Spain has long treated the Europa League as a meaningful goal for clubs, offering a platform to showcase talent across the continent. For many Spanish teams, competing in this tournament has delivered memorable moments and expanded European exposure, acting as a powerful incentive to perform at a high level across the season.
Since Sevilla captured their first Europa League title in 2006, the competition has carried a rich tradition in Spanish football, and the format changes around the 2009-2010 season solidified its role as a second major European prize. It is helpful to understand which Spanish clubs qualify for this competition every year, as their participation shapes national narratives and club objectives alike.
Which Spanish teams will qualify for the 2023-24 Europa League?
Spain is represented in the Europa League by two teams based on the final league standings and domestic cup outcomes from the prior season. One slot is allocated to the league position that finishes fifth after all 38 matchdays have been completed. The other slot goes to the winner of the national cup, if that winner does not already qualify for the Champions League. These teams earn the right to compete in the Europa League next season. At present, candidates for the fifth spot include Betis, while the other participant depends on the result of a domestic cup knockout tie between Club Atlético Osasuna and Athletic Club de Bilbao, with victory in that KO potentially granting another European berth.
If Barça or Madrid win the cup, the sixth placed goes
Barcelona and Real Madrid have essentially secured their places in the next Champions League edition through their league performances. If either Catalan club or the Madrid outfit wins the domestic cup, the extra European berth traditionally allocated to the cup winner would shift, allowing the sixth-placed team in the league to join the fifth-placed team in the Europa League. In this scenario, Villarreal would stand to benefit from that change if it comes to pass.