The Premier League will retain its four Champions League places for another year after Juventus failed to progress past Bayern Munich, "cementing England’s position above Italy" in UEFA's coefficient rankings, according to Alistair Tweedale of the London TELEGRAPH. The "relative success" of Italian teams -- including Juventus' run to last year’s final -- compared to "three years of underachievement" by Premier League teams in Europe had ensured Italy had a "genuine chance of overtaking England" in UEFA's coefficients "and, crucially, stealing one of their four Champions League places" for the '17-18 campaign. However, with no Serie A team making the last eight of this season’s Champions League and "only Lazio remaining in the Europa League," Italy has failed to capitalize on what was a "golden opportunity." As things stand, Spain and Germany "are clear at the top of the rankings," while England has an "insurmountable four point cushion over Italy." The maximum points Lazio alone is able to add is 2.5, "meaning even Europa League glory would not be sufficient to usurp England" (TELEGRAPH, 3/16). ESPN's Dale Johnson reported Serie A clubs scored 19.000 points last season, "the first time they had outscored Premier League clubs" since '05-06. Italian clubs "needed to again perform to a similar standard." In fact, rather than Serie A clubs "cutting the gap over the course of this season," Premier League clubs have actually extended it by 0.875 points. It could be a "very different story next season, however." The coefficient standings are based upon a five-year period, and when the '11-12 score is removed in the summer Italy will "claw back 3.893 points" -- which as it stands would "essentially leave both leagues level and in a direct battle for four Champions League places" (ESPN, 3/16).
