How could this weekend’s KNVB Cup final effect the Eredivisie European tickets? | OneFootball

This Sunday, AZ Alkmaar and NEC Nijmegen will face off in the KNVB Cup final. AZ are back in the final for the second time in two seasons, while NEC are looking to cap off a fantastic season that see’s them in with a chance of European football via the Eredivisie. The winner of the KNVB Cup will get a automatic spot in the Europa League league phase, yet as both sides are in with a chance of earning a ticket via the league, the cup final will have an impact on the remaining European tickets

As a reminder, this is how the tickets in the Eredivisie are usually dished out:

First place (PSV) automatically goes to the Champions League league phase

Second place also joins PSV in the Champions League league phase

Third goes into the 3rd qualification round for the Champions League

Fourth goes into the 2nd qualification round for the Europa League

The winner of the playoffs (5-8) goes into the second qualifying round for the Conference league.

As detailed by ESPN, this is how the tickets would fall depending on where AZ or NEC finish:

If AZ or NEC finish in the top three and win the cup, the automatic Europa League ticket will be passed onto the fourth placed side in the Eredivisie. The side that finishes fifth then goes into the second qualification round of the Europa League. The play-offs then also shift, with teams ranked 6-9 fighting for the final European ticket.

If the cup winner finishes fourth, the ticket for the second Europa League qualification round goes to the team in fifth. Again, the play-offs shift to the sides finishing 6-9.

If either NEC or AZ win the cup and finish in the play-off spots, then they will not take part, with the team ranked 9th then getting to participate in the battle for the final European spot.

For both AZ and NEC, winning the cup is clearly more about the trophy and bragging rights rather than the European ticket. However, for AZ, the ticket will likely be more important. The side are currently in sixth and would have to earn a European place via the play-offs. NEC have a three point lead over Ajax in fifth, so are closer to earning a ticket through their Eredivisie position, yet they could still slip into the play-offs with a few games to go.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson