You are correct.

No one actually thinks Serie A is a farmers league though.

Still see your point.

There’s nothing to gain with being 2nd or 3rd in the 5 year average. Your objective should be to finish in the top 2 at the end of the season to get an extra CL spot.

Before the group stage started it was -

Netherlands : 55,100

France : 52,331

Portugal : 48,316

France have picked up 2,5 points in 2 match weeks while Netherlands have 1,4, and Portugal only 1.

At this rate it will only take 2 more match weeks before France returns to 5th ahead of Netherlands.

We’ve scored better than them in both match days. It’s a bit harder for Feyenoord and PSV to pick up points in CL than it was in the conference and EL.

I expected Netherlands to keep their lead at the end of the playoffs too, but the way the group stages have started France is definitely favorite to keep the 5th spot.

What about Antwerp ?