AC Milan have risen further in the update UEFA club co-efficient rankings after making the last 16 of the Europa League.
Milan secured progress against Stade Rennais with a 5-3 aggregate win, though in truth the majority of the work was done in the first leg at San Siro as they emerged 3-0 victors.
UEFA have updated their club coefficient rankings following the latest round of European action – including the Champions League and Conference League in addition to the Europa – and Milan have climbed two spots to 32nd.
In the process they have overtaken Tottenham and Slavia Praha, with the Czech side ironically being the opponents that they will face in the last 16 of the competition.
Roma also rose up to ninth. There were no other changes for the Serie A sides, with Inter in sixth, Napoli in 15th, Juventus in 17th, Atalanta in 22nd and Lazio in 30th.
The fact that Milan remain so far from the top 10 despite reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season is a sign of how much damage was done from the multiple seasons without European football.
A run deep in the Europa League would serve multiple purposes therefore: sporting pride, prize money and climbing back to a more respectable ranking position.