During this week’s UEFA competitions, focus was on the clubs still competing for a European trophy.
However, behind the scenes, squads from both the Bundesliga and La Liga could win or lose without even playing.
Now that the European finals are set, who are our winners and losers, and what does it mean for the rest of the domestic season?
The Impact Of This Week’s UEFA Competitions
Going into the week, England had already secured a fifth Champions League spot via UEFA club coefficients.
After the quarter-finals of European competition, with one UEFA club coefficient spot left, it was clear that either Spain or Germany would walk away with that spot.
There were a multitude of scenarios in which either country could secure the club coefficient spot, and it could have taken until the last day of competition to determine. Had that happened, the Bundesliga would already be over, and La Liga would only have one matchday left.
Instead, this week’s results sealed the fate of both domestic competitions. Germany found hope in Atletico Madrid’s loss to Arsenal, but it was promptly followed by Bayern Munich’s deflating loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The result meant that Rayo Vallecano held the key, as a trip to the Conference League final would be all they needed to get La Liga that fifth UEFA Champions League spot.
SC Freiburg gave it their best shot. A valiant 3-1 (4-3 aggregate) win over Braga saw them through to the Europa League final. Had Bayern taken down PSG, the Bundesliga would have been in prime position for the club coefficient spot. In reality, Rayo just needed to win, and they did exactly that.
Along with their shot at a European title, Rayo earned a pat on the back from multiple Spanish clubs for securing the final club coefficient spot. In doing so ahead of schedule, it also means that clubs from both the Bundesliga and La Liga now know what they have to do for a spot in the Champions League.
UEFA Competitions: The Bundesliga Table
Bayern Munich’s showstopper of a season locked up their spot in the Champions League long ago. Along with them, Borussia Dortmund are also guaranteed a place. RB Leipzig are likely to take the third spot, as they play relegation-fearing St. Pauli this weekend, which means there’s only one place left for Champions League football.
This is where it gets fun. Three squads (Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, and Hoffenheim) are tied for that fourth spot, as they all sit on 58 points. Even better, in a match of massive implications, Leverkusen and Stuttgart will face each other on Saturday.
Arguably, Hoffenheim has the easiest remaining matches, facing two mid-table teams to close out the season. They currently sit furthest back on goal differential, but could take advantage of that Leverkusen-Stuttgart match should it end in a draw.
Although they’ll all be fighting for the grand stage of the Champions League, it is interesting to note that none of these three clubs can do worse than Europa League football as they are too far away from seventh to be caught on points.
Fifth place in the Bundesliga table will earn a Europa League spot, and the winner of the DFB-Pokal final will earn the other.
However, the final is between Bayern and VfB Stuttgart. Should Bayern win, they’ve already qualified for the Champions League, and so sixth will get the Europa League spot. This means that there is a scenario in which VfB Stuttgart, should they be sixth in the Bundesliga table, can win or lose the final and see Europa League football nonetheless.
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UEFA Competitions: The La Liga Table
It will be fireworks in La Liga’s final four matchdays, as several clubs have a shot at the now-acquired fifth Champions League spot.
The most likely to take that spot is Real Betis, who occupy the fifth place by a six-point gap; however, they have Celta Vigo, Getafe, and Athletic Bilbao all hot on their heels.
If any of these clubs would make a late-season push for Betis’ fifth spot, it would likely be Getafe, as they don’t face another squad in the top half of the table for the remainder of the season. A nine-point gap is a tough one to overcome, but we’ve seen crazier things in the world of football.
For Betis, it feels like a spot in the Champions League has been a long time coming. Although they’ve seen plenty of European competition in the last five years, they’ve constantly come up just short of the top level of European football.
Since the 2020/21 season, the squad has never finished worse than seventh, but never better than fifth in the La Liga table. That club coefficient spot could mean the end of a desperate routine for the Heliopolitanos.
Just for fun, one other interesting situation would be if Real Sociedad find their way into the sixth spot. They currently sit ninth, only four points behind sixth, and with their victory in the Copa del Rey final, they have secured a Europa League spot.
Should they finish sixth, seventh place would receive a Europa League spot, and eighth would get a Conference League spot.
With sixth to 11th place only separated by five points in the La Liga table, a spot in Europe is still anyone’s to grab.
UEFA Competitions: The Bar Is Set
Now that domestic leagues in Europe know what they have to fight for, fans will be treated to massive ties and exciting football.
While three equally matched German squads battle for the last Champions League spot, one team in Spain will fight to redeem their place in the gold standard of European football.
They weren’t thought of during this week’s UEFA competitions, but these clubs had just as much stake in the results. Now, it comes down to a strong run-in for the glory that comes with Champions League football.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Crystal Pix
Recording Date: 07.05.2026
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