Harry Kane's stoppage-time goal for Bayern Munich on Wednesday may have felt like a consolation prize, but it could have massive implications for the Bundesliga's future in the Champions League.

The England captain struck in the 94th minute to secure a 1-1 draw against Paris St-Germain in the second leg of their semi-final, but it was the French side that advanced to the final 6-5 on aggregate. While the result was a bitter pill for Bayern, Kane's late heroics might just tip the scales in Germany's favor in the race for an extra Champions League spot.

Here's the deal: The European Performance Spots (EPS) award two additional Champions League places to the leagues with the best overall performance in European competitions this season. The Premier League has already locked in one of those spots, but the battle for second place has come down to a nail-biting finish between the Bundesliga and La Liga.

Kane's goal earned Germany 0.412 coefficient points—a small number, but in a race this tight, it's the kind of detail that separates winners from runners-up. Currently, La Liga sits second with 21.781 points, while the Bundesliga trails at 21.357, just 0.424 points behind. In practical terms, that's the equivalent of a win and a draw.

As Thursday's Europa League and Conference League semi-final second legs approach, each league has one team left standing: Freiburg for Germany and Rayo Vallecano for Spain. Freiburg faces a tough task, needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit at home against Braga, while Rayo Vallecano holds a 1-0 lead heading into their match against Strasbourg.

Here's where Kane's goal could make all the difference. If Freiburg beats Braga and advances to the final, they'll add 0.428 points to Germany's score. Meanwhile, if Rayo Vallecano loses in France, La Liga's tally stays put, and the Bundesliga would clinch second place by a razor-thin margin of just 0.00446 coefficient points. Without Kane's goal, Germany would trail Spain by 0.13889 points.

Of course, there are other outcomes to watch for on Thursday:

• If Rayo Vallecano wins, Spain secures the extra spot regardless of Freiburg's result
• If both teams are eliminated, Spain takes the additional place
• If both advance with Rayo Vallecano drawing, the decision comes down to the finals

For fans of the beautiful game, this is a reminder that every goal counts—even when it seems like just a footnote. Kane's strike might not have saved Bayern's Champions League run, but it could be the defining moment that keeps the Bundesliga in Europe's elite competition. Now, all eyes turn to Freiburg and Rayo Vallecano as the drama unfolds.