2006/2007 Champions League

[kevbrunton]

Each year about this time, we start tracking who has qualified for next year's Champions League. Bert Kassies has a ton of information located at UEFA Eurpoean Cup Football (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/index.html). Here's how it shakes based upon what round each team starts in.

Teams that have already qualified are listed in bold. If a single team is listed in a spot, but not bold, then they are well ahead on that particular spot. Otherwise, I'll list the teams that are still in the running. When a particular race is worth noting due to closeness or coming to the final matches, I'll highlight it in blue.

I'll update this every couple weeks or so.

Qualifying Round 1 (22 Teams)
50. Kazakhstan - Aktobe Lento
49. Faroe Islands - B36 Torshavn
48. Azerbijan - Karvan, Neftchi, Baku or Inter Baku
47. Luxembourg - Dudelange
46. Wales - Llansantffraid
45. No. Ireland - Linfield Belfast
44. Estonia - TVMK Tallinn
43. Albania - Elbesan
42. Malta - 4 games left in final 4 playoff among 4 teams.
41. Armenia - Pyunik Yerevan
39. Belarus - Shakhtior Saligorsk
38. Ireland - Cork City
37. Macedonia - Rabotnicki
36. Iceland - FH Hafnarfjardar
35. Lithuania - Ekranas Panevezys
34. Georgia - Sioni
33. Moldova - Sheriff
32. Finland - MyPa-47
31. Latvia - Metalurgs Liepaja
30. Bosnia-Herz - Siroki Brijeg
29. Cyprus - Apollon, APOEL & Omonia all within a point with 2 games remaining.
28. Slovenia - Domzale or Gorica

Qualifying Round 2 (28 Teams - 11 from above plus)
27. Slovakia - Artmedia, Spartak Trnava or Ruzomberok
26. Sweden - Djurgardens IF
25. Romania - Dinamo Bucuresti, Steaua or Rapid Bucuresti
24. Hungary - Ujpest, Fehervar or Debrecen
23. Denmark - Kobenhavn or Brondby
22. Croatia - Pula
21. Bulgaria - Levski or CSKA Sofia
20. Norway - Valerengen IF
19. Switzerland - Basel
18. Poland - Legia or Wisla
17. Serbia-Mont - Crvena Zvezda
15. Ukraine 2 - Shakhtar Donetsk or Dinamo Kiev
14. Austria 2 - see Austria 1
13. Russia 2 - Spartak Moscow
12. Czech Rep. 2 - Mlada Boleslav
11. Turkey 2 - Fenerbahce or Galatasaray
10. Scotland 2 - Hearts


Qualifying Round 3 (32 Teams - 14 from above plus)
16. Israel - Macabbi Haifa
15. Ukraine 1 - Dinamo Kiev or Shakhtar Donetsk
14. Austria 1 - Austria Wien or Salzburg
13. Russia 1 - CSKA Moscow
12. Czech Rep. 1 - Liberec
11. Turkey 1 - Galatasaray or Fenerbahce
9. Belgium 2 - see Belgium 1
8. Greece 2 - AEK or Panathinaikos
7. Netherlands 2 - AZ Alkmaar or Feyenoord
6. Portugal 3 - See Portugal 1
5. Germany 3 - Werder Bremen
4. France 3 - Lille, Bordeaux, Rennes or Marseille
3. Italy 4 - Fiorentina or AS Roma
3. Italy 3 - Inter Milan
2. England 4 - Tottenham or Arsenal
2. England 3 - Liverpool
1. Spain 4 - see Spain 2 with Celta Viga with an outside shot.
1. Spain 3 - see Spain 2.

Group Stage (32 Teams - 16 from above plus)
10. Scotland 1 - Celtic
9. Belgium 1 - Standard or Anderlecht
8. Greece 1 - Olympiakos Piraeus
7. Netherlands 1 - PSV Eindhoven
6. Portugal 2 - see Portugal 1
6. Portugal 1 - FC Porto, Sporting Lisbon, or Benfica
5. Germany 2 - Hamburg
5. Germany 1 - Bayern Munich
4. France 2 - Bordeau or Lille
4. France 1 - Lyon
3. Italy 2 - AC Milan
3. Italy 1 - Juventus
2. England 2 - Man United
2. England 1 - Chelsea
1. Spain 2 - Valencia, Real Madrid or Osasuna
1. Spain 1 - Barcelona

One additional note, if Villareal win the 2006 title or if Arsenal win and finishes 5th in England and UEFA do what they did last year with Liverpool, then the Holders would enter in QR1 and the Slovakian entry would drop down to QR1 too.

[BSjanitor]

I think you can make Lyon bold on that list. They won Le Championnat last Sunday.

