In the first of two special midseason editions of our jog through France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, we won't be focusing on specific clubs - we will be looking at each league's overall prospects for continental cup success.

As we scan who is alive in Leagues Champions and Europa, we're going to switch the ranking system up a little; this time, you're forced to think about math.

These leagues are ranked by their outlook relative to the general preseason expectations. In other words, we'll go from the one that looks set to disappoint the most up to the one currently making that big move in the UEFA co-efficients.

#5 - Zut Alors!

Sadly, this year's European campaign for Ligue 1 clubs is starting to come off like a burnt croissant. Sure, Lyon get Cypriot upstarts APOEL in the Champions League round of 16, but that's just about the only "good" news.

We put "good" in quotation marks because that may not necessarily be true. Not only did APOEL just win a group with Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit St. Petersburg (each of whom has won a UEFA trophy within the last four years), but Lyon were quite inconsistent over the season's first half.

The only other French club still alive is Marseille, also in the Champions League and also facing a tough test in the foul-mood Inter Milan side. They've also struggled at times this season, but currently have won eight of an unbeaten nine across all competitions.

The two French sides need to carry the flag like they mean it, because Portugal is hot on their heels for the fifth spot in the UEFA co-efficients - and they have four clubs left across both UEFA cups.

#4 - Glück der Lotterie

The Bundesliga has two teams remaining in each tourney, which presents a wide range of possibilities moving forward. If the Germans fall out and/or get drawn together in the next round, their capacity to gain co-efficient points could dwindle fast.

First, of course, they must navigate the next round. In the Champions League, this sees Bayern in a tricky tangle with Basel and Bayer Leverkusen holding their eyes for the creeping monster that is Barcelona.

Meanwhile, in the Europa League, Hannover 96 must tackle Club Brugge and Schalke are set to face gritty Czech champs Viktoria Plzen, with FC Twente potentially waiting in the round of 16.

German clubs are third in co-efficient points for this term at the break. However, with all things considered, a scenario can be imagined where they eventually finish behind six other nations - including neighbors Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

It won't be enough to cost them the precious third co-efficients slot (which includes a fourth Champions League invite), but it seems safe to guess that Italy will gain some of that ground back on that placing this year.

#3 - Wh-Eredivisie?

Not quite it was, the Dutch league stayed ninth following the end of last year's co-efficient count. Perhaps that dip was only temporary and incidental, however, as the Eredivisie looks on the rise again.

With four tough teams still among the 32 in for the Europa League crown and already separated by the round of 16 draw, the Dutch are dreaming of their countries’ first UEFA triumph since Feyenoord raised the UEFA Cup in 2002 (which is still nine years more recent than France's last continental title and one better than Germany's latest).

The league has improved its UEFA showing four straight years from the miserable 2007/08 campaign... but how much of that dreaming could actually come true?

Champs Ajax have become strong finishers in recent years, but they must get around an angry Manchester United side in the forthcoming round - if they can somehow manage that and hang onto their stars another two weeks, sky's the limit.

Nearby, AZ also wait a tough test in Anderlecht, with the potential of facing Udinese in wait after. Twente must deal with Steaua Bucharest, while PSV Eindhoven battle Trabzonspor without looking ahead to a possible Valencia challenge.

It won't be easy, but if 2-3 of those Dutch clubs can make their way to the quarters and remain apart in the draw, the Eredivisie will have rung up a bushel of points.

#2 - It is what it is, man.

Returning to the Bundesliga point, La Liga's Barcelona and Real Madrid fighting for the Champions League can be a good or bad thing. If they don't meet until the final, great. If they get drawn together in the quarters? Not so great.

As is, they each look a good bet to reach the final eight, with Real set to face a CSKA Moscow team filled with hot transfer topics that hasn't played a competitive match since early December.

Over in the Europa League, Athletic Bilbao may feel they can similarly get past a cold Lokomotiv Moscow, but the specter of playing the Ajax-Man United winner is scary. Runners up in 2009, Atletico Madrid are drawn against Lazio, with Braga v Besiktas in the round of 32 bracket offering no great solace.

Presumed best shot this time around, Valencia, will play Stoke City and hope for whatever tough assignment would com next. All in all, second place Spain should easily hold off any Germany advance in the co-efficients - at the same time, it seems unlikely they can close the gap on tabletop England.

A Champions League crown would probably salve any minor wound fairly well, of course.

#1 - Well, well well...

Just when reports of Serie A's demise were being run through the exaggerat-or 3000, the Italians have come back looking strong. They did take a steep drop away from the third co-efficients position they held for so long, but are climbing again this year.

The Champions League entrants each have tricky tasks in the round of 16. While Inter wrestles with creeping age and Marseille, AC Milan will meet up with old friends Arsenal. The Rossoneri and Gunners have each won one of their two previous knockout ties in this tourney.

Napoli, meanwhile, wil be across town facing a Chelsea team in somewhat shaky transition. It may be a stretch to consider them underdogs; led by Edison Cavani and Marek Hamsik, the "other" Azzurri have lost just once in 12.

In the Europa League, Lazio and Udinese have tough roads to the elite eight, with the latter set to meet Greek upstarts PAOK in the next tie.

Serie A has not gone without a UEFA winner for four straight years since 1984. If they fail to do so this time around, that count will be up to two. Even so, it says here Italy looks a stronger contender to do a lot more co-efficients chart damage than a lot of people predicted.