GENEVA (AP) — There could be a surprising team from each of Europe’s “big five” leagues when the new-look Champions League debuts next season.
Aston Villa, Bologna, Brest, Girona and Stuttgart are all, remarkably, on course to qualify for Europe’s elite competition going into the final few rounds of their national league.
Bologna, Stuttgart and Girona have perhaps the best chance of earning a place in the 36-team Champions League lineup when the lucrative tournament switches to a new format next season.
For Spain’s Girona and French club Brest, it would be a particularly remarkable achievement — neither has ever played in any European competition.
But this kind of challenge was not expected from any of the provincial teams, which have had little or no recent success — even if Aston Villa was the European Cup champion in 1982 — and mostly have coaches who are in their first full season.
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
West Virginia says it will appeal ruling that allowed transgender teen athlete to compete
How YOU can lower your council tax by challenging it
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
Poland's prosecutor general says previous government used spyware against hundreds of people
Who's made the cut for Meghan's new Montecito inner circle? Polo wives, Britney Spears' ex
DEI bans: Conservative quest to limit diversity programs gains momentum
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Former Labour minister Frank Field dies from cancer aged 81: Tributes pour in for 'formidable' ex
Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
Grant Shapps swerves questions on whether Britain could follow the US by banning Chinese