Also, UEFA has changed the rules to make the holders go straight into the group stage regardless of their league campaign. If a 5th team from the holder's league (in 4th place) qualifies for CL, then that 5th team goes to the UEFA cup. So, if Villarreal wins this season, for example, the 4th team in the Spanish league goes to the UEFA cup.

[Forza AZ]

...

Qualifying Round 3 (32 Teams - 14 from above plus)
...
7. Netherlands 2 - AZ Alkmaar or Feyenoord
...

Also Ajax and Groningen are still in contention for the 2nd CL spot, as this year there are play-offs at the end of the regular season between the numbers 2-5 for the 2nd CL spot.
These play offs start tonight with Groningen-AZ and Ajax-Feyenoord. Returns are on Sunday and the "final" will be played on 26 April and 3 May.

[Edgar]

For Croatia, Dinamo Zagreb is well ahead (8 points). Pula SC leads the relegation playoffs.

[Edgar]

One additional note, if Villareal win the 2006 title or if Arsenal win and finishes 5th in England and UEFA do what they did last year with Liverpool, then the Holders would enter in QR1 and the Slovakian entry would drop down to QR1 too.

If the defending cup-holder does not finish in a qualifying place in their domestic competition they will come in at the expense of the last-placed side of that association. So there won't be another Liverpool scenario.

[kevbrunton]

Right on Lyon - forgot they'd already clinched.

Thanks for the other updates - I didn't realize (or forgot) that Netherlands had done that. Boy did that come just in time for Ajax - granted, they still have to perform, but I figured they were pretty much out of CL this year.

On Croatia, UEFA.Com is at fault on this one - they have it listed the other way around - although now that I look at it, based upon the points listed, Dinamo Zagreb is at the top - but they have the two tables titled wrong.

Regarding what would happen if Villareal or Arsenal won, they actually made that rule change last year BEFORE they did what they did with Liverpool. I guess I wasn't confident it wouldn't happen again. How much would it SUCK for Tottenham to beat Arsenal this weekend and all but clinch going to the Champions League only to have Arsenal turn around and knock them back down to UEFA Cup in a month by winning the CL Title. Think that North London derby wouldn't take on a little more venom next year?

Personally, I think what they did with Liverpool last year is the best solution. You qualify for your spot based upon League play - straight up. If you win the title, you are still in, but if you don't get the job done in your league, then you start from the beginning with all the other "lower level" qualifiers.

[Clan]

I do believe that Liverpool can no longer pass Chels, we're assured of group stage play.

[unclesox]

Also, UEFA has changed the rules to make the holders go straight into the group stage regardless of their league campaign.
Using England as an example, would this mean that the league runner-up - ManUtd in all likelyhood - would lose their automatic Group Stage spot and drop down to Qualifying Round 3 to take the spot left occupied by "England 4"? :confused:

[BocaFan]

Regarding what would happen if Villareal or Arsenal won, they actually made that rule change last year BEFORE they did what they did with Liverpool. I guess I wasn't confident it wouldn't happen again. How much would it SUCK for Tottenham to beat Arsenal this weekend and all but clinch going to the Champions League only to have Arsenal turn around and knock them back down to UEFA Cup in a month by winning the CL Title. Think that North London derby wouldn't take on a little more venom next year?


Yeah, I guess if Villarreal win CL it'll be at the expense of the 4th placed La Liga side (like it was a few seasons back). But if a 5th place EPL team wins CL, they'll still let 5 English teams compete in the CL next season. Who knows, before UEFA finishes giving the FA that lap-dance, maybe they'll agree to let all 20 EPL teams to the CL. :o

[BSjanitor]

Using England as an example, would this mean that the league runner-up - ManUtd in all likelyhood - would lose their automatic Group Stage spot and drop down to Qualifying Round 3 to take the spot left occupied by "England 4"? :confused:
- the 2005/6 CL title holders go straight into the 2006/7 group stage and are seed #1 in the group draw
- a maximum of 4 teams from each national league are allowed to play the Champions League
- only 3 leagues - England, Spain, Italy - qualify 4 teams because of their UEFA ranking

If a club from one of the 3 leagues above wins the CL, but ends below the 4th place in their league:
- the CL winner goes straight into the group stage as usual
- 4th-placed club goes to the UEFA Cup
- that 4th CL qualifying spot goes to another, lower-ranked league
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd placed clubs from title-holders' league keep their group stage and qualifying round spots as usual

So, let's say Villarreal win the CL and La Liga ends like this:
1st Barcelona
2nd Valencia
3rd Real Madrid
4th Osasuna
...
12th Villarreal

Villarreal goes into the 2006/7 CL group stage.
Barcelona and Valencia start in the group stage.
Osasuna goes to the UEFA Cup.
2nd-placed club from Scotland start not in 2nd, but 3rd in CL qualifying round.

