UEFA has confirmed that Europe's top four leagues will have four guaranteed places in the Champions League group stage from the 2018-19 season.

The top four leagues in the UEFA coefficient ranking -- currently La Liga, the Bundesliga, Premier League and Serie A -- will see four teams enter the group stage without having to go through a qualification round.

La Liga, the Bundesliga and the Premier League are guaranteed three group spots, with a fourth possible through the qualifying round, while Serie A has two guaranteed spots and a third possible via qualification.

The Premier League were in danger of losing one of its places to Serie A.

The top flights in Russia, Portugal and France are currently all vying to be Europe's fifth-ranked division but are some distance behind the current top four.