Soccer-UEFA announce changes to Champions League from 2018/19

MONACO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The top four European leagues will each have four guaranteed places in the Champions League group stage from 2018/19 under changes announced by European soccer body UEFA on Friday. Under the present system, the top three leagues -- currently Spain, Germany and England -- have three places each while their fourth-placed teams must contest a playoff over two legs for a place in the group stage. The fourth ranked league, currently Italy, have only two guaranteed places plus one in the playoff round. (Writing by Brian Homewood; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)