Spain’s decline in the Champions League. Only Real Madrid hold the flag in the eighth round

Spanish teams absolutely conquered the decade between 2010-2020. But there was a slight decline and now only Real Madrid hold the La Liga banner. Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Sevilla are already in the group stage.

2009 and 2011 Champions League winner Barcelona. 2014 Spanish final and Champions League winner Real Madrid. 2015 Champions League winner Barcelona. 2016 Spanish final and Champions League winner Real Madrid again. 2017 and 2018 Champions League winner Real Madrid.

Plus the Europa League, which Spain won eight times between 2010 and 2021. Four times Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020), three times Atlético (2010, 2012, 2018) and Villarreal (2021).

Spanish football has been the clear ruler of Europe. But that is slowly fading. Barcelona are in complete crisis without Messi and have dropped out of the Champions League group stage for the second year in a row. Atlético Madrid were lucky to scrape through the group to the quarter-finals last year, but they have not had the same luck this year and will struggle in the last round to play in the Europa League at all.

Sevilla are experiencing their biggest crisis in years, after selling the team they are only 16th in the league and the Champions League is similar. In a group with Manchester City and Sevilla, they had no chance of qualifying and ended up battling Copenhagen for third place.

Last year, the La Liga banner was still helped to be raised by Villarreal, who sensationally reached the Champions League semi-finals via Juventus and Bayern. Even there, they played evenly with Liverpool, who they ultimately fell short to.

The only king keeping Spain alive is Real Madrid. The winner of La Liga last year, it also dominated the Champions League in style. They beat the top three teams in the Premier League and knocked out a PSG superteam led by Messi, Neymar and Mbappe.

And if the red and yellow flag is to fly through European football again this year, it has to take Real Madrid for it again. For it remains the last Spanish representative in the knockout stage.

On the other hand, the country of 50 million will have a very strong representation in the Europa League. Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Sevilla, the “losers” of the Champions League, will be joined by Betis and Real Sociedad, who are already certain to qualify. And that would be for neither team in the Top 6 to dominate La Liga. In addition, Villarreal are still in the Conference League.

Spain has a very strong presence on the sidelines. But that’s little consolation, they’re used to the spotlight on the Iberian Peninsula’s biggest stage.

Source: La Liga, UEFA