NEC misses Champions League bonus but eyes Europa League points

NEC failed to collect any points in the Champions League play‑offs for the UEFA‑coëfficiëntenlijst, but the club can still earn points in the Europa League (EL) after being eliminated by Bodø/Glimt, with eight ties awaiting in the competition’s main stage – the first European campaign for the Dutch side in sixteen years.

Eight ties await in the Europa League

While a Champions League berth would have delivered six bonus points, the lower‑level format may allow NEC to amass more points than in the "billion ball" scenario, because the reward system mirrors the Champions League: two points for a win and one for a draw.

Met the new format, NEC will be drawn on Friday based on its club coefficient and is unlikely to land in a high pot. The draw guarantees each club faces two opponents from each of the four pots, though the exact lineup remains uncertain due to the limited number of confirmed participants.

Among the clubs already placed are Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, AC Milan and Olympique Marseille, with AZ entering as cup winner. From England, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland also join the field, underscoring the depth of the competition.

Voor the Netherlands, strong performances by NEC and other Dutch sides in the later stages of European tournaments are crucial to prevent further decline on the UEFA‑coëfficiëntenlijst. The Eredivisie has already lost its second direct Champions League slot, and Dutch clubs must outscore rivals such as Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic and Turkey to protect their coefficient.

De club knows the task ahead. VI PRO offers live analyses, opponent profiles, interviews and more, allowing fans to follow NEC’s inaugural European campaign since the 2008/09 UEFA Cup season.