Real Sociedad face Champions League qualifier, Women's Europa Cup safety net | OneFootball

Arturo Ruiz’s Real Sociedad have wrapped up at least third with three games to spare, confirming Champions League qualification and a minimum of four European fixtures next season.

Diario Vasco reports that La Real must negotiate a two-legged qualifier to reach the group stage, as they did four years ago. The ties are set for early in the campaign, this year they were staged in mid August and early September. Their opponent will come from another European league and is yet to be determined.

If eliminated, the txuri-urdin would drop into the new Women’s Europa Cup, the second-tier competition launched this season. There is no group phase, every round is a two-legged knockout.

On Friday, Häcken’s women won the final against Hammarby, both Swedish clubs. Häcken triumphed 0-1 in the first leg and 3-2 in the return, each side hosting once, which indicates neutral venues would not be used in a potential tie for La Real.

Real Sociedad’s first crack at Europe’s elite brought heartache, with Natalia Arroyo’s side falling to Bayern Munich in qualifying. They lost 0-1 at Anoeta, Amaiur missing a clear chance, then were beaten 3-1 away. This time there is a safety net, as shown by Häcken, who went out to Atlético Madrid in September before eliminating Katowice, Inter, Breidablik and Eintracht Frankfurt en route to lifting the Women’s Europa Cup.

Source: Diario Vasco