Strasbourg run in Coupe de France and Conference League could shake up Ligue 1 European places | OneFootball

Strasbourg’s pursuit of the Coupe de France and the Europa Conference League could alter how Ligue 1’s European spots are allocated this season.

According to L'Équipe, they face Nice in the Coupe de France semi-final on Wednesday at 21:00, and meet Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League last four.

Last season, Strasbourg qualified for the Conference League by finishing seventh, thanks to PSG’s Coupe de France win while already bound for the Champions League, which lifted sixth-placed Lyon into the Europa League.

If Strasbourg were to lift the Coupe de France at the Stade de France on 22 May, then win the Conference League final on 27 May in Leipzig, they would reach the Europa League. The redundant Europa League berth would be reallocated to another association outside the five major leagues.

That precedent came last season, when Chelsea sealed a Champions League place via the Premier League and also won the Conference League. Dinamo Zagreb then received a Europa League spot under paragraphs 3.08 and 3.09 of the competition rules.

Another possibility could send eight French clubs into Europe, with Strasbourg crowned only on the continental stage while finishing seventh or eighth, and Lens winning the Coupe de France. In that case, Ligue 1’s eighth or seventh would take a Conference League play-off place.

Strasbourg and Chelsea could even play in the same European competition next season despite sharing an owner. BlueCo has installed a blindtrust, removing Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart from the Racing board to avoid any collusion.

Source: L'Équipe