The 2024/25 European season is quickly approaching, with 236 clubs set to compete in UEFA’s continental club competitions this season.
With the first qualifying round draws two weeks away, Extratime Talk will be providing a comprehensive coefficient preview. Between now and then, each country will be previewed, and all clubs discussed.
In these articles, we will provide analyses of what to expect from each country in Europe. We will all explore what is on the line from a coefficient standpoint, and the keys to succeeding.
This is the 19th article of the coefficient preview series, where we explore the clubs from Luxembourg, and what to expect from them in the 2024/25 season.
Luxembourg In Europe: Country Profile
| Previous Season Coefficient (Rank) | 2.250 (35th) |
| Previous Season’s 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 8.625 (43rd) |
| Starting 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 5.625 (47th) |
Luxembourg’s coefficient has started to gradually fall to the point that they are only a few places above 51st spot. Having lost 3.000 coefficient points at the end of last season, the country now sits in 47th spot, a little less than a point above Montenegro. That is too close for comfort from a Luxembourgish point of view.
This season will see the return of three of the four clubs that represented the country in Europe last summer. Along with them is a newbie, who benefited from some clubs failing to receive a UEFA license. If the four teams are able to pull it together, it could be a solid year for Luxembourg in Europe.
Luxembourg In Europe: Club Profile
| Club | Qualified As | Round of Entry | Total European Seasons | Last Season’s Performance | 5-Year Club Coefficient (2023/24) | 5-Year Country Coefficient Contribution, 2023/24 (%) |
| Differdange 03 | Domestic Champion | UCL Q1 | 13 | UECL Q2 | 3.500 | 0.375 (4.3%) |
| Progrès Niederkorn | Cup Winner | UECL Q2, Main Path | 12 | UECL Q2 | 4.500 | 1.750 (20.3%) |
| F91 Dudelange | Domestic Runner-up | UECL Q1 | 27 | UECL Q2 | 8.500 | 3,875 (44.9%) |
| UNA Strassen | Domestic Sixth Place | UECL Q1 | Debut | N/A | 1.725 | N/A |
Differdange 03 won their first league title in 45 years last season. That sees them compete in the Champions League first qualifying round. That makes it their debut appearance in the competition under the club’s current guise. Their European best came in 2011/12, when they made the playoff round of the Europa League. They would do well to repeat that performance this season.
Progrès Niederkorn won the cup, allowing them back into the Conference League. They will begin in Q2, the round they reached last term. The club’s claim to fame came six summers ago, when they created a huge shock in eliminating Rangers in UEL Q1. A year after that, Progrès made Q3 in Europe for the first time. So, keep an eye out for them this summer.
F91 Dudelange was in the title race for most of the 2023/24 season, but in the end, dropped to third spot. They will start in UECL Q1 as a result. F91 is the only club from Luxembourg to make the main rounds of a European club competition, doing so twice in 2018/19 and then again a year later. Having a similar run in Europe this term would be nothing short of impressive from them.
UNA Strassen rounds out this list of Luxembourgish clubs in Europe. After Swift Hesperange and Jeunesse Esch both failed to receive UEFA licenses, Strassen, who finished sixth in the league, got the last European spot instead. They will join Progrès in UECL Q1 for their debut. The last Luxembourgish debutant to win their first two-legged European tie was UN Käerjeng back in 2007/08.
Luxembourg’s Season Ambitions
For starters, Luxembourg should ensure they collect at least 0.500 points to avoid any potential doubt of them dropping into the bottom five at season’s end. Then, the aim should simply be to earn as many points as possible to climb out of 47th spot, and into 42nd or higher. Luxembourg has just 1.000 point to defend, so they really should have the ambition of at least 2.000 points this season.
Some might find that an ambitious target, but they did manage 2.250 points a year ago. A repeat of that should put them well out of danger for the bottom five in the not-too-distant future. This should also be considered as an attainable result from a Luxembourgish point of view, especially since Dudelange is seeded for three rounds of UECL qualifying. So, if the clubs can have a good year, that will go a long way for Luxembourg’s coefficient.
What a Successful Season Would Be for Luxembourg
A successful season for Luxembourgish football should be to have at least two teams in Q3. Progrès is just one round away from doing that, while Dudelange is seeded in the first two rounds of qualifying, giving them a great shot at getting to Q3 as well. Differdange could automatically enter UECL Q3 if they are one of two ‘lucky losers’ from UCL Q1.
Outside of that, Luxembourg collecting more than 2.000 points would also be a successful year. That requires at least six wins, along with several draws. This task is a bit more manageable, but still a challenge for a country starting the season in 47th spot. Nevertheless, a good year for Luxembourg should see them with two or more teams in Q3 and with at least 2.000 coefficient points won.
What to Expect From Luxembourg in 2024/25
Luxembourg should have no issues ensuring that they do not end up in the bottom five of the coefficient ranking. As to how well they do, that is still a question mark. However, speaking with Football in Luxembourg’s Bence Horvath, he does not set his expectations too high.
“I can’t see (UNA Strassen beating) any of opponents from the seeded options in Q1, in all honesty,” Horvath said when looking at the European debutants. He is more confident in Differdange, claiming “most of (Luxembourg’s seasonal coefficient) hinges on Differdange, really.”
Overall, Horvath expects “about three successful rounds combined, anything more would be a huge bonus.” That sounds about right for Luxembourg, and if that happens, they would be looking at around 1.750 points in total. That is a rather realistic prediction for Luxembourg’s clubs this season. So, expect a decent showing from Luxembourg’s clubs, with at least two of them winning a tie. That would put the country in a decent position for the next couple of years.