These sides join the teams that qualified by finishing in the top eight places of the inaugural league phase. From first place to eighth, these are: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa.

The race for a Champions League spot is hotter than ever, and eight Premier League clubs could go either way. Who will make it, and who will fall short?

The UEFA Champions League is the cream of the crop of European club football, with millions of fans worldwide. With the tournament heating up, some teams are favorites, while others are quietly picking up momentum as dark horses.

Last season, the Premier League failed in its efforts to grab an additional qualifying place for the Champions League, but 12 months on the situation is looking much more promising. As in 2023-24, two of UEFA’s domestic leagues will be rewarded with an extra slot.

With the Premier League title race effectively over and the three promoted teams looking increasingly doomed to relegation, it is the race for European qualification that could provide the most intrigue and drama in the remaining months of this campaign.

Newcastle's Champions League hopes remain alive with Opta's supercomputer predicting they’ll secure a spot despite the fierce competition