ANOTHER ONE: 16 EUROPEAN QUALIFICATIONS IN 17 YEARS

The outcome was virtually assured after Monday's win against SD Eibar, but thanks to the 2-1 win against Athletic Club on Thursday at San Mamés, Sevilla FC have confirmed their 16th European qualification this century. All 16 have come in the last 17 seasons, since the unforgettable Baptista goal against Osasuna on the final day of the 2003/04 season. The only year that Sevilla FC did not compete in Europe was in 2012/13, after a ninth-placed finish the season before.

In May 2019, after the 15th qualification this century, we spoke about which teams from the five big leagues could say the same. This time, the comparison is on a national level over the last 20 seasons. There are only two Spanish clubs who can say that they have bettered Sevilla FC for securing European qualification this century, with both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona securing qualification in every season. 

Since Baptista's goal against Osasuna, Sevilla have only failed to qualify in 2011/12

Just behind them are Sevilla FC. As it is still not clear which competition Sevilla FC will be in next season, the numbers show that, excluding qualifying rounds, they have qualified for the Champions League six times and the Europa League nine times. The next club to appear on the list is Valencia CF, who could again equal the Blanquirrojos by securing a Europa League place, as they are now unable to secure a Champions League place.

On the next step down are two teams who have been level for a few days, one of them have already qualified for next season, the 14th time this season, and the other side are fighting with Sevilla FC for Champions League qualification, but are yet to secure a Europa League spot. These are both Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal CF respectively. Curiously, both side needed Intertoto Cup qualification to reach those numbers, with Villarreal winning it twice and Atlético triumphing once. 

Excluding 2019/20, there have been 6 UCL qualifications and 9 in the UEL

At the bottom of the top 6 is Athletic Club, with eight qualifications. They are followed by both Deportivo and Celta, who have both qualified five times - Deportivo won the Intertoto Cup once. Real Sociedad and Real Betis have played in Europe for four seasons, while Real Zaragoza, Getafe CF and RCD Espanyol have played three times. CA Osasuna have qualified twice, while Málaga have qualified twice, via the Intertoto Cup one occasion. The final teams to round off the list of 20 are Deportivo Alavés, Racing Santander and Levante UD, each with one European tour.

With Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla FC all in Europe in 2020/21, there are three spaces left and a range of teams who could well qualify: Villarreal CF, Real Sociedad, Getafe CF, Valencia CF, Athletic Club, Granada CF, CA Osasuna and Levante UD.