Harry Kane scores in stoppage time and could secure an extra spot in the Champions League for the Bundesliga: the fierce battle that could change European football
In a gesture seemingly symbolic, Harry Kane’s goal in the 94th minute for Bayern Munich on Wednesday could turn into a decisive play for German football. The English forward equalized the semi-final tie in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain (1-1), but it was PSG that advanced to the final with an aggregate score of 6-5. However, the importance of that goal goes far beyond the immediate result.
That late strike from Kane could earn the Bundesliga a valuable extra spot in the next edition of the Champions League, through the so-called European Performance Spots (EPS) – additional places awarded based on the collective performance of clubs from each country in European competitions. Currently, the Premier League dominates with a comfortable lead, having already secured one of those spots a month ago, but the fight for the second position is heating up between the Bundesliga and La Liga.
With Kane’s goal, Germany added 0.412 points to its European coefficient, a seemingly modest figure, but it could be the decisive factor in this tight contest. Before the final matches of the Europa League and Conference League semifinals, La Liga leads with 21.781 points, while the Bundesliga remains just behind with 21.357 – a difference of only 0.424 points, practically equivalent to one win and one draw.
The future of the extra spot now depends on the matches this Thursday. The Bundesliga has Freiburg in action, who will need to overturn a 2-1 deficit at home against Braga, while La Liga relies on Rayo Vallecano, who travels to defend a narrow 1-0 advantage against Strasbourg.
If Freiburg manages to turn things around and reach the final, they will add 0.428 points to the German coefficient. Should Rayo Vallecano be defeated in France, La Liga will not add any points, allowing the Bundesliga to surpass the Spaniards by a razor-thin margin of 0.00446 points. Without Kane’s goal, Germany would be behind Spain by 0.13889 points.
The scenario is a true sporting drama:
– If Rayo Vallecano wins, the extra spot is secured for La Liga, regardless of Freiburg’s result.
– If both clubs are eliminated, Spain also ensures the advantage.
– If both advance with Rayo drawing, everything will be decided in the finals of the European competitions.
This confrontation also has direct repercussions in the national leagues. In the Bundesliga, the battle for fourth place, which grants direct access to the Champions League, is fiercely contested among Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, and Hoffenheim, all with 58 points and only two matchdays remaining. Without the extra spot, only one of these clubs will secure qualification for Europe’s premier competition.
In Spain, the situation is clearer, with Real Betis isolated in fifth place, six points ahead of Celta Vigo and with four games still to play.
This clash between the European leagues demonstrates how every goal, every point earned in continental competitions, can shape the future of football in these countries. Harry Kane, with a late goal, may have given the Bundesliga an unprecedented hope of strengthening its presence in the European elite.
For fans of European football, attention is now focused on these decisive matches on Thursday, which promise to determine not only the finalists in the European competitions but also the landscape of future participants in the Champions League.
Don’t miss the highlights of each Champions League game, available from 22:00 on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app. In the evening, the “Champions League Match of the Day” on BBC One, from 22:40 to midnight, will provide complete coverage of this high-tension spectacle.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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