The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of European club football, featuring the continent’s most elite teams. As the top four in all major leagues have been decided, we now know which clubs will be making their return to this prestigious competition after a period of absence. Here are the five clubs that have secured their place in the next season’s Champions League.
For more insights on UEFA Champions League, you might want to check out these articles:
- Sevilla and Roma Battle for 2023 UEFA Europa League Trophy
- The Battle for Kim Min-Jae: Arsenal and Manchester United in the Fray
1. Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad, a La Liga outfit, sealed a UEFA Champions League spot despite losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid on the penultimate day of the season. This will be their return to the Champions League after a decade. Their last appearance was in the 2013-14 season, where they finished at the bottom of a group that included Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, and Shakhtar Donetsk.
2. Newcastle United
Newcastle United had an impressive 2022-23 season in the Premier League, securing a top-four finish ahead of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea. This means that the Magpies will play in Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 20 years.
3. SS Lazio
SS Lazio, under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri, will be one of the four Italian teams in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Their last appearance in the competition was in the 2020-21 season. They finished second in their group but were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Bayern Munich.
4. RC Lens
French club RC Lens achieved a historic feat in the 2022-23 season by securing automatic qualification to the group stages of next season’s Champions League. The Ligue 1 club finished second on the table, just four points below league winners Paris Saint Germain (PSG). This will be their third-ever appearance in the competition, and their first in 20 years.
5. Arsenal
Arsenal will be making a return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence. The Gunners led the league table for 248 days in the just-concluded season before slipping up and handing the baton to eventual winners Manchester City.
These five clubs have shown exceptional performance in their respective leagues, and their return to the UEFA Champions League is a testament to their hard work and dedication. It will be exciting to see how they fare in the upcoming season of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
