What happened: Real Betis have secured qualification for the Champions League, returning to the competition for the first time in 21 years. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the milestone, with reaction posts noting the verdiblancos clinched the spot after a 2-1 win over Elche. The result restores Betis to the European top table after more than two decades away.

Why it matters: For a club whose last Champions League appearance dates to the mid-2000s, the return is a generational achievement and a financial windfall through UEFA prize money and gate receipts. It reshapes Betis' recruitment leverage and standing within La Liga's European pecking order, where qualification has been dominated by Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético. The accomplishment also rewards a multi-season project to stabilize the club in the upper half of the table.

What to watch: Watch for confirmation of Betis' final league position and seeding pot when the Champions League draw is staged, plus early signals on squad reinforcements tied to the revenue bump. Coaching and key-player retention talks will be the next test of whether the club can build on the return.