You can apply the same logic to the EPL if Arsenal win the CL and finish below 4th place.

[unclesox]

- the 2005/6 CL title holders go straight into the 2006/7 group stage and are seed #1 in the group draw
- a maximum of 4 teams from each national league are allowed to play the Champions League
- only 3 leagues - England, Spain, Italy - qualify 4 teams because of their UEFA ranking

If a club from one of the 3 leagues above wins the CL, but ends below the 4th place in their league:
- the CL winner goes straight into the group stage as usual
- 4th-placed club goes to the UEFA Cup
- that 4th CL qualifying spot goes to another, lower-ranked league
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd placed clubs from title-holders' league keep their group stage and qualifying round spots as usual

So, let's say Villarreal win the CL and La Liga ends like this:
1st Barcelona
2nd Valencia
3rd Real Madrid
4th Osasuna
...
12th Villarreal

Villarreal goes into the 2006/7 CL group stage.
Barcelona and Valencia start in the group stage.
Osasuna goes to the UEFA Cup.
2nd-placed club from Scotland start not in 2nd, but 3rd in CL qualifying round.

You can apply the same logic to the EPL if Arsenal win the CL and finish below 4th place.
Ah, Got it. Thanks. :)

[Edgar]

If a club from one of the 3 leagues above wins the CL, but ends below the 4th place in their league:
- the CL winner goes straight into the group stage as usual
- 4th-placed club goes to the UEFA Cup
- that 4th CL qualifying spot goes to another, lower-ranked league
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd placed clubs from title-holders' league keep their group stage and qualifying round spots as usual


Not true. It doesn't go anywhere.

So, let's say Villarreal win the CL and La Liga ends like this:
1st Barcelona
2nd Valencia
3rd Real Madrid
4th Osasuna
...
12th Villarreal

Villarreal goes into the 2006/7 CL group stage.
Barcelona and Valencia start in the group stage.
Osasuna goes to the UEFA Cup.
2nd-placed club from Scotland start not in 2nd, but 3rd in CL qualifying round.

You can apply the same logic to the EPL if Arsenal win the CL and finish below 4th place.

Again, not true.
If Villareal wins the CL, the champion of the 10th country in the 2005/2006 UEFA country rankings (link (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method3/crank2005.html)) will no longer start in the group stage, but will start in the 3nd qualifying round. We're talking of course about Celtic.

[Edgar]

A few observations:

It's Azerbaijan, not Azerbijan.

For Albania, it's Elbasani, not Elbesan.

For Malta - it's a play-off between 6 teams. Birkirkara leads by 8 points with 3 games left.

For Serbia & Montenegro, Crvena Zvezda clinched the title.

For the Czech Republic, the second place race it's between 4 teams with 4 matches left.

Mlada Boleslav (45), Teplice (44), Slavia Praha (42), Sparta Praha (41). Slavia has a game in hand.

For Netherlands, the second CL team will be Ajax or Groningen. AZ and Feyenoord are out of the race.

For Portugal, FC Porto clinched the title with two games left. Second place: Sporting or Benfica.

[Edgar]

Slovan Liberec - Czech champions.

[Hrvat]

Dinamo Zagreb - Croatian champion

[unclesox]

Just read on the Sky Sports News ticker that Austria Vienna are confirmed league champions.

[spoonman]

Ajax claimed the second Dutch spot

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Bayern can be made bold.
They became German champion yesterday.

Next weekend Hamburg face Bremen,
this match will decide, who reach the CL
and who has to play the quali.

[kevbrunton]

Updated 7-May-2006

Thanks to everyone for their updates and notes.

A lot of spots to be decided over the next week. All of those races are highlighted in Blue.

Qualifying Round 1 (22 Teams)
50. Kazakhstan - Aktobe Lento
49. Faroe Islands - B36 Torshavn
48. Azerbaijan - Karvan, Neftchi & Baku all even on 52 pts - Karvan has 3 left, the rest have 2 left. Final game scheduled is May 23.
47. Luxembourg - Dudelange
46. Wales - Llansantffraid
45. No. Ireland - Linfield Belfast
44. Estonia - TVMK Tallinn
43. Albania - Elbasani
42. Malta - Birkirkara
41. Armenia - Pyunik Yerevan
39. Belarus - Shakhtior Saligorsk
38. Ireland - Cork City
37. Macedonia - Rabotnicki
36. Iceland - FH Hafnarfjardar
35. Lithuania - Ekranas Panevezys
34. Georgia - Sioni is 3 pts ahead of WIT with 1 game remaining - being played May 9.
33. Moldova - Sheriff
32. Finland - MyPa-47
31. Latvia - Metalurgs Liepaja
30. Bosnia-Herz - Siroki Brijeg
29. Cyprus - Apollon
28. Slovenia - Gorica 2 pts ahead of Domzale with 5 games remaining - last game is June 3.

