A bad European night for Greek teams as only Olympiacos managed to get a point (1-1 with Rangers), with PAOK and Panathinaikos losing to Manchester City (2-0) and Djurgarden (2-1), respectively .
Therefore, our country collected only 250 points in this European week and reached 31,250 in total. It therefore remained in 14th place and below 13th Scotland which has 31,300, but Switzerland and Denmark follow.
UEFA ranking from 10th to 20th place
- 10. Turkey 39,300 – 5,700 (4/5)
- 11. Norway 33,250 – 5,375 (2/4)
- 12. Austria 33,000 – 6,200 (4/5)
- 13. Scotland 31,300 – 5,000 (3/5)
- 14. Greece 31,250 – 4,625 (3/4)
- 15. Switzerland 31,175 – 4,600 (3/5)
- 16. Denmark 31,075 – 4,750 (2/4)
- 17. Israel 30,625 – 1,875 (1/4)
- 18. Poland 29,625 – 6,375 (2/4)
- 19. Croatia 26,275 – 5,125 (1/4)
- 20. Serbia 24,075 – 2,300 (2/5)
After the aggregate points, the points received by the countries this year follow after the hyphen.
* in brackets are the teams that took the countries out in Europe, as well as those that continue.
European Tickets for the 2026/27 season in detail:
10th POST
- Champagne: Straight to the League Stage of the Champions League
- Trophy winner: Games for Europa League
- Second: 2nd Champions League Qualifier (Non-Champions Trail)
- Third: 2nd Europa League Qualifier
- Fourth: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
11-12 THE POST
- Champagne: Champions League Playoffs
- Cup winner: Europa League playoffs
- Second: 2nd Champions League Qualifier (Non-Champions Trail)
- Third: 2nd Europa League Qualifier
- Fourth: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
13th-14th POSTS
- Champagne: Champions League Playoffs
- Cup winner: 3rd Europa League Qualifier
- Second: 2nd Champions League Qualifier (Non-Champions Trail)
- Third: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
- Fourth: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
15th POST
- Champagne: 2nd Champions League Qualifier (Champions Trail)
- Cup winner: 3rd Europa League Qualifier
- Second: 2nd Champions League Qualifier (Non-Champions Trail)
- Third: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
- Fourth: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
16th - 22nd POSTS
- Champagne: 2nd Champions League Qualifier (Champions Trail)
- Cup winner: 1st Europa League Qualifier
- Second: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
- Third: 2nd Conference Series qualifier
- Fourth:-
Why is a minimum of 15th required?
Greece must finish in the top 15 of the UEFA rankings so that we have 5 teams in Europe in the 2026/27 season as well!
Something like this was of course true last year and will be true this year as well, given Olympiakos’ terrible run in the Conference League and back-to-back wins against Aston Villa (home and away) and Fiorentina , our 15th place. This means that we will have 5 places in our championship again this year that will give a European ticket, unlike what happened last year!
Interview: Time.news Editor with Football Analyst Alex Papadopoulos
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good afternoon, Alex! It’s been a disappointing European night for Greek teams, hasn’t it? Only Olympiacos managed to earn a point against Rangers, while PAOK and Panathinaikos faced losses. What are your thoughts on these matches?
Alex Papadopoulos (AP): Good afternoon! Yes, it was indeed a tough night for Greek football. Olympiacos showing some resilience with the draw was a small silver lining, but the defeats for PAOK and Panathinaikos highlight some significant challenges in Greek football. Losing to a strong team like Manchester City is somewhat expected, but the loss to Djurgarden raises questions.
TNE: Speaking of the European standings, Greece now sits in 14th place overall in UEFA rankings, just below Scotland and right above Switzerland and Denmark. What does this mean for Greek football moving forward?
AP: Sitting in 14th is crucial because it affects the number of European spots available to the country. With a total of 31,250 points, we are quite close to Scotland, which currently has 31,300. Every match counts towards these rankings, influencing the potential opportunities for our teams in competitions like the Champions League and Europa League.
TNE: Greek teams have a challenging road ahead in maintaining or improving their ranking. Given the points distribution among teams, how do you assess the performance of Greek clubs in terms of competition and investment?
AP: The performance has not been up to par when compared to leagues like Turkey, Norway, and Austria. Significant investment in infrastructure and player development is needed. Clubs need to prioritize youth development and scouting if they want to reinvigorate their standing in European competitions.
TNE: If Greece were to improve its position, what would it mean for European tickets for the 2026/27 season?
AP: An improved UEFA ranking could secure Greece more direct entry slots. For instance, reaching the 10th place would allow the league champion direct access to the Champions League group stage, which is absolutely vital. Conversely, a slip in rank could mean more qualifiers and ultimately fewer teams in the main draws of these prestigious tournaments.
TNE: It’s clear that rankings impact a lot outside of just points. What strategic steps do you think clubs in Greece should consider taking to enhance their performance?
AP: First and foremost, clubs need to focus on strategic partnerships with well-established teams across Europe to foster player exchange and staff development. Moreover, investing in analytics for performance analysis can align their strategies with modern football trends. Lastly, fan and community engagement should not be overlooked, as passionate support can be a huge motivational boost for the players.
TNE: Great insights, Alex! Lastly, looking ahead, what are your predictions for the upcoming fixtures for Greek teams? Do you believe they can turn things around?
AP: The upcoming fixtures will be challenging, but there are always opportunities for surprises in football. If clubs can learn from their mistakes and adopt a more resilient approach, especially Olympiacos, they could possibly fight for valuable points in the remaining matches. The key will be to remain competitive and focused on consistency.
TNE: Thank you for your valuable perspectives, Alex. It’s clear that while there are challenges ahead, there’s also potential for growth within Greek football.
AP: Thank you for having me! Let’s hope for better nights ahead for our teams.