Group champions, such as Betis, avoid the round of 16 playoffs

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The Betis squad earns a direct path into the next stage by finishing on top of their group in the opening phase. In the Europa League, this means they enter the knockout rounds without facing the round of 16 playoffs. The Verdiblancos secure this advantage by clinching first place in their group, which grants them privileged status in the draw for the subsequent round.

Under UEFA rules, teams that finish first in their group advance to the knockout rounds without the need to compete in the preliminary round. This benefit is awarded to clubs that posted the strongest results during the group phase, reflecting consistency and depth across multiple fixtures against diverse opponents.

By securing top spot, Betis avoids a potentially tough clash against teams that qualified from the Champions League groups. The team finishing second in their group would typically face the third-placed team from a Champions League group, creating a different dynamic in the Round of 16. This arrangement underscores the strategic value of finishing first in a Europa League group and highlights how group performance can influence the difficulty of the knockout stage.

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