There is even more motivation to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season as from next term the four top teams from England – along with Germany, Italy and Spain – will all qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

Formerly it was just the top two in England who qualified automatically with third and fourth place facing often tricky qualifiers to reach the group stages.

But no more – finish in the top four and you can start getting ready to host some European nights.

This follows UEFA’s decision to increase the quota for direct group-stage qualification from 22 to 26 teams.

The Europa League will see a similar change, with 17 clubs now going directly into the group phase, plus another 10 dropping into the competition from the Champions League play-offs and third qualifying round.

There is also set to be a preliminary round introduced at the start of Champions League qualification, with four teams entering into a mini knockout tournament, from which one club shall move on and be joined by another 33 sides in the first round of qualifiers.

UEFA has also announced for group games in both competitions will be staggered.

Previously all matches kicked off at 19:45 (GMT) but now there will be two different time slots – 17:55 (GMT) or 20:00 (GMT).

Here’s a summary of the new-look qualification process in both the Champions League and Europa League.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (32 Teams)

Group stage

• There will now be 26 teams automatically qualified as per the access list drawn up from the UEFA association coefficients at the end of 2016/17.

For 2018/19 they will be …
UEFA Champions League holders (1)
UEFA Europa League holders (1)
Top four from associations ranked 1st to 4th: Spain, Germany, England, Italy (16)
Top two from associations ranked 5th and 6th: France, Russia (4)
Champions of associations ranked 7th to 10th: Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey (4)

• If the UEFA Champions League holders have qualified for the group stage via their domestic championship, the vacancy will be filled by the champions of the association ranked 11th (Czech Republic), who otherwise compete in the champions path
• If the UEFA Europa League holders have qualified for the group stage via their domestic championship, the vacancy will be filled by the third-placed club from the association ranked fifth (France), who otherwise compete in the league path
• An association may have a maximum of five teams in the group stage

Qualifying

• Six (6) teams will qualify via two paths: the champions path (4) and the league path (2). Teams enter as per the access list draw up from the UEFA association coefficients at the end of 2016/17.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE (48 Teams)

Group stage

• There will now be 17 teams automatically qualified as per the access list drawn up from the UEFA association coefficients at the end of 2016/17.

For 2018/19 they will be …

Two teams from associations ranked 1st to 5th: Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France (10)
One team from associations ranked 6th to 12th: Russia, Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey, Czech Republic, Switzerland (7)

• Ten teams also enter the group stage direct from the UEFA Champions League: six teams eliminated in the league path (third qualifying round and play-offs) and four teams eliminated in the champions path play-offs.

Qualifying

• Twenty one (21) teams will qualify via two path two paths: the champions path (8) and the league path (13). Teams enter as per the access list drawn up from the UEFA association coefficients at the end of 2016/17.