What's at stake in the top leagues: Titles, European places, relegation battles
All four places have now been sealed.
Athletic won the Copa del Rey and will now be in the Europa League regardless of finishing position. That said, they are almost certain to finish in the top six; we can safely say the place for the cup moves over to the league — fifth and sixth will enter the UEL.
Real Betis and Real Sociedad are battling it out for sixth. And on Sunday, it’s Real Betis vs. Real Sociedad.
This will go to seventh, most likely either Real Sociedad and Real Betis, while eighth-placed Villarreal (36, 51) require a mini-miracle from here.
Cádiz probably can’t believe their luck. Despite back-to-back wins they are still adrift after victories for their rivals.
Cádiz host Las Palmas on Sunday — can they keep the battle alive? They will be relegated with a defeat, or with a draw if Mallorca (home to bottom-of-the-table Almería) pick up points.
The other games see Celta Vigo travel to already-relegated Granada, and Rayo Vallecano go to Barcelona.
Bundesliga – one round to go
final day May 18
Title
Bayer Leverkusen are still unbeaten and have already secured the first championship in their history.
– Stream all Bundesliga games live on ESPN+ (US only)
Champions League (5)
The Bundesliga has sealed an extra place through the European Performance Spot, which sends the team in fifth to the UCL too.
CONFIRMED
All five league slots are already confirmed, but there’s a possible twist.
WAITING ON DORTMUND
Dortmund are in the UCL final, and if they win it a UCL place will be given to sixth in the Bundesliga. The European Performance Slot is a league benefit, so it will be an additional place to Dortmund’s as titleholders.
Eintracht Frankfurt, who are guaranteed a place in the UECL at worst, are in sixth but could be overtaken by Hoffenheim on the final day. One of those two teams will be fully backing Dortmund against Real Madrid on June 1.
Frankfurt need a point at home to RB Leipzig to secure sixth. If they lose, then Hoffenheim can climb above them with a victory at home to Bayern. A small goal difference swing of three is also required.
Europa League (2)
There are a few complicating factors to the UEL places, which right now go to sixth in the league (Frankfurt) and the winners of the DFB Pokal.
The final of the DFB Pokal on May 25 (stream live on ESPN+, U.S. only) sees Leverkusen take on Kaiserslautern who, incredibly, could win the cup despite almost being relegated to the third division, as they sit four points above the 2. Bundesliga relegation zone with one game to be played. If Kaiserslautern pull off an almighty shock and do what no other team has done all season (beat Leverkusen), the league slots will be unaltered: sixth into the UEL and seventh into the UECL. If Leverkusen win the final, sixth and seventh will get a place in the UEL.
IN CONTENTION
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6. Eintracht Frankfurt (33, 46)
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7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43)
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8. SC Freiburg (33, 42)
If Dortmund win the UCL, Germany would surrender the place in the UEL earned by Dortmund in the league. So, Dortmund would qualify as UCL titleholders in fifth, with sixth getting the European Performance position. The only way seventh can get a UEL place is if Leverkusen win the cup.
Europa Conference League (1)
If Kaiserslautern win the cup, then it will be Frankfurt, Hoffenheim or Freiburg who enter the UECL in seventh.
If Leverkusen win the cup then eighth gets the UECL place, and it opens up.
IN CONTENTION
Hoffenheim will definitely finish in the top eight so, like with Frankfurt, it might just be a question of which competition they play in — UCL, UEL or UECL.
Freiburg sit in eighth with a three-point gap to Heidenheim, Augsburg and Werder Bremen.
On the last day, Freiburg travel to relegation-threatened Union Berlin knowing victory, if Hoffenheim draw or lose, could see them finish seventh; a draw would guarantee they finish eighth. But if they lose, they can be overtaken as they have worse goal difference than the three teams below them.
Heidenheim are at home to Cologne, who have to win to have any chance of staying in the top flight, Augsburg travel to Leverkusen, who haven’t lost to anyone all season, and Bremen host Bochum, who could still be relegated.
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2. Bundesliga (Fortuna Düsseldorf) in a playoff for the right to play in the top flight.
RELEGATED
IN CONTENTION
The best Cologne can hope for is 16th and the relegation playoff spot … by overtaking Union Berlin. To go up to the playoff place, Cologne must win at Heidenheim on Saturday, hope Union lose at home to Freiburg, and there be a goal difference swing of four.
To avoid the playoff Union must win and, due to goal difference, hope Mainz lose at Wolfsburg or VfL Bochum are beaten at Bremen.
St. Pauli and Holstein Kiel have been automatically promoted into the Bundesliga.
Serie A – two rounds to go
final day May 26
Title
Internazionale have wrapped up the Scudetto as runaway champions.
Champions League (5)
Like Germany, Italy has secured an extra place in next year’s competition through its clubs’ performance in Europe this season, meaning at least five clubs will qualify.
