How Many Points Do You Need to Qualify from the Europa League League Phase?
Quick answer: in both seasons of the 36-club format, 17 points reached the top eight, while the last direct place went to a club on 14 in 2024/25 and 16 in 2025/26. For the top 24, 11 points was enough in both seasons; the line itself was 10 and then 9, settled on goal difference each time.
Those numbers come from UEFA's own final tables, not from a model. This page sets them out season by season, shows what a club's points after four matchdays went on to mean, and puts the 2026/27 table beside them after matchday 4, played on 4 and 5 November 2026. Matchday 5 follows on Thursday 26 November.
Where things stand, 6 November 2026, after matchday 4. Benfica, Bournemouth and Ferencváros have won all four and are on 12 points; in the two previous seasons both clubs that had 12 after four matches finished in the top eight. Sunderland are 11th on 7, one of six clubs level on that total. Crystal Palace are 21st on 5 and Celtic 32nd on 3. No club on seven or more after four matchdays was eliminated in either previous season; of the seven on three, two survived.
It is written for anyone reading a market on a finishing position: to finish in the top eight, to reach the knockout phase, to be eliminated. No tips and no prices on named clubs. Two seasons are a short record, and we say so wherever it matters.
The top-eight and top-24 lines, season by season
Each club plays eight matches, so 24 points is the maximum. Positions 1 to 8 go straight to the round of 16, 9 to 24 play a two-legged knockout play-off, and 25 to 36 are out of Europe for the season. There is no drop into the Conference League.
| Season | 8th place | 9th place | Around the top-eight line | 24th place | 25th place | Around the top-24 line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 14 (Rangers, GD +6) | 14 (Bodø/Glimt, GD +3) | Four clubs on 14 (8th to 11th): one through, three into the play-offs; both clubs on 15 went through | 10 (Fenerbahçe, GD -2) | 10 (Braga, GD -3) | Five clubs on 10 (22nd to 26th): three through, two out; all four on 11 went through |
| 2025/26 | 16 (Roma, GD +7) | 16 (Genk, GD +4) | Two clubs on 16: one through, one into the play-offs; all four on 17 went through | 9 (Brann, GD -2) | 9 (Young Boys, GD -6) | Two clubs on 9: one through, one out; both clubs on 10 went through |
GD = goal difference across the eight league phase matches. Source: UEFA final Europa League league phase tables, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
The Europa League line is lower than the Champions League one, where 16 points reached the top eight in both seasons, and it moves more. The reason is draws. There were 35 draws in 144 matches in 2024/25 and 25 in 2025/26; a drawn match hands out two points instead of three, so the whole table averaged 11.0 points a club in the first season and 11.3 in the second. More draws pull the totals together, and in 2024/25 four clubs finished level on 14 across the eighth place line.
The practical reading: 17 has been safe for the top eight, 11 has been safe for the top 24, and the total one point below each of those has been a goal-difference question. How that question is answered, criterion by criterion, follows the same order as in our Champions League league-phase tiebreakers guide, because both competitions rank their league phase the same way.
What four matchdays told us, in both seasons
We rebuilt both seasons match by match from UEFA's results and checked the totals against the final tables: 36 clubs out of 36 matched in each season. This is every club's points after matchday 4, against where it finished. Seventy-two club-seasons in all.
| Points after matchday 4 | Clubs | Finished 1st to 8th | Finished 9th to 24th | Eliminated (25th to 36th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 6 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
2024/25 and 2025/26 combined. Our calculation from UEFA match results. Totals with no club (11 points after matchday 4, for example) are left out. A row of two or three clubs is an anecdote, not a rate.
The clearest line sits at seven points. All 28 clubs with seven or more after four matches survived the league phase, and half of them (14) finished in the top eight. Six points was the uncomfortable total: of twelve clubs, two reached the top eight (Manchester United, third in 2024/25, and Roma, eighth in 2025/26) and four were eliminated. From five points or fewer, nobody reached the top eight in either season, and 20 of the 32 clubs were eliminated.
Compared with the Champions League, where one club on seven points after four matches went on to be eliminated, the Europa League has been kinder to the clubs in the middle and harder on the clubs on six. Two seasons of each competition is still only 72 club-seasons, so read the rows with few clubs as examples rather than odds.
