West Ham United could be one of FIVE Premier League team vying for a place in the last 16 of the Europa League this season.
Already joined in the competition by Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham are - like the Reds and Seagulls - looking good for qualification to the next phase of the tournament. However with eight teams dropping down from the Champions League, those three could also be joined by Newcastle United and Manchester United, who are both currently bottom of their respective Champions League groups with two fixtures left to play.
Additionally, Rangers - currently second in Group C behind Real Betis - are also one of the favourites to make the play-off round at least, meaning there could potentially be SIX British teams fighting for a place in the last 16.
The eight winners of the Europa League groups will automatically earn a place in the Round of 16, while those teams finishing runners-up in the groups will enter the plkay-off round, where they will encounter the eight teams to have finished third in the Champions League groups.
West Ham currently top Group A by virtue of having a better record against Freiburg, who are level with the Hammers on nine points from their first four outings. The Germans visit Stratford in mid-Decemebr for a match that will decide the winners of the group.
Other teams who could potentially drop from the Champions League into the Europa League play-off round include Galatasary, PSV, Lens, Braga, Porto, Benfica, Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Current positions
Europa League group leaders (qualify for the Round of 16)
West Ham UtdMarseillaReal BetisAtalantaLiverpoolRennesSlavia PragueBayern Leverkusen
Europa League, second place (qualify for the play-off round)
FreiburgBrighton & Hove AlbionRangersSporting LisbonToulouseVillarealRomaQarabag FK
Champions League, third place (qualify for the play-off round)
GalatasarayLensBragaSalzburgFeyenoordMilanCrvena ZvezdaShakhtar Donestsk
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