Qualifying Round 2 (28 Teams - 11 from above plus)
27. Slovakia - Ruzomberok is 2 pts ahead of Artmedia with 5 games remaining - last game is May 31.
26. Sweden - Djurgardens IF
25. Romania - Dinamo Bucuresti (4 games rem.), Steaua (5 gms) & Rapid Bucuresti (5 gms) are all even on 49 pts - last game is May 20.
24. Hungary - Ujpest 3 pts up on Debrecen & 5 up on Fehervar with 4 games remaining - last game June 3.
23. Denmark - Kobenhavn
22. Croatia - Dinamo Zagreb
21. Bulgaria - Levski 5 pts up on CSKA Sofia with 4 games remaining - last game May 31.
20. Norway - Valerengen IF
19. Switzerland - Basel is 3 pts up on Zurich the final game being Basel playing host to Zurich on May 13 - winner takes the title - with a draw title goes to Basel.
18. Poland - Legia is 5 pts up on Wisla with 2 games remaining - title likely will be decided on May 10.
17. Serbia-Mont - Red Star Belgrade
15. Ukraine 2 - see Ukraine 1
14. Austria 2 - Salzburg
13. Russia 2 - Spartak Moscow
12. Czech Rep. 2 - Slavia, Teplice & Mlada Boleslav are even on points with 2 games remaining - last on May 14.
11. Turkey 2 - Fenerbahce
10. Scotland 2 - Hearts


Qualifying Round 3 (32 Teams - 14 from above plus)
16. Israel - Macabbi Haifa
15. Ukraine 1 - Dinamo Kiev & Shakhtar Donetsk are even on pts with the final game of the campaign on May 14 with Dinamo Kiev hosting Shaktar Donetsk. Both are in CL - the game just decides which round they will start.
14. Austria 1 - Austria Wien
13. Russia 1 - CSKA Moscow
12. Czech Rep. 1 - Slovan Liberec
11. Turkey 1 - Galatasaray
9. Belgium 2 - Standard Liege
8. Greece 2 - AEK leads Panathinaikos by 2 pts with last game being played on May 14.
7. Netherlands 2 - Ajaz
6. Portugal 3 - Benfica
5. Germany 3 - see Germany 2.
4. France 3 - Lille is 2 pts up on Marseille - Lille plays AT Rennes (who is still playing for a UEFA Cup spot and Marseille is AT Bordeaux (who is playing for nothing) on May 13.
3. Italy 4 - Fiorentina is 2 pts up on AS Roma with final game on May 14.
3. Italy 3 - Inter Milan
2. England 4 - Arsenal or 10. Scotland 1 - Celtic
2. England 3 - Liverpool
1. Spain 4 - Osasuna leads FC Sevilla by 3 pts, but Sevilla has a game in hand. Both play on May 14, which could decide this spot or it could come down to the last game - FC Sevilla's makeup game with Barcelona on May 20.
1. Spain 3 - see Spain 2.

Group Stage (32 Teams - 16 from above plus)
Title Holder - Arsenal or 10. Scotland 1 - Celtic
9. Belgium 1 - Anderlecht
8. Greece 1 - Olympiakos Piraeus
7. Netherlands 1 - PSV Eindhoven
6. Portugal 2 - Sporting Lisbon
6. Portugal 1 - FC Porto
5. Germany 2 - Hamburg is 1 pt up on and hosts to Werder Breman in the final game on May 13. Both are in the CL - just starting spot to be determined.
5. Germany 1 - Bayern Munich
4. France 2 - Bordeaux
4. France 1 - Lyon
3. Italy 1-2 - AC Milan - also clinched group spot.
3. Italy 1-2 - Juventus - clinched group spot, but not title.
2. England 2 - Man United
2. England 1 - Chelsea
1. Spain 2 - Real Madrid is 1 pt up on Valencia with 1 game left on May 14. both are away against teams toward top of table with something to play for and both are also already in the CL, just starting spot up for grabs.
1. Spain 1 - Barcelona

If Arsenal wins the CL Title Game over Barcelona, they start in the Group Stage and Scotland starts in Qualifying Round 3. If Barcelona wins, Scotland moves up to take the last Group Stage spot and Arsenal stays in Qualifying Round 3.

[Sagy]

People following this thread might also be interested in Seeding in the Champions League 2006/2007 (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/seedcl2006.html) and Qualification 2006/2007 (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/qual2006.html).

These are from Bert Kassies (http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/index.html) web site.