Real Betis return to Champions League draw after 21 years: pots, possible opponents and chances

Real Betis return to the Champions League draw this Thursday, more than two decades after their debut in Europe's top club competition. The Andalusian side will discover their eight league-phase opponents in a historic day for the club and for Manuel Pellegrini, who has guided the team back among the continental elite.

• Betis take part in the European Cup for only the second time in their history, 21 years after their debut.
• Fifth place in LaLiga plus Spain's strong coefficient delivered a direct qualification spot.
• The team will play eight matches: four at La Cartuja and four away.
• Two opponents will come from each pot, with no matches against Spanish clubs in this phase.
• The target is to finish in the top 24 and fight for a place in the last 16.

Why Real Betis are in the 2025 Champions League draw

Betis sealed qualification by finishing fifth in LaLiga. The extra place secured by Spain thanks to the performance of its clubs in European competitions last season proved decisive to complete the ticket. As a result, the club avoids the qualifying round they had to play in their previous appearance and goes straight into the league phase.

Betis' only previous Champions League campaign in 2005: what happened

Until now, the only time Betis featured in the European Cup was during the 2005-06 season. They had to overcome Monaco in the final qualifying round and then landed in a group with Liverpool, Chelsea and Anderlecht.

That group proved extremely demanding. The green-and-whites collected two wins —1-0 away at Anderlecht and 1-0 at home against Chelsea— plus a goalless draw at Anfield against Liverpool, but it was not enough to reach the knockout rounds. The new format now changes the landscape completely and guarantees Betis eight matches in the league phase.

How the new Champions League format works and what Betis need

The Champions League overhaul replaces the traditional group stage with a single 36-team league. Each club faces eight opponents, two per pot, with one home match and one away match in each pairing. Teams from the same country cannot meet during this first phase.

After the eight rounds, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Clubs placed between ninth and 24th go into a playoff for the remaining knockout spots, while those from 25th to 36th are eliminated from all European competition. Betis' target is clear: finish inside the top 24.

Real Betis' possible opponents in the league phase

Pot 1: the main favourites who could visit La Cartuja

Two opponents will come from the first pot, which features PSG, Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Inter Milan. The draw mechanics guarantee that Betis will face two of the leading title contenders, one at La Cartuja and one away.

Pot 2: strong sides and potential tricky matchups

The second pot includes Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Aston Villa, Porto, Sporting CP, PSV and Club Brugge. These are established European competitors, although the draw still leaves room for a more manageable pairing depending on which two teams the Andalusian outfit get.

Pots 3 and 4: where qualification could be decided

Two more opponents will emerge from pot three, which contains Feyenoord, Lille, Bodø/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Fenerbahçe, Shakhtar Donetsk and Galatasaray. Avoiding Napoli, Leipzig and Galatasaray looks essential for Betis' hopes.

Pot four consists of Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, Lens, Viking and Sabah. On paper, the toughest away trips would be against Como, Lens and Stuttgart, while the remaining sides offer a more approachable profile.

What is at stake for Betis and Pellegrini's European challenge

Pellegrini's team face a demanding adventure. Hosting at least two European giants at La Cartuja and visiting two of the continent's biggest stadiums turns this phase into a major sporting and institutional test.

Reaching the knockout rounds would represent another landmark for the Chilean coach and for the club's history. Pellegrini, accustomed to competing in Europe, will try to keep Betis in contention until the final matchday and take the team into the Champions League knockout stage for the first time.