Overview of Spanish clubs slated for Europe next season
Spain will be represented in the continental top competition next season by several of its best performing clubs. Real Madrid, a familiar force in Europe, consistently advances deep into the Champions League, and this season is no exception. The white club was among the few to reach the round of 16 in the latest campaign, advancing confidently from a group that included fierce rivals and traditional competitors.
With the 2023-24 Champions League season on the horizon, questions naturally arise about which La Liga teams will secure spots. This article explains how Spain determines its qualifiers and which clubs are most likely to participate in the upcoming edition.
Spanish teams that qualify for the 2023-2024 Champions League
The standard path to the Champions League for Spanish teams is straightforward: the top four finishers in La Liga Santander after the full 38-match campaign earn the right to compete in Europe’s premier competition the following season. There is also a nuance to this rule: if a Spanish club finishes outside the top four but wins the Europa League in the same season, that club earns a seat as part of Spain’s five representatives. In practice, Sevilla is the primary candidate for that extra slot when the Europa League prize goes to a club outside the top four.
Another important detail is the interplay between league position and European success. If any of the top four La Liga finishers also wins the Europa League, the resulting distribution can shift. In that case, the fifth-placed team in La Liga would not automatically gain a Champions League berth if the Europa League champion already secures one of the top four spots in the domestic table. This dynamic can cap Spain at five Champions League participants under certain outcomes.
Currently, Barcelona is widely expected to be present in the 2023-24 Champions League, sitting at the forefront of La Liga’s table with a strong trajectory. Real Madrid is also well positioned to secure its place, continuing a pattern of consistent qualification. The remaining two spots are being contested among Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, and Villarreal. Among these contenders, Villarreal faces stiffer competition and a relatively tougher path to secure one of the remaining berths.
These scenarios shape the suspense around Spain’s representation in Europe, illustrating how domestic form, secondary European success, and head-to-head rivalries all influence the final lineup for the next season.
Note that all conclusions about which teams will ultimately qualify hinge on the outcomes of the La Liga season and the results of the Europa League, highlighting the close ties between domestic league performance and continental qualification.
(Goal)