Spain pip Germany to extra Champions League berth after Rayo reach final | OneFootball

Spain have edged Germany to claim one of UEFA’s two additional Champions League places, clinched when Rayo Vallecano reached the Europa Conference League final.

SC Freiburg will be the Bundesliga’s sole representative in the three European finals after beating Braga 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League semi-final. According to BuLi News, Rayo’s win over Strasbourg closed the coefficient race.

UEFA’s new format awards two extra Champions League spots to the top two associations each season. England had already secured one, and Spain joined them after Rayo won both legs 1-0. Strasbourg missed an injury-time penalty that would have prolonged the contest into the finals.

As it stands, Germany will have four Champions League places unless Freiburg win the Europa League, with four teams chasing two slots to join champions Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen lead that race, while Stuttgart and Hoffenheim are level on points with Leverkusen. All four are at least assured Europa League qualification.

A fifth Bundesliga side could feature in next season’s Champions League if Freiburg beat Aston Villa in the Istanbul showpiece. In the league, Julian Schuster’s team currently occupy the Conference League position by a single point from Eintracht Frankfurt, the 2022 Europa League winners.

All three European finals will include English clubs. The Europa League decider comes first on 20 May. Leipzig will host the Conference League final between Rayo Vallecano and Crystal Palace, before holders PSG face Arsenal for the Champions League title on 30 May.

Source: BuLi News