Back to Europe’s Elite: Athletic Club Clinch Champions League Spot After 11-Year Wait Under Valverde

On the night of May 15, two 2-0 scorelines changed the landscape of La Liga—but for two very different reasons. Barcelona's win over Espanyol delivered them their 28th league crown, but in the shadows of that celebration, another moment of glory unfolded. In Getafe, Athletic Club quietly made history of their own. A clinical 2-0 win secured by Gorka Guruzeta and Dani Vivian locked in a top-five finish and, with it, a long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League.

It has been 11 years since the iconic Basque club last graced Europe’s grandest stage. But now, under the guidance of a familiar face—Ernesto Valverde—they’re back.

Business Trip to Getafe, Mission Accomplished

Athletic Club traveled to Getafe with a singular objective: three points to guarantee their seat at the Champions League table. They didn’t need fireworks to get the job done. In a performance defined by control, maturity, and ruthless efficiency, Valverde’s men took just two shots on target—both of which found the net.

Guruzeta opened the scoring early, and Dani Vivian sealed the deal, silencing the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. There was no chaos. No drama. Just a cool, calculated execution of their objective. By full-time, the Basque bench was already buzzing.

With that victory, Athletic Club climbed to 67 points from 36 matches—firmly in 4th place. That puts them eight points ahead of 6th-placed Real Betis with just two rounds to play, rendering any pursuit mathematically impossible. For the first time since the 2013–14 season, Los Leones will be among Europe’s elite.

A Return to the UCL—and to Relevance

Athletic Club becomes the fourth La Liga team to clinch Champions League qualification this season, joining Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid. That leaves just one spot up for grabs, with Villarreal (64 points) in firm control. According to Opta’s projections, the Yellow Submarine has a 99% chance of finishing 5th. Betis, sitting five points back, are hanging on by the slimmest of threads.

But for Athletic Club, none of that matters. They’ve already punched their ticket, and they’ve done it with style. In the Getafe dressing room, the celebrations were raucous. Players danced, laughed, and sang—not just for a win, but for an achievement more than a decade in the making.

Valverde: The Return of the Maestro

At the heart of it all is 61-year-old Ernesto Valverde, a man whose name now borders on legendary status in Bilbao. He’s not flashy, not fiery, but what he brings to Athletic is something few managers ever achieve: deep-rooted trust.

This is Valverde’s third stint in charge of the club. Across 448 matches, he’s delivered silverware, tactical evolution, and now, continental qualification once again. He may not have received universal praise during his time in charge of Barcelona—despite winning two La Liga titles—but in Bilbao, he’s revered.

When Valverde guided Athletic to 4th in 2013–14, fans saw it as the dawn of a new era. Back then, names like Aduriz, Muniain, Ander Herrera, and Aymeric Laporte led the charge. The following season, Athletic featured in the UEFA Champions League for only the second time in the modern era. Now, 11 years later, history repeats itself. Different players. Same conductor.

From Tradition to Triumph

In a footballing world dominated by globalized rosters and transfer-market arms races, Athletic Club remains proudly unique. Their Basque-only policy—selecting only players native to or trained in the Basque Country—makes their success all the more remarkable.

While others spend fortunes to build depth, Athletic relies on the strength of their cantera, their identity, and their resilience. Players like Guruzeta and Vivian, who’ve grown through the club’s veins, embody what makes this team so special.

Their return to the Champions League is not just a sporting milestone—it’s a cultural one.

A Look Back: Athletic’s Champions League History

To appreciate the significance of this qualification, it’s important to understand how rare it is. Athletic Club, despite being one of the founding giants of Spanish football, has only featured in the Champions League group stage three times since the competition’s rebrand in 1992:

• 1998–99: Group stage exit

• 2014–15: Group stage exit under Valverde

• 2025–26: To be determined…

This upcoming campaign will mark only their third modern Champions League adventure, and just like in 2014, it's Valverde who leads them.

Athletic has lifted two trophies under his guidance already. Now, he gets another shot at elevating the club on the grandest platform in club football.

The Teams Headed to the 2025–26 Champions League

With the European landscape taking shape, 17 teams have officially qualified for next season’s Champions League. Athletic Club joins a list of giants and resurgent forces:

• La Liga: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club

• Premier League: Liverpool

• Bundesliga: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen

• Serie A: Inter, Atalanta, Napoli

• Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco

• Eredivisie: PSV Eindhoven, Ajax

• Greek Super League: Olympiacos

• Czech First League: Slavia Prague

There’s a seat at the table for Athletic Club once again—and they earned it the hard way.

Commentary: A Victory for Identity in the Era of Globalization

In an age where most football clubs measure success in euros spent, market reach, and Instagram followers, Athletic Club remains a sanctuary of soul. Their qualification for the Champions League is a triumph not just of tactics and talent, but of authenticity.

Valverde’s squad doesn’t rely on superstars flown in from five continents. They trust their own. They build from within. They stay true to who they are.

This is more than just a top-four finish. This is a message.

You can still win by being different. You can still matter by staying rooted in tradition. You can still dream—11 years later—and make those dreams real again.

In a footballing world that often forgets where it came from, Athletic Club just reminded us all why it matters. Welcome back to the Champions League, Leones. You never lost your roar—you just waited for the right moment to unleash it again.