France and the Netherlands are playing neck and neck. The two countries are engaged in an intense accounting standoff with the reward of an invaluable 5th place in the UEFA index and above all, a place for the 2025-2026 edition of the Champions League.
Since yesterday evening, it is the Blues who have occupied the coveted place with 59,664 points. They are just ahead of the Dutch competition – with just 0.364 points more. The Netherlands, still ahead until this Thursday, are just behind them with 59,300 points.
2,000 points in one evening
The French clubs renewed their good overall performance during the 5th day of the group stages in the three European competitions, signing three victories (OM, Stade Rennais and Lille) and two draws (PSG and Toulouse FC). The evening matches brought 2,000 new precious points: 0.333 for each victory and 0.167 for the Toulouse draw. The qualifications of Marseille, Rennes and Lille were rewarded with 0.833 bonus points. Points which, given the small margin of the blues, weighed in the balance.
This pretty picture was darkened by the sinking of the Lensois, beaten 6-0 by Arsenal on Wednesday evening. The only defeat for the French in this frantic race for points.
OM’s last-minute victory against Ajax
The defeat of Lensois was offset by the victory of OM this Thursday, which won 4-3 against Ajax, at the end of a match rich in emotion. Faced with a Dutch representative, the latter is worth all the more. The draws of PSG against Newcastle (1-1) and Toulouse against Union Saint-Gilloise (0-0) also, but to a lesser extent, contributed to regaining this fifth position.
The Dutch, however, entered this European Thursday with a lead of 1,236 over the French (58,900 against 57,664). Advance taken the day before thanks to the qualification of PSV Eindhoven against Sevilla FC (2-3), and that of AZ Alkmaar who beat Zrinjski 1-0. Two victories which were not enough for those who now occupy sixth place in the ranking, ahead of Portugal. The fault is the defeats of Ajax, and Feyenoord which lost 1-3 against Atlético de Madrid on Tuesday. England (98,678 pts), Spain (84,739 pts), Italy (80,998 pts) and Germany (79,909 pts) remain at the top of the ranking, a large lead over the French and their opponents .
Ligue 1 can therefore breathe even more as Toulouse is in a good position to in turn secure a ticket for the play-offs and all the French clubs qualified this Thursday can still finish at the top of their respective groups.
While Ajax (in C3) and AZ (in C4) are in a poor position to have a European future in the spring, PSG still has every chance of obtaining qualification in C1. This would be the opportunity to advance directly to the round of 16, with new bonus points at stake which will therefore inflate the French total. But the road to maintaining this fifth place until the end of the season is still long.
