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

Crystal Palace’s Conference League triumph does not affect Sunderland’s Europa League place or route next season.

Sunderland Echo notes that there is no shift into qualifying rounds or extra games for the Black Cats. Their berth was earned via a seventh-place Premier League finish, sealed by a final-day win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.

Palace qualify for the Europa League as Conference League winners, so they join Sunderland in the competition. The routes are separate and one does not cancel the other.

Sunderland’s victory on the final day lifted them to seventh as Brentford and Brighton failed to win elsewhere. That was sufficient to book Europa League football via the league table.

In practical terms, Palace’s success only adds another English club to Europe. Sunderland do not have to qualify again, nor are they pushed into the Conference League, and their path remains unchanged.

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

Sunderland now return to Europe for the first time since 1973-74 after a remarkable season under Régis Le Bris, a year on from promotion through the Championship play-offs.

Source: Sunderland Echo