Continental Europe Leagues Are So Spicy Right Now | OneFootball

We’re approaching the penultimate stage of the league campaigns: the run-in to the title. While a good number of league crowns have been awarded (Premier League, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga), there are still many going down to the wire. Add in sagas around Champions League slots and relegation and it’s clear that the continental leagues offer plenty of thrills and drama.

Portuguese Liga

There’s a single game remaining, and the champion will be determined on the final day of competition. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Source: Sofascore

Sporting CP and Benfica are tied on 79 points. Sporting has the edge, however, with a +3 goal differential. They also get to host their final match at the Estádio José Alvalade against fifth ranked Vitória Guimaraes. Benfica will have to dig deep when they visit fourth-placed Braga in their imposing quarry stadium, and hope for some help. The automatic Champions League berth and the trophy are at stake.

La Liga (Spain)

Barcelona clinched the title with yesterday’s 2 – nil win over local rivals Espanyol. In the relegation scrap, Real Valladolid is guaranteed to drop. Las Palmas (19th on 32 points) have to reverse a bad run of four consecutive losses and win their next two to have any chance. Leganés (18th on 34 points) also need to win out, but they are within striking distance of the next three lowest: Alavés (38pts), Espanyol (39pts) and Getafe (39pts).

The Spaniards get five Champions League seats, but that final ticket held by Villareal (5th) is highly coveted by sixth-place Real Betis. Betis will need consecutive wins and corresponding losses by Villareal to switch places. Unlikely.

Serie A (Italy)

Source: Sofascore

Earlier this week Napoli hosted thirteenth place Genoa. A win would have put them in the driver’s seat for the title. They bottled it, dropping two points with the resulting draw. This has left the door open for Inter to waltz in. Napoli travel to Parma (16th) Sunday, then host Cagliari (14th) on the final day. Inter’s final two fixtures are tougher: hosting Lazio (5th) and then visiting red-hot Como (10th).

Eredivise (The Netherlands)

Look at that form… yikes! (Source: Sofascore)

One month ago the title was a lock for Ajax. They had a substantial lead over nearest rival PSV Eindhoven. But inexplicably, they have only managed two points from the last four games, and PSV has leapfrogged them. Ajax must now defeat Twente on Sunday, and hope PSV fall at 11th place Sparta (that’s not gonna happen). So sad, the decline of Ajax.

Pro League (Belgium)

Belgium’s league is seriously weird. The teams play thirty games, then split up into three different “playoff” tiers based on results and play an additional ten games. The top tier (Championship) competes for the title and European tournament berths. The bottom tier competes to avoid relegation. The middle tier completes for… what? Beer? Not really, there’s something they can earn but it’s so convoluted to explain I’m gonna not waste bytes. At this time I could insert a Belgian joke, but will refrain.

Anyhoo, the Championship still has two games left and it’s a two horse race between Union Saint-Gilloise (50pts) and Club Brugge (49pts). USG visits Antwerp on Saturday at 2:45pm ET; Club Brugge travel to Anderlect on Sunday afternoon (7:30am ET KO). On the relegation front, Kortrijk and Beerschot will both move down to the Challenger division.

Ligue 1 (France)

Paris Saint-German won the league back in December. Just kidding, but it was a while back. Ligue 1’s three champions league clubs are also locked in (Marseille and AS Monaco will join PSG). On the relegation front, Montpellier will drop. Saint-Étienne, Le Havre, Nantes and Reims can all play their way to safety. So those final matches on Saturday still hold some excitement.

Source: Sofascore

Three teams currently share 4th, 5th and 6th place on 57 points. Those spots represent a CL Qualification berth and guaranteed slots for Europa and Conference Leagues. Nice host Brest (8th), Lille host Reims (15th) and Strasbourg travel to Le Havre (16th).

Bundesliga (Germany)

Raise a glass to Harry Kane, who finally got to list some silverware when Bayern Munich took the title last week. On the relegation front, Bochum and Kiel are out; Heidenheim looks likely to be in the relegation playoff round. But there’s still a story to watch. Borussia Dortmund, last year’s Champions League runners-up, are currently in fifth and will not return to the tournament unless two things happen.

Given these two sit fourth and third respectively, Freiburg vs. Frankfurt should be a must watch game!

Premier League (England)

Relegation is a done deal, and Liverpool are walking onto the pitch with their honor guard entrance, but the battle for Europe is far from over. Check out this article from my colleague Josep Packsten for details.