UEFA Rankings: Greece hold firm grip on 17th place
UEFA Rankings: Greece hold firm grip on 17th place
With Olympiacos’ win over Red Star Belgrade, Greece hold a firm grip on 17th place in the UEFA Association Club Coefficient Rankings. AGONAsport’s Sarantos Kaperonis takes a closer look after matchday six in the UEFA Champions and Europa League.
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Olympiacos recorded their first win in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stages as they defeated Red Star Belgrade in a must win fixture in Piraeus. The result ensured Olympiacos a ticket to the UEFA Europa League knockout stages. Not only did the win add 0.400 points to Greece’s total (25.700) in the UEFA Association Club Coefficient Rankings, but it also eliminated Serbia’s (who are 18th in the rankings on 25.500 points) final representative in Europe.
As a result, Greece practically secured at minimum a 17th-placed finish in this season’s rankings with only Switzerland, who sit in 20th place on 24.400 points, posing an outside to Greece. Basel remain Switzerland’s sole representative in Europe.
Similar to Serbia, 19th-placed Croatia (24.875 points) also lost their last representative after Dinamo Zagreb finished bottom of their Champions League group.
Unfortunately, Cyprus, who now sit in 15th place with 26.750 points, slightly increased their lead over Greece as APOEL’s win gave the islanders 0.500 points. Scotland dropped to 16th (26.625 points) as only Rangers added 0.250 points to their tally with their draw against Young Boys while Celtic fell on the road to Cluj. Scotland will continue with two teams after the new year (Celtic and Rangers) while Cyprus only have APOEL competing in the Europa League knockout stages.
In 14th are the Czech Republic on 27.300 points and without a representative as Slavia Prague finished bottom of their difficult Champions League group. Thirteenth-placed Denmark are slightly ahead with 27.500 points and look well out of reach as Copenhagen advanced to the Europa League knockout stages.
As it stands now, Olympiacos will need to make a deep run in the Europa League (likely quarter-finals) to give Greece any hope for a 15th-placed finished. Although Cyprus and Scotland are not far ahead, both nations have representatives (Scotland have two) in the knockout stages of the Europa League, making Greece’s task all the more difficult.
The Czech, who do not have a representative after the new year hold a four-win cushion ahead of Greece in the rankings (1.600 points ahead which equates to four Greek wins) and only a good Olympiacos run would be enough for Greece to overtake the Czechs.
A lot will depend on Monday’s Europa League round of 32 draw where Olympiacos are unseeded and could face a European heavyweight or a club like the Reds would fancy their chances to progress to the last 16.
Greece’s goal for the 2019/20 UEFA Association’s Ranking
Greece’s goal for this season is simple: to finish at a minimum in 15th place. A 15th-placed finish means Greece keep five representatives in Europe, two in the Champions League, one in the Europa League, and two in the new Europa League 2.
If Greece fall to 16th or below, one Champions League representative will be lost, resulting in just four Greek teams in UEFA's competitions. To make matters worse, the sole Europa League representative will be demoted to the Europa League 2 meaning Greece will have just one Champions League representative, three Europa League 2 representatives, and ZERO teams in the Europa League.
As it stands now, it will be a fight between Greece, Cyprus, Scotland, and the Czech Republic for 15th place. Denmark look to be well ahead the rest of the pack and out of reach.
*Each win in the group stages offers 2.000 points while each draw offers 1.000 points. These points are divided by the number of original representatives for each country and is added to their coefficient total. Since Greece had five representatives in Europe this season, their points tally will be divided by five. For more information on how the UEFA Coefficients are calculated visit here.
The full breakdown of Greece’s goal finish in this year’s UEFA Associations’ rankings is explained in depth here.
Summary of Results for Those Fighting for 15th
13. Denmark: 27.500 (1 active team out of 4 original teams)
FC Copenhagen lost to Malmo 0-1
Denmark received 0.000 points this week
Greece gained 0.400 points on Denmark
Denmark will continue with one team after the new year
14. Czech Republic: 27.300 (1 active team out of 5 original teams - 0 after the new year)
Slavia Prague lost to Borussia Dortmund 2-1.
The Czech Republic received 0.000 points this week
Greece gained 0.400 points on the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic will continue with zero teams after the new year
15. Cyprus: 23.750 (1 active team out of 4 original teams)
APOEL defeated Sevilla 1-0
Cyprus received 0.500 points this week
Cyprus gained 0.100 points on Greece
Cyprus will continue with one team after the new year
16. Scotland: 26.625 (2 active teams out of 4 original teams)
Celtic lost to Cluj 2-0; Rangers drew Young Boys 1-1
Scotland received 0.250 points this week
Greece gained 0.150 points on Scotland
Scotland will continue with two teams after the new year
17. Greece: 25.700 (1 active team out of 5 original teams)
Olympiacos defeated Red Star 1-0
Greece received a total of 0.500 points this week
Greece will continue with one team after the new year
18. Serbia: 25.500 (2 active teams out of 4 original teams - 0 after the new year)
Red star lost to Olympiacos 1-0, Partizan defeated Astana 4-1
Serbia received 0.500 points this week
Serbia gained 0.100 points on Greece
Serbia will continue with zero teams after the new year
19. Croatia: 24.875 (1 active team out of 4 original teams - 0 after the new year)
Dinamo Zagreb lost to Manchester City 1-4
Croatia received 0.000 points this week
Greece gained 0.400 points on Croatia
Croatia will continue with zero teams after the new year
20. Switzerland: 24.400 (3 active teams out of 5 original teams - 1 after the new year)
Basel defeated Trabzonspor 2-0; Young Boys drew Rangers 1-1; Lugano drew Dynamo Kyiv 1-1
Switzerland received 0.800 points this week
Switzerland gained 0.400 points on Greece
Switzerland will continue with one team after the new year
What each in the UEFA Rankings placement means
13th or 14th place
2021 Super League champion: UCL third qualifying round
2021 Super League runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
2021 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
2021 Super League 3rd place: UEL2 second qualifying round
2021 Super League 4th place: UEL2 second qualifying round
15th place
2021 Super League champion: UCL second qualifying round
2021 Super League runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
2021 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
2021 Super League 3rd place: UEL2 second qualifying round
2021 Super League 4th place: UEL2 second qualifying round
16th or 17th place
2021 Super League champion: UCL second qualifying round
2019/20 Cup Champion: UEL2 second qualifying round
2021 Super League runner-up: UEL2 second qualifying round
2021 Super League 3rd place: UEL2 second qualifying round
18th place below
2021 Super League champion: UCL first qualifying round
2019/20 Cup Champion: UEL2 second qualifying round
2021 Super League runner-up: UEL2 second qualifying round
2021 Super League 3rd place: UEL2 second qualifying round
by Sarantos Kaperonis
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