Crystal Palace could secure a place in next season’s Europa League if they win Wednesday’s Conference League final. Oliver Glasner’s side face Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
With Palace guaranteed to finish outside of the Premier League’s top eight this season and eight clubs already getting places across the three competitions, a win for Palace would increase that number to nine.
How Palace Winning Affects Other English Teams
Because England won one of two Elite Performance Spots (EPS) for the performance of their clubs in European competitions this season, at least five English teams will enter the Champions League this season. Second-place Manchester City were the winners of the FA Cup. Because they had already qualified for the Champions League, that freed up another place.
The Europa League has two designated spots for English clubs. In theory, this is meant to be for the team finishing fifth in the Premier League this season and the winners of the FA Cup. However, this is now at sixth and seventh but again could change.
At present, sixth and seventh place will qualify for the Europa League. This will only change on the final day of the Premier League season if Aston Villa, who won this season’s Europa League final on Wednesday, drop down to fifth in the table.
The European Qualification Scenarios
Palace’s result does not change what happens to Premier League teams in Europe. All a win would mean is that there is effectively a bonus English club in the competition, taking the place of the Conference League title holders instead of one of England’s qualification places. Regardless of how the Premier League season ends, Palace would qualify for the league phase of next season’s Europa League with a win over Rayo Vallecano.
- If Aston Villa finish fourth in the Premier League:
- Top five enter Champions League’s league phase
- Sixth, seventh and Crystal Palace – if they win Conference League – enter Europa League’s league phase
- Eighth enter Conference League’s play-off qualifying round
- If Aston Villa finish fifth in the Premier League:
- Top six enter Champions League’s league phase
- Seventh and Crystal Palace – if they win Conference League – enter Europa League’s league phase
- Eighth enter Conference League’s play-off qualifying round
Palace’s Route to the Conference League
For winning the FA Cup for the first time last season, Palace did actually earn qualification for this season’s Europa League. They were later demoted to the Conference League because of a breach of multi-club ownership rules.
Crystal Palace are one game away from winning their first ever European trophy.