Betis go to Europe for the 12th time

With the victory against Huesca (1-0) achieved this Sunday, Real Betis ensures for the twelfth time in its history the qualification for European competitions, an achievement that was last achieved in the 2017/18 season by the hand of Quique Setién, at the end of LaLiga sixth with 60 points. The Verdiblancos currently occupy sixth place, with 58 points, the same as Villarreal, which is seventh, and one less than Real Sociedad, which is fifth with 59.

Betis beats Villarreal's particular average and loses it to Real, which is also beaten by the general against the yellows (they equal the individual) and would be first in a triple tie, ahead of Betis and Castellón. To be sixth and ensure their presence in the Europa League, Betis needs to do in Balaídos on the last day the same as Villarreal in Valdebebas against Real Madrid, who are playing their last chances of winning LaLiga. To be fifth, Real Betis only needs to beat Celta and hope that Real does not win in Pamplona against Osasuna. If Betis scores one point less than Villarreal on the last day, they will finish 7th and will play in the playoffs for the new Conference League in August. Villarreal can still qualify for the Champions League if three days after facing Real Madrid they win the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Manuel Pellegrini becomes the tenth coach to qualify Real Betis for European competitions, a milestone that Domingo Balmanya achieved for the first time in the 1963-1964 (Fairs Cup). The other classifications were for the Recopa in 1976-1977 (Rafael Iriondo and, before, Ferenc Szuzsa), UEFA Cup 1981-1982 (Pedro Buenaventura after Rogelio and Iriondo), 1983-1984 (Pepe Alzate) and 1994-1995 ( Lorenzo Serra Ferrer); Recopa 1996-1997 (Serra Ferrer); UEFA Cup 1997-1998 (Luis Aragonés) and 2001-02 (Juande Ramos). Champions League 2004-05 (Lorenzo Serra Ferrer); and Europa League 2012-13 (Pepe Mel) and 2017-18 (Quique Setién).