Spain to have five Champions League spots in 2025-26

Madrid:Thursday s results in Europe mean that La Liga will have five teams in next season s Champions League. Athletic Bilbao s 2 0 win at home to...

Madrid: Thursday's results in Europe mean that La Liga will have five teams in next season's Champions League.

Athletic Bilbao's 2-0 win at home to Rangers in the Europa League and Real Betis' 1-1 draw against Jagiellonia in the Conference League, coupled with Lazio's surprise elimination from the Europa League on penalties at home to Bodo/Glimt, means Spain takes an extra place in the Champions League based on performance.

The top two national federations in UEFA's performance ranking - based on clubs' performance in European competition across a season - each gain an extra place in the following season's Champions League.

With the Premier League already having confirmed a fifth spot in next season's competition, Thursday's results mean second-placed La Liga can now not be overhauled by Italy's Serie A.

That means a total of eight Spanish sides will play in Europe next season, with the top five qualifying for the Champions League, with two more in the Europa League and one in the Conference League.