Man Utd set Tottenham clear Champions League challenge after Arsenal and Man City failure
We are almost at the end of the first round of fixtures in the Champions League and Europa League. Tottenham are among 18 teams taking part in their first Europa League fixtures on Thursday night when they take on Azerbaijan side Qarabag.
The new expanded tournaments mean there is a league phase this year, instead of group stages. That means there is a 36-team league, with clubs changing places every week depending on their results.
Lazio top the Europa League league early on, as the only team on Wednesday to rack up a three-goal victory, beating Dynamo Kyiv 3-0. So, a win by three goals or more would see Ange Postecoglou's side as the early leaders, depending on the results in the other eight matches on Thursday night, of course.
But clubs are not only chasing improved Champions League and Europa League places, they are also chasing UEFA coefficient points. And those points will determine which two leagues at the end of the 2024/25 season get an extra Champions League place.
Italy and Germany were the recipients last year, following their exploits in Europe, seeing five teams from each country take part in this year's Champions League.
The Premier League will be hoping to be rewarded this time around and that could impact the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, who finished fifth, sixth and seventh last season. However, things have not gone quite as well as many would have hoped in the first round of European fixtures.
READ MORE: Tottenham vs Qarabag LIVE - Kick-off time, TV channel, confirmed team news and score updates
READ MORE: Tottenham predicted team vs Qarabag - Mikey Moore decision as Postecoglou makes changes
Clubs get two points for every win in the Champions League and Europa League league phase, with one point for a draw. Aston Villa and Liverpool both won their first Champions League matches, but Arsenal and Manchester City could only draw against Atalanta and Inter Milan respectively.
Then, in the Europa League on Wednesday night, Manchester United will have been expected to win at home to Dutch side Twente, but again, could only draw.
There is a long way to go of course, but it leaves Tottenham looking for a winning two points for the English coefficient, to give the average a boost in the battle for those two extra Champions League spots.
Of the countries with all their clubs still in Europe this season, Portugal and Belgium are both ahead of England on ranking points currently. Germany and Italy are slightly behind though. Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt are both also in action in the Europa League on Thursday night.