A slip-up by Celta de Vigo and a home win by Betis in the opening match of Matchday 36 in the Campeonato Espanhol finally ended the Verdiblanco fans' wait to see their team back in the Champions League. After 21 years, the Seville club secured qualification for its second-ever Champions campaign.
Confirmation of fifth place in La Liga came with two rounds to spare. At Estádio de La Cartuja, Betis did its part and beat relegation-battling Elche 2-1.
Colombian forward Cucho Hernández gave the Verdiblancos an early lead, but La Masia product Héctor Fort leveled the match before halftime. After the break, Elche were reduced to ten men when Léo Petrot was sent off, and Pablo Fornals capitalized to seal the Betis victory.
The early celebration, however, was only possible thanks to Celta's stumble. Their rival for the final spot was shocked in Vigo by Levante, allowing Betis to open up a seven-point lead with just six still to play for.
Back in the Champions League
Betis supporters had to wait 21 years to see their team back in Europe's top club competition. In their last appearance, the club leaned on Brazilian influence to secure qualification.
The 2004/05 season began promisingly for the Verdiblancos with a Copa del Rey triumph. That title featured a Brazilian trio in the starting lineup: Edu, Marcos Assunção and Ricardo Oliveira, with Denilson also on the bench.
Ricardo Oliveira, the club's top scorer that season with 25 goals, found the net in the final and helped pave the way for a 2-1 win over Mallorca, ending a 27-year title drought in Spain's top flight.
The Champions League berth, however, was secured through a steady La Liga campaign, again with Brazilian influence. On the final matchday, Betis met Mallorca once more and needed only their own result to reach the Champions League for the first time.
A win by Espanyol over Athletic Bilbao in the parallel match meant the Verdiblancos needed at least a draw away from home to protect their place. The required point was earned in dramatic fashion thanks to a goal from Marcos Assunção, sealing a 1-1 draw.
Despite that magical season, which included a trophy and fourth place in La Liga, Betis' Champions League run was short-lived. In the qualifying round, the Spanish side beat Monaco 1-0 at home thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Edu, and Ricardo Oliveira's two goals in the 2-2 second-leg draw secured the passage to the group stage.
But fortune was not on Betis' side in the group draw, which paired the newcomers with Liverpool, Chelsea and Anderlecht. Despite winning in Belgium, beating the Blues in Seville and holding Liverpool at Anfield, Lorenzo Serra's team exited in third place in Group G in its first and, until now, only Champions League campaign.
Return with a South American flavor
The end of Betis' Champions League drought is being led by Manuel Pellegrini and his South American core. In charge for six seasons, the Chilean has kept Betis on the European stage, with the club competing in the Europa League or Conference League every year.
After hovering near Champions League qualification spots in recent seasons, the Spanish side finally earned its place through an efficient campaign from its foreign players. The main attacking reference was Colombian striker Cucho Hernández, signed from MLS last season.
After settling in La Liga, the forward caught fire with 15 goals this season, finishing as the club's top scorer. Alongside Cucho, young Moroccan winger Ezzalzouli, formerly of Barcelona, also made a major scoring contribution with 14 goals.
In attack, Antony completed the trio as the team's top creator this season with 10 assists, while also scoring 14 goals.
Players such as Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, Argentine playmaker Giovani Lo Celso and Spaniards Pablo Fornals and Marc Roca added stability to the midfield. In defense, the welcome emergence of Valentín Gómez, a Vélez academy product sought after in the last transfer window, reflects Betis' promising identity in a season crowned by a return to the Champions League.
Un equipo para la historia, una afición única.
— Real Betis Balompié ???????? (@RealBetis) May 12, 2026
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¡SOMOS DE @ChampionsLeague! pic.twitter.com/ttxIFJK5Nj
