Nine Premier League teams secure spots in the European cup round of 16

After the play-offs, the Premier League is in a dominant position, boasting nine clubs in the last 16 of Europe's tournaments.

In the early hours this morning (27/2), the play-off matches for Europa League round of 16 berths and the Conference League concluded, determining the teams that will compete in the knockout stage. Notably, the English clubs once again demonstrated their superiority over the rest of Europe.

In the Europa League, despite playing at home at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest faced significant challenges against a determined Fenerbahce side seeking to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit. The Turkish team fought hard and secured a 2-1 victory in the return leg. However, this result was insufficient for Fenerbahce to complete a comeback, leading to their elimination and allowing Nottingham Forest to progress.

In another fixture, Crystal Palace capitalized on their home advantage to defeat Zrinjski Mostar 2-0, securing their place in the next round with a 3-1 aggregate score over the two legs.

A day earlier, Newcastle also showcased their overwhelming strength by defeating Qarabag with a 9-3 aggregate score after two matches, officially booking their spot in the Champions League round of 16.

In total across the three major European cup competitions, the Premier League has nine teams qualified for the round of 16, a dominant figure compared to other leagues.

Specifically, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Man City all finished top of their Champions League groups, earning direct entry to the knockout stage. Alongside Newcastle, this marks the first time in Champions League history that six clubs from the same nation have reached the knockout phase, setting an unprecedented milestone for the tournament.

In the Europa League, Aston Villa displayed their quality by finishing second in their group, while Nottingham Forest became the next English side to reach the last 16.

In the Conference League, Crystal Palace continued to bring pride to English football by navigating the play-off round to reach the last 16.

This overwhelming dominance in the number of teams reaching the knockout stage is seen as a major boost for the Premier League, especially as the league is likely to secure a fifth Champions League spot for next season based on the UEFA coefficient.