A five-game losing streak in the Endesa League has put not only Unicaja’s position in the national championship at risk, but also its future in the Basketball Champions League. The team currently sits eighth in the ACB table, which for now allows them to count on one of the four spots allocated to Spanish clubs for participation in the European tournament’s group stage. However, the situation remains extremely unstable: Unicaja and Bilbao have the same number of wins, and the upcoming games could shift the balance of power.
The battle for a spot
Currently, direct qualifications to the Champions League are held by UCAM Murcia, Joventut, La Laguna Tenerife, and Unicaja. But the eighth position is no guarantee for the Malaga club: Bilbao, last season’s FIBA Europe Cup winner and a finalist once again, is aiming to surpass its competitor and join the main tournament. Moreover, the Basque team has a tougher schedule, which could play into Unicaja’s hands.
Qualification risks
If Unicaja fails to stay in the top 8 or does not win the Champions League, the club will have to go through the qualifying round. This path involves additional risks and disrupts the usual preseason preparation. UCAM Murcia provides an example: after failing in qualification, they were forced to compete in the FIBA Europe Cup. Unicaja already faced a similar situation in the summer of 2022, when it received an invitation from FIBA after an unsuccessful ACB season. Back then, the club was the only league representative to successfully qualify, unlike Breogán, Obradoiro, Andorra, and UCAM, who failed to do so.
Victory or an invitation
Winning the Champions League guarantees a place in the group stage of the next season, as stipulated in the tournament regulations. Reaching the semifinals does not provide such a guarantee, but obliges the club to return to the tournament to avoid a penalty from FIBA. If Unicaja does not finish in the top eight or win the trophy, only qualification or a possible special invitation by FIBA for clubs with special status remains as options.
Historical context
With their appearance in this season’s Final Four, Unicaja has now reached the decisive stage of the Champions League for the fourth consecutive time. In this regard, the club lags only behind La Laguna Tenerife, which has made it to the semifinals five times in a row and won the championship twice. The same number of titles belongs to San Pablo Burgos and Unicaja itself, and this season a new record could be set.
The issue of quotas and qualification risks is particularly relevant against the backdrop of other European clubs, which also face uncertainty due to a packed schedule and competition. For example, the situation with the squad and injuries at Inter Milan, which was recently reported in the article about possible changes in the Italian club’s squad, also illustrates how instability can affect participation in international tournaments.
