Coefficient: Spartans’ loss can hurt badly, Denmark is the problem

The coefficient rankings for the 2023/24 season are starting to take shape. The Czech Republic is fighting for the 15th place, which would guarantee it the participation of five teams in the LM, EL and EKL qualification and above all two in the Champions League. Where does it stand after Thursday and with regard to the competitors?

The Czech clubs made one win to the Czech coefficient on Thursday. Slavia succeeded at Fenerbahce, putting the Czech Republic ahead of Greece and Croatia, while Sparta unexpectedly succumbed at home to Partizan Belgrade.

If someone had offered Czech football one win and one loss on Thursday morning, they would probably have chosen the Slavia win. Why? Because Turkey was three places ahead of the Czech Republic, and now they too have to fight for 15th place.

Serbia are in the elusive eleventh position and are fighting to have their Champions League group secured for the 2023/24 season. Still, Sparta’s home loss was a surprise, as Partizan lost an away game even in Tallinn, Estonia’s Flora in the Europa Conference group.

Slavia has the promotion in its hands. If it wins in a week’s time and moves on, the Czech Republic will leapfrog Turkey, which would have only one participant left in the game – Galatasaray. The Turkish runner-up also plays in the Europa League, which is packed with big-name teams. The chances of a quick end for Galatasaray are therefore great.

If Slavia were to advance thanks to a home draw and Sparta were to lose in Belgrade, the Czech Republic would be left behind Turkey, as at this stage of the competition, points are not yet awarded for advancing to the next round.

Fifteenth place is held by the Danes. Randers are on the verge of being eliminated from the Conference League (losing 1: 4 at Leicester), but the big lead allows Brendan Rodgers to field the juniors in the rematch and the small Danish team to add points to the Danish coefficient with a draw or a close win.

Moreover, Midtjylland won the first leg against PAOK Thessaloniki 1-0 and are close to the Europa League Conference semi-finals. Copenhagen, who advanced from first place in their group, will play in the same stage.

So what will it take for the Czech Republic to finish ahead of Denmark? Given Sparta’s performance on Thursday, Slavia would have to go very far, at least to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Indeed, the Czech Republic is currently 0.175 points behind the top 15, which can be interpreted as one tie. However, it must be taken into account that the Danes will probably score points in a week and will have one or two participants in the next stage of the competition.

Source: Twitter, UEFA