Spain earns bonus 5th Champions League entry with Real Betis in line to benefit

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Spain has secured an additional entry into the Champions League for the next season, thanks to a favorable result in La Liga standings. This fifth spot is a reward for Spain's teams outperforming others in European competitions over the previous season, particularly boosted by Rayo Vallecano's victory in the Conference League semifinals.

Spain has clinched a bonus fifth entry into the Champions League next season, UEFA confirmed Friday, with Real Betis on course to earn the spot through the La Liga standings. Rayo Vallecano’s win against Strasbourg in the Conference League semifinals Thursday gave Spain an insurmountable edge over Germany in the race for an extra Champions League place. Since the Champions League was revamped into a 36-team format in 2024, UEFA has awarded bonus entries to the two countries whose teams have the best collective record across the three European competitions in the previous season.