2026/27 after matchday 4: what each club needs
The official table after four of eight matchdays, read on 6 November 2026. The last two columns are arithmetic, not a forecast: how many of the 12 points still available each club needs to reach the two totals that were enough in both previous seasons. Thirteen clubs are on seven points or more; nobody on that many after four matchdays was eliminated in either previous season.
| Pos | Club | Record | GD | Pts | To reach 17 (top eight both seasons) | To reach 11 (top 24 both seasons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benfica | W4 D0 L0 | +10 | 12 | 5 from 12 | Already on 12 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | W4 D0 L0 | +9 | 12 | 5 from 12 | Already on 12 |
| 3 | Ferencváros | W4 D0 L0 | +8 | 12 | 5 from 12 | Already on 12 |
| 4 | Union Saint-Gilloise | W3 D1 L0 | +8 | 10 | 7 from 12 | 1 from 12 |
| 5 | Juventus | W3 D1 L0 | +7 | 10 | 7 from 12 | 1 from 12 |
| 6 | Olympiacos | W3 D1 L0 | +3 | 10 | 7 from 12 | 1 from 12 |
| 7 | Bayer Leverkusen | W3 D0 L1 | +7 | 9 | 8 from 12 | 2 from 12 |
| 8 | Beşiktaş | W2 D1 L1 | +3 | 7 | 10 from 12 | 4 from 12 |
| 9 | Dinamo Zagreb | W2 D1 L1 | +1 | 7 | 10 from 12 | 4 from 12 |
| 10 | Levski Sofia | W2 D1 L1 | +1 | 7 | 10 from 12 | 4 from 12 |
| 11 | Sunderland | W2 D1 L1 | 0 | 7 | 10 from 12 | 4 from 12 |
| 12 | NEC Nijmegen | W2 D1 L1 | -1 | 7 | 10 from 12 | 4 from 12 |
| 13 | Lyon | W2 D1 L1 | -1 | 7 | 10 from 12 | 4 from 12 |
| 14 | AZ Alkmaar | W2 D0 L2 | +3 | 6 | 11 from 12 | 5 from 12 |
| 15 | Anderlecht | W2 D0 L2 | +3 | 6 | 11 from 12 | 5 from 12 |
| 16 | OFI Crete | W2 D0 L2 | +1 | 6 | 11 from 12 | 5 from 12 |
| 17 | Rennes | W1 D3 L0 | +1 | 6 | 11 from 12 | 5 from 12 |
| 18 | Omonia | W2 D0 L2 | -1 | 6 | 11 from 12 | 5 from 12 |
| 19 | Torreense | W2 D0 L2 | -2 | 6 | 11 from 12 | 5 from 12 |
| 20 | Real Sociedad | W1 D2 L1 | +5 | 5 | 12 from 12 | 6 from 12 |
| 21 | Crystal Palace | W1 D2 L1 | +3 | 5 | 12 from 12 | 6 from 12 |
| 22 | Sparta Praha | W1 D1 L2 | 0 | 4 | Not possible (13 needed, 12 left) | 7 from 12 |
| 23 | Hoffenheim | W1 D1 L2 | 0 | 4 | Not possible (13 needed, 12 left) | 7 from 12 |
| 24 | Sturm Graz | W1 D1 L2 | -3 | 4 | Not possible (13 needed, 12 left) | 7 from 12 |
| 25 | Celje | W1 D1 L2 | -4 | 4 | Not possible (13 needed, 12 left) | 7 from 12 |
| 26 | Salzburg | W1 D1 L2 | -5 | 4 | Not possible (13 needed, 12 left) | 7 from 12 |
| 27 | Celta | W1 D0 L3 | -2 | 3 | Not possible (14 needed, 12 left) | 8 from 12 |
| 28 | Milan | W1 D0 L3 | -3 | 3 | Not possible (14 needed, 12 left) | 8 from 12 |
| 29 | Jagiellonia | W1 D0 L3 | -3 | 3 | Not possible (14 needed, 12 left) | 8 from 12 |
| 30 | Viktoria Plzeň | W1 D0 L3 | -4 | 3 | Not possible (14 needed, 12 left) | 8 from 12 |
| 31 | Marseille | W1 D0 L3 | -4 | 3 | Not possible (14 needed, 12 left) | 8 from 12 |
| 32 | Celtic | W1 D0 L3 | -5 | 3 | Not possible (14 needed, 12 left) | 8 from 12 |
| 33 | Hapoel Beer-Sheva | W0 D1 L3 | -7 | 1 | Not possible (16 needed, 12 left) | 10 from 12 |
| 34 | Lillestrøm | W0 D1 L3 | -8 | 1 | Not possible (16 needed, 12 left) | 10 from 12 |
| 35 | Lech Poznań | W0 D1 L3 | -10 | 1 | Not possible (16 needed, 12 left) | 10 from 12 |
| 36 | Ararat-Armenia | W0 D0 L4 | -10 | 0 | Not possible (17 needed, 12 left) | 11 from 12 |
Source: UEFA official Europa League league phase standings, 2026/27, after matchday 4 (4–5 November 2026).
Five points from the last four matches, the target for the three clubs on 12, is a win and two draws. Ten from four, the target for the six clubs on 7 including Sunderland, means three wins and a draw, which is why the 14 and 16 that were enough in the past are worth keeping in view as well: from 7, they need seven and nine points. For the top 24, every club on 7 needs four points from four, and Crystal Palace, on 5, need six. Celtic, Milan and Marseille, on 3, need eight from twelve to reach 11, and 17 is already out of reach for every club on four points or fewer.
