Coefficient rankings: the Netherlands make major gains thanks to an almost perfect week in Europe
The Netherlands have enjoyed an excellent week in the coefficient rankings. Wins for PSV, AZ, NEC, Ajax and FC Twente narrowed the gap to seventh-placed Belgium and extended their lead over their nearest challengers, Turkey.
In Europe, a club earns two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat.
Each country's total is divided by the number of clubs it had in Europe at the start of the season. For the Netherlands, that number is six: PSV, Feyenoord, AZ, FC Twente, NEC and Ajax.
7. Belgium (+1.600)
Belgium remain ahead of the Netherlands in the coefficient rankings, with five clubs still competing in Europe. On Wednesday, Club Brugge beat RC Lens 3-0 in the Champions League.
Thursday brought three more Belgian wins, for Union Sint-Gillis, RSC Anderlecht and Sint-Truidense V.V. AA Gent lost 2-0 to SC Braga, leaving Belgium with eight points for the week and a coefficient of 1.600.
8. The Netherlands (+1.667)
PSV started the Netherlands' week with a 0-1 away win over FC Porto in the Champions League. A day later, Feyenoord narrowly lost 1-0 at Real Betis.
On Thursday, AZ won 0-4 against FC Ararat-Armenia and NEC won 2-4 against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League. In the Conference League, Ajax beat Atalanta 2-0 and FC Twente defeated Lincoln Red Imps 1-4.
Those results gave the Netherlands 10 points this week. Divided by six, that produces a coefficient of 1.667.
9. Turkey (+1.200)
One place below the Netherlands, Turkey began the European season with five clubs and have four remaining. In the Champions League this week, Galatasaray won 2-4 against Lille OSC, while Fenerbahçe drew 2-2 with Slavia Prague.
Trabzonspor won on Thursday and Besiktas drew. Turkey collected six points in total, equivalent to a coefficient of 1.200.
Greece, Poland and Czechia
Of the three countries close together below Turkey, Greece recorded the best results this week. They edged further ahead of Poland and Czechia, but the gap to Turkey and the Netherlands grew.
Coefficient rankings around the Netherlands:
7. Belgium 62.450 (+1.600)
8. The Netherlands 55.395 (+1.667)
9. Turkey 52.275 (+1.200)
10. Greece 46.612 (+0.800)
11. Poland 45.725 (+0.200)
12. Czechia 45.725 (+0.400)