CONFIRMED
IN CONTENTION / WAITING ON ATALANTA
There’s one place up for grabs, which is held by Atalanta in fifth and they have a game in hand and a three-point advantage so are in a very strong position. That extra match is against Fiorentina and both teams are in European finals; the only possible date to play the game is Sunday, June 2 — a week after the final round of Serie A games is played. Atalanta and Fiorentina will therefore go into the “extra” game in full knowledge of the final position a result will earn.
AS Roma and Lazio are still in contention, but it’s a big ask with two games remaining.
Atalanta, who can finish no lower than seventh so are guaranteed at least UEL football, can seal their place in the UCL if they better Roma’s result at the weekend and at least match Lazio’s. Atalanta go to Lecce on Saturday, and on Sunday it’s Roma vs. Genoa and Lazio are at Inter.
If Atalanta win the UEL (they face Leverkusen in the final on May 22) then Italy will have six clubs in the UCL — the top four, Atalanta as UEL titleholders and the European Performance Spot. If Atalanta finish fifth and win the UEL, sixth will play in the UCL too — meaning Roma and Lazio will be cheering on Atalanta when they face Leverkusen.
Europa League (2)
Juventus won the Coppa Italia, so sixth and seventh will qualify for the UEL.
IN CONTENTION
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5. Atalanta (35, 63)
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6. AS Roma (36, 60)
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7. Lazio (36, 59)
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8. Fiorentina (36, 54)
Atalanta, Roma and Lazio are the main contenders, with Fiorentina rank outsiders.
If Atalanta win the UEL to qualify for the UCL and finish fifth, sixth or seventh, Italy will surrender one place in the UEL for the league which Atalanta would have earned.
Europa Conference League (1)
IN CONTENTION
Eighth place will enter the UECL, which is currently held by Fiorentina who are favourites with that game in hand. Roma and Lazio could drop into it, but really it’s a battle between Fiorentina, Napoli and Torino .
Torino face a tough game at home to AC Milan on Saturday and really need to win it to stay in contention for eighth. If they lose, they are ruled out.
If Fiorentina win the UECL to qualify for the UEL and finish eighth, Italy will surrender its place in the UECL.
Relegation (3)
RELEGATED
IN CONTENTION
It’s exceptionally tight, with Empoli level on points with Frosinone and within touching distance of Cagliari, Udinese and Hellas Verona.
Sassuolo are three points from safety and on Sunday host Cagliari in a big relegation showdown. They could pull Cagliari right into it, or be doomed.
Also on Sunday, Udinese are at home to Empoli in another huge six-pointer, and Frosinone go to Monza. Then on Monday, Hellas Verona are at Salernitana.
Parma and Cesc Fàbregas’ Como have been promoted to Serie A. Venezia. Cremonese, Catanzaro, Palermo, Sampdoria and Bresica take part in the playoffs.
Ligue 1 – one round to go
final day May 19
Title
Paris Saint-Germain have already secured the title.
Champions League (3+1)
France gets three automatic places, with fourth place entering the UCL in the third qualifying round.
CONFIRMED
IN CONTENTION
Lille and Brest are both assured of Champions League football — it just depends at which phase. There’s a fierce battle for the final guaranteed place and the playoff spot.
Lille hold third place with their goal difference just two better than Brest’s. If goal difference finishes level — for instance, if Brest win 3-0 and Lille get a 1-0 victory — the next tiebreaker is head to head rather than goals scored, which is held by Lille.
On the final day, Lille are at home to Nice while Brest go to Toulouse.
Europa League (2)
The UEL places go to fifth and the winners of the Coupe de France — PSG take on Lyon on May 25, and a victory for Les Parisiens will send sixth place into the UEL too.
The place for the league is set
CONFIRMED
IN CONTENTION
The other clubs are jockeying for position in the hope PSG win the cup, and sixth goes into the UEL.
Lens hold that position, level on points with Lyon who have a much worse goal difference.
Lens are guaranteed sixth with a win at home to Montpellier.
For Lyon to finish sixth, they would have to better Lens’ result when they face Strasbourg at home.
Marseille, who go to Le Havre, trail in eighth but cannot be ruled out as they have the best goal difference. However, they must win and Lyon and Lens have to lose.
Europa Conference League (1)
This is where it gets complicated. Right now it goes to sixth, but if PSG win the Coupe de France the UECL place will go to seventh. If Lyon win the cup and finish sixth, they get a UEL place and seventh gets UECL.
If Lyon win the cup and finish seventh or eighth, they get a UEL place and sixth gets UECL.
No other clubs are in contention to finish in this position.
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated, with third-bottom facing a playoff with a team from the second division to remain in Ligue 1.
RELEGATED
IN CONTENTION
The second automatic relegation place is between Lorient and Metz. But it’s looking bleak for Lorient, who must win at home to Clermont Foot while Metz lose at home to PSG and there needs to be a goal difference swing of eight.
Which leaves Metz probably facing the relegation playoff. To avoid it they must beat PSG, with Le Havre AC losing to Marseille and a goal difference swing of 12.
AJ Auxerre have been promoted to Ligue 1.
