Champions, the race for Europe and relegation situation in Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A....
As the 2021-22 season starts to wind down, we take a look at the situation in the top flights of England, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
As the 2021-22 season comes to a close, many teams across Europe’s top five leagues are still in contention for a title push, a European place or aiming to fight relegation with a number of clubs too in no-mans land and dreaming of lazy days on a far-flung beach.
With a handful of matches outstanding in the major leagues, we take a look at the title situation, race for Europe and bid to avoid the drop in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
England: Premier League
Champions: Man City/Liverpool
Along with Serie A, the title race in the Premier League is providing excellent entertainment as both Man City and Liverpool battle to be crowned 21/22 league champions. This weekend, Guardiola’s men took a significant step towards retaining their status as champions with an emphatic 5-0 win over Newcastle, the day after Liverpool let points slip with a 1-1 draw over Tottenham.
Both teams have three games still yet to play but City are in pole position with a three point lead over Jurgen Klopp’s men who are still dreaming of a historic quadruple.
European places:
As things stand, City and Liverpool are set to be joined in next season’s Champions League by London duo Chelsea and Arsenal despite Spurs still harbouring dreams of catching the ‘Gunners’. Based on current standings, Tottenham and Man United would participate in the 2022-23 Europa League with West Ham heading to the Conference League.
Relegation:
Both Norwich City and Watford are Championship bound and will be joined by one of Leeds, Everton or Burnley with Southampton still not mathematically safe.
Spain: LaLiga
Champions: Real Madrid
Real Madrid secured their 35th Spanish league title over a week ago with an emphatic 4-0 over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu as Carlo Ancelotti’s men now set their sights on the Champions League final in Paris at the end of the month.
European places:
There were important wins for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona this weekend as the Catalan side guaranteed their place in the Champions League next season as rivals Betis and Real Sociedad both lost and seem set to have to make do with a place in the Europa League. Real Madrid look to be joined by Barça, Sevilla and Ateti in the UCL with three games left in the current season.
Real Betis winning the Copa del Rey sees the seventh placed side head to the Conference League and that place seems set to be a tussle between Villarreal and Athletic.
Relegation:
Alaves appear to have one foot in ‘Segunda’ after their defeat to Celta this weekend and despite recent heroics, Levante’s poor early season form will be the undoing of the side from Valencia. The final place in the drop zone is shaping up to be a fascinating battle between Mallorca, Granada and Cadiz with Getafe and Elche still looking over their shoulder nervously.
Germany: Bundesliga
With just one game to go in the 20/21 season in Germany’s top flight, there are still some key positions that will be only be ratified on matchday 34.
Champions: Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich clinched their 10th straight Bundesliga title after beating fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at the end of April and became the first club in Europe’s top five leagues to win 10 consecutive titles.
European places:
Dortmund, Leverkusen and most probably RB Leipzig will grace the 2022-23 Uefa Champions League as the Bulls face lowly Bielefeld in the last round with Freiburg having to beat Leverkusen away.
As things stand, Freiburg would qualify for the Europa League with Union Berlin heading to the Conference League.
Relegation:
Greuther Fürth are Bundesliga 2 bound and will be joined by Bielfeld, Stuttgart or Hertha Berlin with the third bottom side set to participate in a play-off with the third placed side in the second tier with a place in the top flight next season on the line.
Italy: Serie A
The Italian top flight is the other major European league that has becoming a two horse affair with the Scudetto set to go to Milan this year.
Champions: AC Milan/Inter
Two games remain in the Serie A championship and AC Milan hold a two point advantage over city rivals Inter. The Rossoneiri have to face Atalanta (H) and Sassuolo away with Inter having an easier run-in as they play struggling Cagliari (A) and lowly Sampdoria at San Siro.
European places:
The Milanese giants will be joined in the Champions League by Napoli and Juventus next season with Lazio in a commanding position to secure fifth place and a Europa League spot. City rivals Roma could also secure football in the Europa League next season should they beat Feyenoord in the 22-21 Conference League final. Atalanta and Fiorentina are the other sides who will battle to secure the sixth place and a place in Europe next season.
Relegation:
Venezia’s return to the top flight was short lived as they head back to Serie B after just one season. They will be joined by two from Genoa, Cagliari or Salernitana with Spezia and Sampdoria still not mathematically safe.
France: Ligue 1
No drama or surprises in the French top flight this season as PSG secured the title with no-one able to mount a series title challenge to the Parisian outfit this year.
Champions: Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain secured a record-equalling 10th Ligue 1 title at the end of April, moving level with Saint-Etienne in the overall titles ranking. Despite the league win this is a season that has been heralded as a disappointment by many of the Parc des Princes faithful following their early UCL elimination in the round of 16 at the hands of Real Madrid.
European places:
Marseille will join PSG in the Champions League next season as both Monaco and Rennes battle it out for the final UCL qualification place available.
As things stand Strasbourg would claim the Conference League spot as they are level with Nice and hold a 2 point advantage over Lens with two rounds of games to be played.
Nantes will head to the Europa League after winning the French Cup this weekend with a 1-0 win over Nice in Paris.
Relegation:
Things are incredibly tense in the relegation zone with seven sides going into the final two matches being faced with the possibility of heading to the second tier. Bordeaux and Metz currently occupy the bottom two places with third bottom set to face the third placed second division side in a winner takes all play-off.