European qualification: The permutations

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European qualification: The permutations

Chelsea hold the key to a number of scenarios relating to reaching Europe next season

Chelsea reached the UEFA Champions League final with a memorable display

Chelsea's superb performance in Barcelona on Tuesday ensured a place in the UEFA Champions League final for a Barclays Premier League club for the seventh time in eight seasons.

On 19th May, the Blues will hope to go one better than their narrow defeat on penalties to Manchester United in the 2007/08 final in Moscow.

Chelsea will face German giants Bayern Munich - and the match represents one of two opportunities for Roberto di Matteo's men to qualify for next year's competition.

They can qualify via their Barclays Premier League placing or as competition winners - but the various permutations regarding qualification are complex, so here is a guide to show how the various outcomes of the next few weeks could affect qualification.

IF CHELSEA WIN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The Blues will qualify for the Group Stage of next season's tournament as winners.

If Chelsea also finish third in the Barclays Premier League (their highest-possible finish as of April 25th), then the fourth-placed team will enter the competition at the Play-Off stage (which follows the three qualifcation rounds) - the final obstacle ahead of the Group Stage.

If Chelsea finish fourth, all four Barclays Premier League teams will enter at the Group Stage.

If Chelsea finish fifth or lower, they still enter at the Group Stage as defending champions. Because no nation can have more than four teams in the competition, the team that finishes fourth in the Barclays Premier League will qualify for the UEFA Europa League, not the UEFA Champions League.

The top three clubs will enter the UEFA Champions League at the Group Stage as normal.

IF CHELSEA DO NOT WIN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The situation reverts to the standard qualification procedure - that is the top four clubs in the Barclays Premier League will qualify.

The top three will enter at the Group Stage, with the fourth having to win the Play-Off to reach the Group Stage.

Manchester United and Manchester City are both guaranteed to finish in the top two and have secured their Champions League place for 2012/13.

WHAT ABOUT THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE?

This is where things get rather complicated.

England has three places available, with The FA Cup winners entering at the Group Stage, the team finishing fifth in the Barclays Premier League entering at the Play-Off Stage, and the Carling Cup winners entering in the third qualifying round.

Liverpool are this season's Carling Cup champions, but should they win The FA Cup, that would take precedence as their route into the Europa League, and their Carling Cup Europa League place passes to the highest Barclays Premier League finisher not already qualified for Europe via another route.

The FA Cup final sees Liverpool play Chelsea at Wembley on May 5th.

Here are the possible qualification scenarios:

(Key - UCL = UEFA Champions League, BPL = Barclays Premier League)

CHELSEA WIN UCL AND FA CUP FINALS

Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, with their FA Cup Europa League place going to Liverpool as runners-up - with the two remaining Europa League places going to the highest-place Barclays Premier League teams which have not already qualified for Europe. The Champions League places will be decided as outlined above.

CHELSEA WIN UCL, LOSE FA CUP FINAL

Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, and Liverpool take The FA Cup Europa League spot with their Carling Cup Europa League spot going to the highest-place Barclays Premier League team which has not already qualified for Europe. The Champions League places will be decided as outlined above.

CHELSEA LOSE UCL FINAL, WIN FA CUP FINAL, FINISH IN TOP FOUR IN BPL

Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, their FA Cup Europa League spot goes to Liverpool as runners-up and the remaining two Europa League spots go to the highest-place Barclays Premier League teams which have not already qualified for Europe.

CHELSEA LOSE UCL FINAL, WIN FA CUP FINAL, FINISH FIFTH IN BPL

Chelsea qualify for the Europa League with Liverpool (Carling Cup winnners) and the sixth-placed team also entering the Europa League (if Liverpool finish sixth, the seventh-placed team enters the Europa League).

CHELSEA LOSE UCL FINAL, WIN FA CUP FINAL, FINISH SIXTH OR LOWER IN BPL

Chelsea qualify for the Europa League with Liverpool (Carling Cup winners) and the fifth-placed team also entering the Europa League (Liverpool can no longer finish fifth)

CHELSEA LOSE UCL AND FA CUP FINALS, FINISH IN TOP FOUR IN BPL

Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, Liverpool claim The FA Cup Europa spot and the two highest-placed Barclays Premier League teams which have not already qualified for Europe enter the Europa League.

CHELSEA LOSE BOTH UCL AND FA CUP FINALS, FINISH FIFTH IN BPL

Chelsea enter the Europa League, Liverpool claim the FA Cup Europa spot and the next highest-placed Barclays Premier League team which has not already qualified for Europe enters the Europa League.

CHELSEA LOSE BOTH UCL AND FA CUP FINALS, FINISH SIXTH IN BPL

Chelsea enter the Europa League along with the fifth-placed team, while Liverpool claim The FA Cup Europa spot.

CHELSEA LOSE BOTH UCL AND FA CUP FINALS, FINISH SEVENTH IN BPL

Chelsea could enter the Europa League, provided Liverpool (who qualify for the competition as FA Cup winers) finish sixth - the fifth-placed team would also enter the Europa League.

CHELSEA LOSE BOTH UCL AND FA CUP FINALS, FINISH BELOW SEVENTH IN BPL

Chelsea will not qualify for Europe unless via the Fair Play League (see below). The top four teams will enter the Champions League, Liverpool take the FA Cup Europa spot and the two highest-placed Barclays Premier League teams which have not already qualified for Europe enter the Europa League.

FAIR PLAY

The one remaining aspect is that the winners of the Fair Play League could enter the Europa League at the first qualifying round.

View the latest UEFA Respect Fair Play rankings

This place automatically goes to the three best-placed national associations in the UEFA Respect fair play rankings provided they achieve an average of 8.0 points or more.

The top three associations will then be entitled to enter the club that has either won their domestic top-division fair play competition, or if they have already qualified, the runners-up and so forth.

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

Holy shit, we can push l'Arse out of CL if we beat Bayern and Newcastle finish third.

[Kez 2,727]

Holy shit, we can push l'Arse out of CL if we beat Bayern and Newcastle finish third.

Perfect scenario if you ask me.

[JackredandWhite 171]

I've got an awful feeling the dirty mags will finish 4th. Would be fantastic if you stopped them from getting into the CL

[Ollie 4,400]

I would Orgasm like Gary Neville if us winning the UCL pushed Arsenal into the Europa League. It would be the greatest moment ever in football history.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I would Orgasm like Gary Neville if us winning the UCL pushed Arsenal into the Europa League. It would be the greatest moment ever in football history.

The look on their faces would be a magical moment for all Chelsea fans

[Jype 6,398]

Winning the Champions League would be twice as much fun if it meant Tottenham, Arsenal or Newcastle would have already finished fourth and qualified to the CL only to have it taken away from them.