Rayo Vallecano secures a new Champions League spot for LaLiga – Will it be for Betis?

Rayo Vallecano

The economic difference between playing Champions, Europa League or Conference also strengthens the value of that objective for the verdiblanco club.

The battle between leagues for the additional Champions spot was resolved after what happened in the Europa League. Freiburg had already secured their place in the final against SC Braga and, for Spain to keep that slot, Rayo Vallecano needed to repeat the feat: win and reach the final.

Íñigo Pérez’s team achieved it in France against Strasbourg. They won by a narrow margin, suffered until the end, and held the result with Batalla as the protagonist by saving a penalty in stoppage time (0-1 in the match and 0-2 on aggregate).

Real Betis Balompié

With this scenario confirmed, the focus shifts to LaLiga. If Manuel Pellegrini’s team maintains the position they currently occupy, they will secure a return to the Champions League 21 years later, a goal that in Heliópolis makes even more sense after a modest Copa del Rey season and the painful elimination against the Portuguese.

Domestically, Betis is fifth with 53 points and 12 left to play. Behind them are Celta, six points back; Getafe, nine points; Athletic, also nine points; and Real Sociedad, ten points.

The schedule marks a potentially decisive match: this weekend they visit San Sebastián. A win would not mathematically guarantee fifth place, but it would very much put their European presence on the right track.