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Milan win has knock-on effect

AC Milan's UEFA Champions League win is good news for the champions of Switzerland, Romania, Hungary and Slovenia.

AC Milan's UEFA Champions League victory at Old Trafford has caused several changes in the framework of next season's competition.

Milan move
Milan will enter the group stage as holders rather than as the third-placed team from Italy, meaning they no longer have to compete in the third qualifying round. The vacancy created by Milan's move means that the Swiss champions, Grasshopper-Club, will now enter the competition in the third, rather than second, qualifying round.

Other champions benefit
The champions of Romania (FC Rapid Bucuresti), Hungary (MTK Hungária FC) and Slovenia (NK Maribor) have also benefited from Milan's win, as well as the exclusion of any side from Azerbaijan in the 2002/03 competition (in accordance with a decision taken by the UEFA Administration). These three clubs will now enter the Champions League in the second, rather than first, qualifying round.

Five-season performance
Access to the Champions League is based on performances over the last five seasons, and the coefficients determine the number of places which each national association will have in the competition, as well as in qualifying.

New look
Next season's Champions League will have a new look, after a recent decision to revamp the competition. A 32-team single group staged will be followed by a 16-team knockout phase.

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