How did English Premier League benefit from Lille's elimination from the Champions League?

English football's top-tier division, aka the Premier League, has secured a vital footing in its pursuit of an additional Champions League qualification spot following Lille's elimination.

Last season's runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, staged an incredible comeback at Stade Pierre-Mauree. Both teams played a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Signal Iduna Park. In the second leg, Ligue One side Lille took the lead early in the first half as Jonathan David found the net in the fifth minute. Lillie held onto their slender lead in the first half, but in the second half, the Bundesliga side scored two quick goals in the 54th and 65th minutes. Hence, Dortmund qualified for the next round, putting an end to Ligue One's quest to receive an extra UCL qualification spot for the next season.

Why Lille's exit is beneficial for the Premier League 

The revamped UEFA Champions League format implemented a new rule that awards two additional Champions League spots to the leagues that have the best overall performance in European competitions. These extra positions are determined by coefficient rankings, which assess results from the European competitions.

With Lille out of the competition, these slots will now feature a team(s) from either of the top four leagues in England, Spain, Italy and Germany.

Arsenal and Aston Villa have both advanced in the competition, and if they maintain their strong performances, they will encounter each other in a potential semi-final matchup. On another note, Manchester United and Tottenham are actively competing in the Europa League and have kept hopes for silverware alive. Being placed in opposite brackets, both sides would come face to face if they reached the finals.

With multiple English clubs actively pursuing silverware across European competitions, England's position appears stronger than ever to grab the additional UEFA Champions League spots at stake.