Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Aston Villa qualified automatically for the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League by winning the Europa League and finishing in the Premier League top four. Under UEFA's post-2024 club competition format, which considers club coefficients over five years, an extra league phase place is awarded if the Europa League winners have also qualified via their domestic league.
This additional spot is given to the club with the highest coefficient among teams set to enter the Champions League qualifying rounds. Sporting CP tops this ranking with a coefficient of 84.000, having finished second in the Portuguese Liga, which typically sends them to the qualifying rounds.
As a result, Sporting CP takes the league phase place vacated by Aston Villa, and UEFA will adjust the access list accordingly. Last season, such rebalancing was not needed since the Europa League winners did not qualify through their domestic league.