Another CL place for the Bundesliga: Bayern and Leverkusen must deliver | OneFootball

The Bundesliga remains in second place in the UEFA coefficient rankings – but Spain is breathing down Germany’s neck

The battle for the additional Champions League place for the 2026/27 season is coming to a head. The Bundesliga is currently the second-best nation in the UEFA coefficient, which would give it a fifth place in the top flight. But the race remains tight – and Borussia Dortmund’s exit is not only painful in sporting terms, but also for the ranking

Germany are in second place with 17.571 points behind England (22.291), with Spain close behind on 17.406 points. The lead is minimal, every win and every progression counts

Dortmund’s defeat in Bergamo cost them valuable points. Instead of possible bonus points for the round of 16, the Bundesliga only has five teams left in the competition. Spain, on the other hand, still has six clubs in the race and therefore more chances to catch up

Focus on Bayern and Leverkusen

In the Champions League, hopes now rest primarily on FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen. Munich will face Atalanta Bergamo in the round of 16, while Leverkusen will take on FC Arsenal. This means there will be no German duel in the rest of the competition – which also means that both teams can continue to collect points independently of each other

German representatives are also still involved in the Europa League and Conference League. After advancing against Celtic, Stuttgart are in the round of 16 and will face FC Porto. Freiburg will take on KRC Genk, while Mainz 05 will face Sigma Olomouc in the Conference League

Nevertheless, the starting position remains tricky. Spain are hot on Germany’s heels and could overtake them with a strong knockout phase. As the Bundesliga only has five teams left in the race while Spain have six irons in the fire, every success for Bayern and Leverkusen is doubly valuable

Fifth Champions League place is within reach

The current league table clearly shows that Germany are defending second place, but the gap to Spain is only 0.165 points. Italy (17.357) are also lurking just behind. England are still represented with nine out of nine teams and are gaining on the field

photo: IMAGO

For FC Bayern, it’s not just about their own dream of winning the trophy, but also about the international starting position of the entire league. If the Bundesliga maintains second place, an additional Champions League place beckons – an enormous financial and sporting advantage

The bottom line is clear: Bayern and Leverkusen must deliver. Every win in the knockout phase could ultimately decide another Champions League place for Germany.