Bayern Munich have already beaten Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in this season's UEFA Champions League. - © Adam Pretty

bundesliga

Bayern Munich and Freiburg's European ties crucial in securing Bundesliga a fifth UEFA Champions League spot

06.04.2026

As Bayern Munich and Freiburg prepare for European ties against Spanish opposition, the upcoming quarter-finals will prove to be extra important as the Bundesliga look to secure themselves an extra UEFA Champions League qualifying spot for the following season.

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday before the reverse fixture on 15 April, while Freiburg host Celta Vigo on Thursday before travelling to Spain the following week.

In essence, the more wins and further a league’s teams go in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, the higher that league climbs in the rankings, meaning if Bayern and Freiburg both defeat their Spanish counterparts across two legs, it puts the Bundesliga in an excellent position to earn a fifth Champions League spot, with Germany currently third in the standings, just behind Spain.

Freiburg beat Genk in the UEFA Europa League last 16 to secure a tie against Celta Vigo. - IMAGO/Ralf Brueck

Should Bayern be knocked out by Madrid, then the race for second place is essentially over. More so given that Spain has six of its eight European participants still competing, while the Bundesliga rests its laurels on their three representatives: Bayern, Freiburg and Mainz.

Points in higher competitions also carry greater weighting. So while Mainz's Conference League run would help, it is unlikely to be enough if Bayern fall at this stage.

Top 5 UEFA association club coefficients for 2025/26 (as of 5 April 2026):