Spain at the centre of Champions League drama

The European week wasn’t perfect, but it came close. Rayo Vallecano’s win over Strasbourg and Atlético Madrid’s draw with Arsenal have consolidated Spain’s second place in the UEFA rankings, which would grant a fifth Champions League spot next season.

Defeats for the two German teams, Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Freiburg in the Europa League, have widened the gap between the countries: Spain sits on 21,534 points, compared to Germany’s 21,214, while England leads with 26,680.

Spain’s advantage over Germany could prove decisive unless there is a dramatic shift. Only two rounds of matches remain, the second legs of the semi-finals and the finals, and the combination of results needed to overturn the standings appears unlikely: Rayo Vallecano and Atlético Madrid would both need to lose their second legs and be eliminated, while Freiburg and Bayern Munich would have to turn their ties around and reach the final. Even then, a German overtake might still require one of their teams to go on and win a European title.

Otherwise, LaLiga’s fifth-placed team will qualify directly for the Champions League. Betis currently occupies that position, although the race remains open. Spain heads into the final stretch of the European season with enough favourable results to control its own destiny.

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