La Liga close in on 5th Champions League spot after successful week in Europe

Madrid – A dramatic reversal of fortune in European competition has propelled La Liga back into contention for an unprecedented fifth Champions League berth next season. After fifth-qualified pair Villarreal and Athletic Club were eliminated during the league phase, Spain’s coefficient prospects looked bleak. Yet a flawless play-off week has slashed Germany’s advantage to just 165 coefficient points, with six of Spain’s eight representatives still alive across the three tournaments.

Real Madrid set the tone on Wednesday, edging past Benfica, while Atlético Madrid subdued Club Brugge at the Metropolitano 24 hours earlier. In the Europa League, Celta Vigo dismissed PAOK 3-1 on aggregate, and Barcelona, Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano received byes into the next rounds. The results leave La Liga with more remaining clubs than any rival league—six—while Bundesliga has five and Serie A only four.

The draw has produced potential Spanish blockbusters: Atlético and Barcelona could meet in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Celta and Betis are on a Europa League semi-final collision course. Even so, La Liga will welcome heavyweight opposition for German clubs: Bayer Leverkusen were paired with Arsenal and Stuttgart must overcome Porto, two of the toughest routes available.

With Portugal and Italy still within striking distance, every remaining Spanish result will carry coefficient weight, but the league’s sudden momentum has reignited hopes of overtaking Germany before the final reckoning.