifying round, first leg (AEK begin play here)
15 August: Third qualifying round, second leg
22 August: Play-off round, first leg
29 August: Play-off round, second leg
Stay tuned to AGONAsport.com for a fully detailed map for each team’s journey in next year’s UEFA Champions & Europa League with possible opponents, paths to the group stages, significant dates, and more!
