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Poland and England are on course to win the two extra Champions League places on offer for next season's competition.
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, when the Champions League's first round expanded from 32 teams to 36, Uefa have handed an extra qualifying place to each of the two best-performing nations in the previous season.
Using Uefa's association rankings, where points are earned by winning and drawing matches in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, the two nations with the highest points get given a direct qualification each for the following season's Champions League.
Throughout the season, teams earn two points for every win and one for draws across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. There are also bonus points on offer for every round reached across the three competitions, although more points are given to teams competing in the Champions League than in the other competitions.
In the qualification rounds, these points are halved.
Points earned are then divided by how many teams from that country entered European competitions at the start of the season.
In the 2025-26 season, England have nine teams competing in Europe. That means all points are divided by nine.
Scotland started the season with five teams competing in Europe. Although Hibernian and Dundee United failed to progress out of the qualifying rounds, three teams remain - but Scotland's points are still divided by five.
For this season, England and Spain were given one extra spot each as they were the two best-performing nations across the 2024-25 campaign. That meant entry to the Champions League was given to Newcastle and Athletic Club.
For the 2024-25 season, Italy and Germany were given the two places, known as European Performances Spots (EPS). Bologna and Borussia Dortmund were the teams granted entry.
Tuesday's Champions League action did not alter the order of the top 10 nations, but England did reduce their deficit on Poland.
While leaders Poland do not have a Champions League club, England recorded two victories as Arsenal and Tottenham won.
German teams had a poor night and missed out on points as Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund both lost their matches.
Like Poland, Cyprus did not have any teams in action on Tuesday night, meaning their points went unchanged.
Italian clubs were without victory on Tuesday. Inter Milan lost to Arsenal, while Napoli were held to a draw against Copenhagen.
Spain closed the gap on Italy to less than a hundredth of a point following Real Madrid's 6-1 win over Monaco.
Portuguese club Sporting earned maximum points with a shock victory over French club Paris St-Germain.
Defeats for both French sides on Tuesday allowed Greece to make up ground in ninth place, which Olympiakos did by beating Leverkusen.
Denmark remain 10th, picking up some points for Copenhagen's draw over Napoli.
Current top 10 in race for 2026-27 EPS spots:
Poland 13.625 (3/4 clubs remaining)
England 13.263 (9/9 clubs remaining)
Germany 11.657 (7/7 clubs remaining)
Cyprus 11.406 (3/4 clubs remaining)
Italy 11.321 (7/7 clubs remaining)
Spain 11.312 (8/8 clubs remaining)
Portugal 11.000 (4/5 clubs remaining)
France 10.428 (7/7 clubs remaining)
Greece 9.900 (4/5 clubs remaining)
Denmark 9.375 (2/4 clubs remaining)
Thanks to Nige in Morpeth for the question.
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