The expanded league-phase format has opened the door to more competitive races for qualification across all of Europe
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The last remaining point of intrigue this Premier League season is the race for a place in Europe, which has only been spiced up tenfold by the prospect of an extra Champions League spot. Could a Bournemouth or a Brighton or a Fulham sneak in? What a world.
England isn't alone with this novelty, however. Across the continent, traditionally smaller sides are punching above their weight and are well in with a chance of making it to the bright lights of UEFA's favourite competition. The glitz, the glamour and the riches are being spread around a fair bit more thanks to the new expanded format, which sort of makes up for how bloated the actual tournament feels. But even with more spots up for grabs, some bigger fish are finding themselves marooned away from the spotlight instead.
So who needs to get their passports renewed and who needs to buck their ideas up? GOAL has you covered on what's going on around Europe…
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Let's begin in Germany, where at the time of writing, fourth place in the Bundesliga is occupied by minnows Mainz. What's the natural evolution of a club from a carnival-mad town who rose to top-flight prominence under Jurgen Klopp and experienced similar highs with Thomas Tuchel? That's right, it's to challenge for a Champions League position with a manager whose most notable playing experience came in League Two at Kidderminster Harriers!…
Danish coach Bo Henriksen is working wonders in the Rhineland. He oversaw a summer transfer window of €6.5m spend having walked into the job midway through last season with Mainz on the verge of relegation. He ensured that little over 12 months on they are mixing it with the Bundesliga big boys, headed by the free-scoring exploits of Germany international Jonathan Burkardt.
The job isn't done for Mainz just yet – they're only two points ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach in the table, though a not-so-distant three behind Eintracht Frankfurt in third. They were also dealt a hefty blow this past weekend by fallen giants Borussia Dortmund, currently outside the Bundesliga's top half altogether less than a year removed from reaching the Champions League final.
BVB's top brass have replaced Nuri Sahin with a far more experienced and successful coach in Niko Kovac, while a gap of seven points to the top four is hardly insurmountable, even if time to save their season is running out.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBologna
Poor Bologna were picked apart by European giants after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since the days of the European Cup last summer. Nevertheless, they've shown the likes of sacked Juventus manager Thiago Motta, questionable Manchester United signing Joshua Zirkzee and the perennially injured Riccardo Calafiori that the grass isn't always greener.
The Rossoblu haven't let their early elimination from Europe's top table derail their bid to return to it. In fact, they've only grown in strength as the season has progressed, going from a run of one win in eight to open the Serie A campaign to five wins on the spin and only one loss in 2025. Bologna's competency may give them the edge in the race for fourth, having already leapfrogged crisis club Juve – who fired Motta and replaced him with Igor Tudor over the international break – into the Champions League spots.
But the Bianconeri are not the only Serie A side who need to take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror. The most notorious underachievers this year are AC Milan, wallowing all the way down in ninth as one of two top-half teams not to break the 50-point barrier yet this season. Above the Rossoneri, only seven points are between third-place Atalanta and Fiorentina in eighth, with rivals Roma and Lazio the others in the mix.
Getty ImagesNice & Strasbourg
There are plenty of questions over how Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Todd Boehly run their respective football clubs in England, though over in France they appear to be having far more success. Eleven rounds of fixtures remain in the Ligue 1 season, and both Nice and Strasbourg are in with a shout of reaching the Champions League.
Ratcliffe's Nice are hot on the heels of two local rivals, three points off Monaco in second and two behind Marseille in third, while they are level with Lille. Boehly's Strasbourg, managed by Wayne Rooney's former assistant Liam Rosenior, are a further point back in sixth, with Lyon one point behind them.
Manchester United's link to Nice is pretty tenuous with Ratcliffe desperately seeking to downplay his fondness for his club on the French Riviera, though Chelsea have had a significant influence on Strasbourg's season, as loanees Djordje Petrovic and Andrey Santos – who has even been named captain on occasion – have been among their star players.
Problems may arise again if Nice qualify for the same European competition as United or Strasbourg as Chelsea, but that's a worry for a later day. Their fans should enjoy the ride and see where the campaign takes them.
Getty Images SportReal Betis
. Yep, that's Antony teaming up with Isco to lead Real Betis' Champions League charge. You're probably wondering how they got into this situation…
It's been a Football Manager challenge brought to life at the Benito Villamarin, where ex-Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has found a home with Los Verdiblancos. Prior to their mid-season rejuvenation, Isco had already cemented his status as a folk hero for heading across the city following a high-profile fallout at rivals Sevilla. Combined with the power of £85m Manchester United flop Antony, together anything seems possible.
Betis have won six on the spin, including memorable home victories against Real Madrid and Sevilla, to propel themselves into sixth place, level on points with Villarreal directly above them. La Liga are set to earn an extra Champions League spot, meaning even though Betis are six points back from Athletic Club in fourth, qualification could prove a little easier than first thought.
Over at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla are experiencing a rarity, watching on in anguish as their noisy neighbours soar up the standings. The perennial Europa League winners are mired in 11th and completely out of sorts both on and off the field. Who said it wasn't easy being green?
