There will be two City Football Group clubs in next season's Champions League after Girona booked their place in the competition with four La Liga matches to spare

Girona are celebrating qualification for the Champions League for the first time, but the club's status as part of City Football Group had threatened to ruin their party earlier this season.

Michel's team came from 1-0 and 2-1 down to record an impressive 4-2 victory over Barcelona on Saturday, completing a league double over their fellow Catalan side. Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk was once again among the goals, and sits two clear of Jude Bellingham in the race for the Pichichi Trophy for the league's top scorer.

Barcelona's defeat meant Real Madrid were crowned champions, but it also ensured a top-four finish for Girona, who overtook Barca to go second. They sit 13 points clear of Athletic Club with four games remaining, a huge improvement on last season's 10th place finish.

There had been fears earlier in the season that their status as part of City Football Group could threaten their involvement in Europe, though, with Manchester City also destined for the Champions League next term. Here, Mirror Football looks at where UEFA stands on the matter.

According to Article 5 of UEFA's Champions League regulations: "No club participating in a UEFA club competition may, either directly or indirectly hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition, or have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition."

The rules also state that "No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

Additionally, the article explain: "No individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, such control or influence being defined in this context as: holding a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights, having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the club, being a shareholder and alone controlling a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club, or being able to exercise by any means a decisive influence in the decision-making of the club."

The regulations indicate that a failure to comply could lead to only one of two clubs with shared ownership making the competition. Factors to determine which club misses out include league position, but there's still a chance City and Girona could end the current campaign in second place in their respective leagues.

City and Girona aren't the only teams who have had to deal with this kind of uncertainty, though. Brighton and Aston Villa were both cleared to compete in Europe this season despite questions over Tony Bloom-backed Union SG and Portuguese club Vitoria, who are owned by Villa chiefs Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.

UEFA recognised "significant" changes to off-field structures before giving the teams the green light. “More specifically, the significant changes that were implemented relate to the ownership, governance and financing structure of the concerned clubs," the body said. "These changes substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power over more than one club, ensuring compliance with the multi-club ownership rule.”

Manchester United have found themselves in a similar situation since the arrival of part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has an interest in Ligue 1 high-flyers OGC Nice. The French club could yet qualify for next season's Champions League, and Ratcliffe addressed questions on the matter in February, with The Mail later reporting that United would have until June 3 to prove they and Nice don't share "joint management of administrative functions"

"There are no circumstances upon which an ownership of Nice would prevent Manchester United from playing in the Champions League - I'll be crystal clear on that," Ratcliffe said. "Because we would have to find a solution.

"We might have to change some things but what UEFA recognises is that the multi-club model, in many circumstances, benefits the smaller club quite a lot," he added. "It says you have to change the ownership structure.

"So it's all about influence and positions on the board and that sort of thing. So, a) the rules are changing, and, b) there are shades of grey, not black and white. Manchester City will probably have the problem before we have the problem because they've obviously got Girona who are doing well in the Spanish La Liga."