Real Betis, Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano found out their opponents in the league phases of the Europa League and Conference League on Friday. Los Verdiblancos and Os Celeste drew out several difficult clashes from their pots, while Rayo will be optimistic of qualification from their six games.
Betis and Celta were assured their place in the league phase already, but Rayo had to beat Neman Grodno this week in order to make to the Conference League. They cruised past their Belarussian opponents in style in the second leg, winning 5-0 on aggregate.
Rayo Vallecano optimism over qualification?
Rayo’s entry into Europe is just their second foray ever, and it means a return to European action after 25 years. They will face Lech Poznan, FC Drita of Kosovo, and Shkendija of North Macedonia in Vallecas. Their away ties will be against Slovan Bratislava, Jagiellonia Bialystok, who were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Real Betis last season, and BK Hacken in Gothenberg, Sweden. Just seven points was enough to qualify last season, and Rayo will be favourites in at least three of those ties.
https://twitter.com/RayoVallecano/status/1961402788224627077
As per Diario AS, Rayo will make €3.85m from the group stages, plus €400k per win and €133k per draw.
Real Betis: Amongst favourites, but handed tricky draw
Real Betis will be amongst the favourites to progress far in the Europa League, but Manuel Pellegrini’s side will not have it easy in the group phase this year. La Cartuja, as the Benito Villamarin is renovated, will play host to Feyenoord, Olympique Lyon, Nottingham Forest and Utrecht this season. Meanwhile there will be trips to Dinamo Zagreb, PAOK, Ludogorets and KRC Genk, with little in the way of formalities for Los Verdiblancos.
🇪🇺🆚✅
¡El #EuroBetis ya conoce a sus rivales para la 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒂 de la @EuropaLeague!#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/QHhIQ0qWON
— Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) August 29, 2025
Celta Vigo
Meanwhile Celta Vigo are back in Europe for the first time in nine years, when they made a run to the Europa League semi-finals, led by none other than Iago Aspas. The 38-year-old will have a chance to lead his side into Europe again as captain.
𝐎𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐒𝐎𝐒 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐒 ⚔️
🇫🇷 Salut, @losclive 🇭🇷 Bok, @gnkdinamo 🇬🇷 Γειά σου, @PAOK_FC 🇷🇸 Bok, @crvenazvezdafk 🇫🇷 Salut, @ogcnice 🇧🇬 Здравей, @Ludogorets1945 🇮🇹 Ciao, @Bolognafc1909 🇩🇪 Hallo, @VfB pic.twitter.com/Wc3gkRiolW
— Celta (@RCCelta) August 29, 2025
Celta’s draw is mildly easier than that of Betis on paper, but a long way from simple for young manager Claudio Giraldez. Balaidos will be visited by Lille, PAOK, Nice and Bologna. Away from home, Celta will come up against Dinamo Zagreb, Crvena Zvezda, Ludogorets and Stuttgart, all sides with recent Champions League history. Celta look as if they have an uphill task to make to the knockout stages.
