Europe’s top soccer leagues: Title fights, UCL, relegation

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

• 6. Eintracht Frankfurt (33, 46)

• 7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43)

• 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)

Atalanta face Juventus in the final of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, so it’s certain that sixth and seventh will qualify for the UEL.

IN CONTENTION

• 5. Atalanta (35, 63)

• 6. AS Roma (36, 60)

• 7. Lazio (36, 59)

• 8. Fiorentina (35, 53)

Atalanta, Roma and Lazio are the main contenders, but there’s a small amount of hope for eighth-placed Fiorentina with that game in hand.

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

• 6. AS Roma (36, 60)

• 7. Lazio (36, 59)

• 8. Fiorentina (35, 53)

• 9. Napoli (36, 51)

• 10. Torino (36, 50)

Eighth place will enter the UECL, which is currently held by Fiorentina but the place could yet be filled Roma, Lazio, or more likely Napoli or Torino .

On Friday, Napoli are away to Fiorentina and must win that to give themselves a real chance of being in Europe next season. Torino face a tough game at home to AC Milan.

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

There’s a fierce battle for the final guaranteed place and the playoff spot between Lille, Brest and Nice — though Nice’s game in hand is at home to PSG on Wednesday and they must win that to have a realistic chance.

Lille hold third place as their goal difference is 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 — so it could still be a straight shootout — while Brest go to Toulouse.

Lille, Brest and Nice are all confirmed to have European football, but could that be in the UCL, UEL or UECL.

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.

IN CONTENTION

• 3. Lille (33, 58)

• 4. Brest (33, 58)

• 5. Nice (32, 54)

• 6. Lens (33, 50)

• 7. Lyon (33, 50)

• 8. Marseille (32, 47)

If Lyon win the Coupe de France they will be in the UEL and the other UEL place can only be between Lille, Brest and Nice for fifth.

If PSG win the cup, then sixth comes into play for the UEL. Lens hold that position, level on points with Lyon who have a much worse goal difference. But Marseille play their game in hand away to Stade de Reims on Wednesday and will go sixth if they win it.

On the final day Lens host Montpellier, Lyon are at home to Strasbourg and Marseille go to Le Havre.

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. No other clubs are in contention to finish in this position.

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.

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.