Betis clinch Champions League return with 2-1 win over Elche, end 21-year absence
Synopsis
Real Betis ended a 21-year exile from European football's top table, clinching fifth place and a Champions League berth with a 2-1 victory over Elche. Pablo Fornals' brilliance — a setup and a curling finish — proved decisive, while Celta Vigo's late-season collapse handed Levante a lifeline in the relegation battle.
Key Takeaways
Real Betis secured fifth place in La Liga and confirmed Champions League qualification with a 2-1 home win over Elche .
The victory marks Betis' first Champions League appearance in 21 years .
Pablo Fornals assisted Cucho Hernandez's opening goal and scored the winner with a curling shot in the 68th minute .
Celta Vigo's European hopes ended after a 3-2 home defeat to Levante , who climbed out of the bottom three.
Atlético Madrid won 2-1 at Osasuna , with Lookman and Sorloth scoring.
Real Betis secured fifth place in La Liga and confirmed a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 21 years with a 2-1 home victory over Elche on 13 May. The triumph came as Celta Vigo's bid to catch Betis collapsed with a 3-2 home defeat to a resurgent Levante, ending their European hopes.
Fornals powers Betis to victory
Pablo Fornals was the architect of Betis' success, orchestrating the opening goal in the ninth minute when he set up Cucho Hernandez, before sealing the win with a superb curling strike from outside the penalty area in the 68th minute. Hector Fort pulled Elche level in the 41st minute, but the visitors' comeback hopes were extinguished when Leo Petrot was sent off with a straight red card for a late challenge on Antony.
Levante's relegation lifeline
Levante climbed out of the bottom three after a remarkable turnaround against Celta Vigo. Ferran Jutgla gave Celta the lead in the fourth minute and doubled their advantage in the 48th, but Kervin Arriaga and Adrian de la Fuente leveled twice before Roger Brugue scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute. The victory proved crucial in Levante's battle to avoid the drop.
Atlético Madrid edge Osasuna
Atlético Madrid won 2-1 away at Osasuna, with Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth on the scoresheet. Osasuna lost winger Raul Moro to injury in the 37th minute, while Atlético was reduced to ten men in the 79th when Marcos Llorente received a second yellow card. Kike Barja reduced the deficit in the 91st minute, but there was insufficient time for a home equaliser.
Significance of Betis' achievement
Betis' Champions League qualification marks a watershed moment for the Seville-based club, whose last European Cup appearance came in the 2004-05 season. The return to the continent's premier club competition follows years of steady investment and strategic recruitment under the club's ownership structure.
Point of View
A symptom of how top-heavy Spanish football has become. For Levante, a single-day reprieve from relegation is both lifeline and burden — they remain vulnerable with weeks of the season potentially remaining.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Real Betis secure Champions League qualification?
Real Betis clinched fifth place in La Liga with a 2-1 home victory over Elche on 13 May. The win confirmed their return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 21 years, ending a two-decade absence from European football's premier competition.
Who scored Betis' goals against Elche?
Pablo Fornals was the standout performer, assisting Cucho Hernandez for the opening goal in the ninth minute before scoring the winner himself with a curling shot from outside the penalty area in the 68th minute.
What happened to Celta Vigo's Champions League hopes?
Celta Vigo's bid to catch Betis collapsed with a 3-2 home defeat to Levante. Despite leading twice through Ferran Jutgla's goals in the fourth and 48th minutes, Celta conceded three times and were eliminated from European contention.
How did Levante's win impact the relegation battle?
Levante's 3-2 comeback victory over Celta Vigo lifted them out of the bottom three, providing a crucial lifeline in their battle to avoid relegation. Goals from Kervin Arriaga, Adrian de la Fuente, and Roger Brugue secured the turnaround.
