France’s lead over Portugal in the UEFA country coefficient shrank again this week after Portuguese clubs went unbeaten across three matchdays of European competition, SO FOOT.com reported.
The gap between the two nations has narrowed to 3,146 points, down from 4,832 at the start of the season, according to 20 Minutes. France now sits on 72.296 coefficient points, with Portugal at 69.150.
Portugal goes five-for-five without defeat
Between Tuesday and Thursday, every Portuguese club in European action avoided defeat: four wins and one draw, 20 Minutes reported. None lost — not even Torreense, a second-division club. Sporting CP and FC Porto won in the Champions League, while Benfica and Torreense prevailed in the Europa League on Thursday, Torreense completing a comeback in stoppage time.
Lens loss weighs on France’s total
On the French side, RC Lens’s defeat to Como counted against the national coefficient, 20 Minutes noted. But the other French clubs fared better: Paris Saint-Germain beat Villarreal, Olympique de Marseille and Monaco also won, while Rennes, Lyon and Lille each split the points.
Avec quatre victoires et trois défaites, la France accentue un peu son avance sur le Portugal à l'indice UEFA. Mais cela reste très fragile.https://t.co/A2adyP5ewu
Seven European spots now, possibly six in two seasons
France currently qualifies seven clubs for next season’s European competitions. At the current rate of results, 20 Minutes reported, that number could fall to six within two seasons — the practical stake of the coefficient race.
Clubs face challenging European matchups
The next round of European fixtures looks difficult for French clubs, with Lille facing Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig hosting Lens, and PSG meeting Roma, according to 20 Minutes.
Questions readers are asking
How many points separate France and Portugal? 3,146 points, down from 4,832 at the start of the season, per 20 Minutes. France holds 72.296 points to Portugal’s 69.150.
Which French club lost this week? RC Lens, which fell to Como; PSG, Marseille and Monaco won, while Rennes, Lyon and Lille drew, 20 Minutes reported.
What could France lose if the gap closes? The country currently earns seven European competition places for next season, but at this pace could be down to six within two seasons.
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