The remaining dates
| Round | Date | Kick-offs (UK and Ireland) |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 5 | Thu 26 November 2026 | 17:45 and 20:00 |
| Matchday 6 | Thu 10 December 2026 | 17:45 and 20:00 |
| Matchday 7 | Thu 21 January 2027 | 17:45 and 20:00 |
| Matchday 8 | Thu 28 January 2027 | All 18 matches at 20:00 |
| Knockout phase play-offs | Thu 18 and Thu 25 February 2027 | Two legs |
Add an hour for Malta and the rest of central Europe. A 20:00 kick-off is 15:00 in Toronto and 09:00 the following morning in New Zealand. Matchday 8 puts all eighteen matches on at once, so every position in the table is live at the same time and settled together. The round of 16 follows on 11 and 18 March 2027. Format, squads and the full season calendar are in our Europa League 2026/27 betting guide.
Reading a position market with these numbers
Three markets read this one table: to finish in the top eight, to finish in the top 24 (to reach the knockout phase), and to be eliminated in the league phase. None of them has a single winner. Eight clubs finish in the top eight, so a fair book on that market adds up to 800%, not 100%, and a fair book on the top 24 adds up to 2,400%. The margin is the amount by which the total exceeds 800% or 2,400%. Our margin calculator works for a single-winner book, so for these markets divide its total by the number of places first.
For a single club, turn the price into a percentage with the odds converter and set it beside two things: the points the club still needs from the table above, and the record of clubs that stood where it stands now. A price that implies 90% for a club on six points to avoid elimination is assuming more than the last two seasons delivered (8 of 12). That does not make the price wrong; the opponents left on the schedule matter, and two seasons are a small sample. It does tell you what the price is assuming.
Settlement is on the final ranking after matchday 8. Because the last tie-break criterion is the club coefficient, the ranking never ends level, so a dead heat on a finishing position does not arise. A bet on a club to reach the round of 16 is different from a bet on a top-eight finish: a club ranked 9th to 24th can still get there through the play-off, the way a to-qualify bet would count it.
The same thresholds for the bigger competition, with its own table after matchday 4, are in Champions League points to qualify, and for the third competition, with its table after matchday 3, in Conference League points to qualify. If you combine a position bet with other selections, the compounding is set out in accumulator betting explained.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you need to finish in the Europa League top eight?
In both seasons played in the 36-club format, 17 points was enough. The last direct place was decided on goal difference both times: in 2024/25 Rangers were eighth on 14 points (goal difference +6) and Bodø/Glimt ninth on 14 (+3); in 2025/26 Roma were eighth on 16 (+7) and Genk ninth on 16 (+4). So the line moved by two points in one year, and the total that sat exactly on it was a goal-difference question each time. Two seasons are a short record, so treat 17 as the line history has drawn, not a guarantee.
How many points do you need to reach the Europa League knockout play-offs?
The 24th-place line was 10 points in 2024/25 and 9 points in 2025/26, and both times it was decided on goal difference: Fenerbahçe (10, goal difference -2) went through ahead of Braga (10, -3), and Brann (9, -2) ahead of Young Boys (9, -6). Eleven points was enough in both seasons. Clubs placed 25th to 36th are eliminated, with no transfer to the Conference League.
Can a club with three points after four Europa League matchdays still go through?
Two of the seven clubs on exactly three points after matchday 4 in 2024/25 and 2025/26 reached the knockout play-offs (Twente finished 23rd and Ludogorets 22nd); the other five were eliminated and none reached the top eight. Across both seasons, no club with seven or more points after four matches was eliminated, and 20 of the 32 clubs on five points or fewer were.
When is the next Europa League matchday?
Matchday 5 is played on Thursday 26 November 2026, with kick-offs at 17:45 and 20:00 UK time (18:45 and 21:00 CET). Matchday 4 was played on 4 and 5 November. Matchday 6 is on Thursday 10 December, matchday 7 on Thursday 21 January 2027, and all eighteen matchday 8 games kick off together at 20:00 UK time on Thursday 28 January 2027. The knockout phase play-offs follow on 18 and 25 February 2027.
How are clubs level on points separated in the Europa League league phase?
The same way as in the Champions League: goal difference across all league phase matches first, then goals scored, away goals scored, wins, away wins, and then the collective points, goal difference and goals scored of each club's league phase opponents, before disciplinary points and the club coefficient. Head-to-head is not used, so the order always ends with a single ranking.
Sources and method
Read on 6 November 2026. Final tables, the current table, every league phase result and the remaining dates come from UEFA's official standings, match and competition data. The “after matchday 4” table is our own count from those results, and the rebuilt points matched UEFA's final totals for all 36 clubs in both seasons. Kick-off times are UEFA's, converted from UTC. No operator is named and no price on a specific club appears on this page.
- UEFA, Europa League league phase standings (current and past seasons) — uefa.com
- UEFA, Europa League fixtures and results 2026/27 (matchday dates and kick-off times) — uefa.com
- UEFA, Europa League competition regulations and documents — documents.uefa.com
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