Palace’s Conference League win does not affect Sunderland’s Europa League route | OneFootball

Crystal Palace’s Europa Conference League triumph does not alter Sunderland’s qualification for next season’s Europa League.

Sunderland secured their place by finishing seventh in the Premier League, sealed with a final-day win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light as Brentford and Brighton failed to win elsewhere. According to Sunderland Echo, Palace’s success neither moves the Black Cats into the Conference League nor pushes them into qualifying rounds.

Palace have earned a Europa League berth as winners of a UEFA competition, so they will join Sunderland in the tournament. The clubs reached Europe via separate routes, and one does not displace the other.

Under usual UEFA draw restrictions, teams from the same association are kept apart in the league phase, so a Sunderland v Palace meeting would not be expected then. A tie could only come later if both progress.

Sunderland now return to European competition for the first time since 1973-74 after a remarkable campaign under Régis Le Bris.

Source: Sunderland Echo