The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has issued clarifications regarding the case where the current Champions League winner also qualifies for the group stage of the next season's tournament due to their position in the national league.

The 2023/2024 Champions League winner automatically qualifies for the group stage of the tournament in the following season, but there is a possible scenario where they also earn qualification due to their position in the national league. The official UEFA website explained the procedure in such a situation.

One of the main principles of the new format for European club competitions after 2024 is the more significant role of the club coefficient, which is formed based on the results of a club's performance in European competitions over the last five years. Starting from the 2024/2025 season and onwards, if the Champions League winner also qualifies for the league stage due to their position in the national league, the club with the best individual coefficient among all national champions participating in qualification (champions of associations ranked 11th to 55th) will enter directly into the group stage instead of going through qualification.

It should be noted that champions from national leagues in top-10 associations automatically qualify for the group stage.

Top 10 coefficients for current leaders of national championships from associations 11—55:

«Shakhtar» (Ukraine) — 63,000

«Slavia» (Czech Republic) — 53,000

«Crvena Zvezda» (Serbia) — 40,000

PAOK (Greece) — 37,000

«Maccabi» Tel Aviv (Israel) — 35,500

«Ferencváros» (Hungary) — 35,000 

«Young Boys» (Switzerland) — 34,500

«Karabakh» (Azerbaijan) — 33,000

«Galatasaray» (Turkey) — 31,500

«Slovanský» (Slovakia) — 30,500

Top 10 coefficients for all clubs from associations 11—55:

«Shakhtar» (Ukraine) — 63,000 (1st place in the national championship)

«Slavia» (Czech Republic) — 53,000 (1st place)

«Basel» (Switzerland) — 52,000 (10th place)

«Copenhagen» (Denmark) — 51,500 (3rd place)

«Dinamo» Zagreb (Croatia) — 50,000 (2nd place)

«Crvena Zvezda» (Serbia) — 40,000 (1st place)

«Olympiacos» (Greece) — 38,000 (4th place)

PAOK (Greece) — 37,000 (1st place)

«Maccabi» Tel Aviv (Israel) — 35,500 (1st place)

«Ferencváros» (Hungary) — 35,000 (1st place)

As of today, it is Donetsk's «Shakhtar» as the current leader of Ukraine's Premier League that would occupy a place in the Champions League group stage if such rebalancing were necessary. The Miners have the highest coefficient among all clubs currently leading their domestic championships from associations 11—55.

The list of leaders will, of course, be constantly updated. It is important to emphasize that this continuous process will occur simultaneously within domestic competitions determining each country's champion and the playoffs of European competitions, as several clubs are still participating in European club competitions and have potential for improving their club coefficient.