UEFA Rankings: Olympiacos give Greece valuable points
UEFA Rankings: Olympiacos give Greece valuable points
Olympiacos’ victory over Arsenal gave Greece valuable points in the UEFA Association Club Coefficient Rankings while keeping Greece alive with one representative heading into the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. AGONAsport’s Sarantos Kaperonis takes a closer look after the second leg matchups in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32.
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage from Go Greek TV!
Against all the odds, Olympiacos produced a memorable and historic display against Arsenal to march on to the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday evening in London. Olympiacos’ extra-time victory not only gave Greece a valuable 0.400 points to Greece’s UEFA Association Club Coefficient tally but also kept Greece alive in the rankings for the 2019/20 season. After Olympiacos’ 0-1 loss at home to Arsenal in the first leg, it looked likely that Greece would be left without a representative in Europe for the remainder of the season, however, Olympiacos kept (and continues to keep) Greece in the game.
The Reds’ victory keeps Greece comfortably in 17th place of the Rankings with 26.100 points while Switzerland, who still pose a threat to overtake Greece, sit back in 19th with 25.200 points. Basel remain Switzerland’s only team in Europe after they defeated APOEL in both legs of their Europa League Round of 32 ties. Basel have been drawn to play the winner of Eintracht Frankfurt or Red Bull Salzburg in the last 16.
Seventeenth place is slightly better than 18th place as it affects the Super League champions’ starting point in UEFA Champions League qualifying (see below).
Ahead of Greece are Denmark, Scotland, the Czech Republic, and Cyprus with only Denmark (Copenhagen) and Scotland (Rangers) having representatives in Europe. Scotland lost Celtic after they fell to Copenhagen while Cyprus’ final representative, APOEL, were eliminated by Basel.
Greece could overtake Cyprus in 16th as the islanders sit on 26.750 points, but only if Olympiacos find a way to get passed Wolverhampton in the Round of 16. There is no difference for Greece if they finish 16th or 17th in the rankings (see below), however, with points accumulated this season counting for the next five seasons, every point Greece earn is valuable in the long run.
Greece’s ultimate goal heading into the 2019/20 season was to finish at minimum 15th place, to maintain five teams in Europe for the 2021/22 season. However, that task still seems a long shot as the 15th-placed Czech Republic, without a representative, have 1.200 lead on Greece with 27.300 points. This equates to three Greek wins, or two Greek wins and two Greek draws. Olympiacos will need to make a run to the quarter or semi-finals of the competition if Greece are to overtake the Czech Republic in the UEFA Rankings.
It is important to note that one bonus point is awarded for a team that reachs the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League, which would equate to 0.200 points (in essence an additional draw) in the rankings.
Denmark and Scotland, both well ahead of Greece, remain with one representative and are well out of Greece’s reach for the season.
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. However, as it stands now, Greece’s new goal is to hold onto 17th place.
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, Switzerland, 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-18th.
13. Denmark: 28.250 (1 active team out of 4 original teams)
FC Copenhagen defeated Celtic 1-3 and will continue to the UEL Last 16
Denmark received 0.500 points this week
Denmark gained 0.100 points on Greece
14. Scotland: 27.875 (1 active team out of 4 original teams)
Celtic lost to Copenhagen 1-3 and were eliminated from the UEL, Rangers defeated Braga 0-1 and will continue to the UEL Last 16
Scotland received 0.500 points this week
Scotland gained 0.100 points on Greece
15. Czech Republic: 27.300 (0 active teams out of 5 original teams)
The Czech Republic have no active teams in Europe.
16. Cyprus: 26.750 (0 active teams out of 4 original teams)
APOEL lost to Basel 1-0 and were eliminated from the UEL
Cyprus received 0.000 points this week
Greece gained 0.400 points on Cyprus
17. Greece: 26.100 (1 active team out of 5 original teams)
Olympiacos defeated Arsenal 1-2 and will continue to the UEL Last 16.
Greece received a total of 0.400 points this week
18. Serbia: 25.500 (0 active teams out of 4 original teams)
Serbia have no active teams in Europe.
19. Switzerland: 25.200 (1 active team out of 5 original teams)
Basel defeated APOEL 1-0 and will continue to the UEL LAst 16
Switzerland received 0.400 points this week
Switzerland gained 0.000 points on Greece
20. Croatia: 24.875 (0 active teams out of 4 original teams)
Croatia have no active teams in Europe.
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
Thank you for visiting AGONAsport.com, the only English based website for Greek sports fans across the world! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter for all the latest news in Greek Sports!