Each league earns a coefficient ranking based on how their teams perform in Europe.

Coefficient points are earned through match results – two for a win and one for a draw.

The points earned by clubs from the same domestic league are added up and divided by the number of clubs the league has in Europe.

For example, if the Premier League had 100 points, that would be split by the number of teams playing in Europe (seven) and give England a coefficient of 14.28.

This season bonus points are available to clubs playing in the Champions League, which is advantageous to leagues with more clubs competing in it, such as Germany and Italy.

The countries that finish in the top two of the coefficient table earn an additional Champions League spot.

Those spots are awarded to the teams which finish in the first position below the Champions League allocation in those leagues.

In the Premier League, the top four clubs qualify for the Champions League via league position, so any additional spot would go to the team in fifth.

Last season the additional spots were given to Bologna and Borussia Dortmund, who finished fifth in Serie A and the Bundesliga respectively.