He Benficaafter finishing second in the Portuguese league 2024-2025, you will have to play the third previous round to access the group stage of the next edition of the UEFA Champions League. This is explained by the newspaper 'A Bola', which details the complicated path that awaits the Eagles due to the loss of direct places of Portugal in the maximum European competition.
The Portuguese League has already ended and, unlike previous seasons, the Benfica, for having finished in second, You cannot benefit from direct access. This occurs due to the elimination of Athletic Club before him Manchester United In the semifinal of the Europa League (7-1), which has put at risk the options of the Portuguese teams to enter directly into the group stage. The Basques would have to win the Europa League so that the second Portuguese classified directly accessed, something that can no longer happen and now the second classified of the Portuguese leaguein this case the Benficamust go through the previous Champions.
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Portugal He fell from sixth to seventh place in the UEFA ranking, thus losing a direct place in the Champions League. Last season, Benfica was repeated thanks to the fact that the Atalantachampion of the Europa Leaguehad already qualified via league, series A, but this time there will be no additional vacancies because the final of the European League It will be between Manchester United y Tottenham, Two teams that did not achieve a direct place in the Premier League, because they are 16th and 17th, respectively.
With the best UEFA coefficient among the teams that will play the previous rounds, the Benfica It will be standard head in all the qualifiers that await you, but you must overcome the third previous round and, to achieve it, the play-off to access the league phase. In the second previous round clubs such as Rangers (Scotland), Panathinaikos (Greece), directed by SU EXENTRREDER RUA VICTORY (2015-2018), Y Fire (Norway), in addition to three other teams that will be decided in Austria, Czech Republic y Swiss.
In the third previous round, the Benfica will avoid facing greater coefficients as Rangers o Feyenoordbut it could be measured to clubs such as Fenerbahcetrained by José Mourinhohe A seriesor the second classified of Belgiumwhose identity is still pending. The draw for this round will be on July 21, with matches planned for August.
Yes Benfica It fails to overcome these qualifiers, it will directly access the league phase of the Europa Leagueguaranteeing European participation but not in the maximum competition. This calendar forces the team at a very intense season start, with decisive matches for four consecutive weeks.
