UEFA RANKING: Portugal wins points against the Netherlands
Portugal maintains sixth place in the current UEFA Ranking and even won a few points against the Netherlands, avid pursuers, in the final round of the group stage of European competitions.
Accounts made, Benfica and Sp. Braga guaranteed 10 points for Portugal, with Jorge Jesus’ team and being the main responsible for the good result, they will face the victory and qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League final (two points for the victory plus five for qualification).
Braga earned three points with a draw (one point) and second place in their Europa League group (two).
It should be noted here that the bonus for Sporting’s qualification in the Champions League had already been accounted for in the previous round, as had happened on the Dutch side with Ajax (Champions League), Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar (Conference League).
On this journey, the Netherlands added 9 points, divided into four teams (Vitesse with three, Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord with two).
Therefore, Portugal increased the advantage over the Dutch in the current UEFA Ranking.
On the other hand, they reduced the disadvantage to the same opponent in the next season’s Ranking, which can start with the Netherlands in second place, as the more football had already explained.
The accounting can be alternated in the next round of the European competitions, with Portugal still having four of the six teams that started the season in evidence (Sporting and Benfica in the Champions League, FC Porto and Sp. Braga in the Europa League), while the Netherlands have five (Ajax in Champions League, PSV, Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and Vitesse in Europa League).