LaLiga Santander sides maintain European stranglehold

Spanish football continues to make history year in, year out. With Real Madrid's triumph in Saturday's Champions League final in Kiev following Atletico Madrid's Europa League conquest earlier in the month, LaLiga Santander has extended its astonishing recent dominance on the continental stage.

Thirteen of the last 14 European club trophies have been won by LaLiga Santander sides, an unparalleled run of success that evidences the league's sheer and utter excellence. The last five Champions Leagues, four of the last five Europa Leagues and the last four UEFA Super Cups have ended up in Spain, a haul that is guaranteed to be enlarged in August when Real Madrid and Atletico contest the 2018 UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn.

Spain is by far and away the country with the most Champions League titles (18), with Italy and England a distant joint-second with 12 apiece. On top of Real Madrid's record 13 crowns, FC Barcelona have won the continent's premier club competition no fewer than five times, making LaLiga Santander comfortably the tournament's dominant force. 

But Los Blancos and Los Azulgranas are not the only ones to have basked in continental glory, with Sevilla FC and Atletico Madrid having both reigned supreme in the Europa League in recent years. The Andalusians threepeated from 2014 to 2016, while this season's victory for Los Rojiblancos, who have also reached two Champions League finals this decade, added to their 2010 and 2012 triumphs. As a result, LaLiga Santander also rules the Europa League roost with 11 titles overall, two more than have been captured by Serie A sides and three more than English clubs have managed.

The Spanish armada will look to continue their European exploits next season, when Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico and Sevilla will be joined by Valencia CF, Villarreal CF and Real Betis in the quest for continental honours.