Spain close in on fifth Champions League spot

Spain have reignited their push for a fifth Champions League berth after positive results for Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano coincided with setbacks for Bayern Munich and Freiburg. Despite not playing, Real Betis emerged as the week’s biggest beneficiaries, with Spain recovering momentum following a disappointing quarter‑final round that had allowed Germany to close the gap. Atletico’s draw with Arsenal and Rayo’s win over Strasbourg pushed Spain back ahead in the coefficient race, while Germany endured a fruitless week as Bayern fell to PSG and Freiburg lost to Braga.

After the semi‑final first legs, Spain lead with 21.781 points, ahead of Germany’s 21.214 and Portugal’s 20.500. England remain uncatchable at the top. With wins and draws weighted differently due to Spain having more teams remaining, bonus points could still prove decisive. For now, La Liga has taken a major step toward securing the extra Champions League place, with Betis poised to profit.