Sporting hoping Unai Emery wins the Europa League | OneFootball

Sporting has reason to closely follow Aston Villa’s run under Unai Emery in the Europa League final, since a victory for the English club could directly benefit the runner-up in the Portuguese league next season. Although Portugal has already lost the chance to place three teams in the Champions League, a favorable scenario for the national runner-up is still possible.

Braga’s elimination in the Europa League semi-finals ended the possibility of the Minho side securing a direct place in the Champions League league phase by winning the competition. That scenario would have allowed Portuguese football to place three clubs in Europe’s top competition, but Braga’s defeat closed that door.

Even so, the runner-up in the Portuguese league could avoid the qualifying rounds if Aston Villa win the Europa League and, at the same time, finish in the top four of the Premier League. The English side is still in the race for both objectives and will play the European final against Freiburg — who could also give the Lions a helping hand.

According to UEFA’s criteria, if the Europa League winner has already qualified for the Champions League through their domestic league, the place will be reassigned to the club with the best coefficient in the qualifying rounds. In that scenario, the Portuguese league’s runner-up — currently contested by Benfica and Sporting — would benefit directly, entering the league phase of the competition without having to go through qualifying.

The green-and-white club will be back in action next Monday, May 10, against Rio Ave. The match, part of round 33 of the Portuguese league, against the side coached by Sotiris Sylaidopoulos, will be played in Vila do Conde at 8:15 p.m.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.