The race for extra Champions League spots is officially over, and Spain has emerged victorious alongside England. After a thrilling Europa League semi-final, SC Freiburg stands alone as the Bundesliga's only hope for European glory, having edged past Braga 4-3 on aggregate. But it was Rayo Vallecano's gritty 1-0 win over Strasbourg in the Conference League that sealed the deal for Spain, locking in their second bonus spot for Europe's top competition.

Here's how it all unfolded: UEFA's new format rewards the top two associations with an additional Champions League berth, based on cumulative results across all three European competitions. England had already claimed the first spot, and Spain's Rayo Vallecano clinched the second after winning both legs of their semi-final tie. Strasbourg missed a crucial injury-time penalty that could have kept the race alive—instead, the outcome was decided before the finals even kicked off.

For Germany, this means they'll have four Champions League spots next season—unless SC Freiburg pulls off a Europa League title win. Currently, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are leading the charge for those coveted places, while Stuttgart and Hoffenheim are locked in a tight battle, level on points. All four teams have already secured at least Europa League qualification, so the stakes are high.

But there's still a glimmer of hope for a fifth Bundesliga team in the Champions League. If Freiburg can beat Aston Villa in the Europa League final in Istanbul, they'll earn an extra spot for Germany. Right now, Julian Schuster's squad sits in a Conference League position in the league standings, just one point ahead of 2022 Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

This season's European finals are shaping up to be an all-English affair, with clubs from the Premier League featuring in every showdown. The action kicks off on May 20th with the Europa League final, followed by the Conference League final between Rayo Vallecano and Crystal Palace in Leipzig. The grand finale comes on May 30th, when defending champions PSG face Arsenal for the Champions League crown.