Germany: Borussia one win away from the title
For the title, Dortmund is two points ahead of Bayern Munich and hosts Mainz in its Westfalenstadion. A victory will mathematically secure the title for BVB. Bayern must win and count on a misstep from Dortmund to win an eleventh consecutive league title.
Behind Dortmund, Bayern and Leipzig, Union Berlin and Freiburg are tied on points for fourth place, the last qualifier for the next Champions League. The Berliners in their Alte Försterei can ensure their qualification in case of victory, thanks to a slightly favorable overall goal difference (+12 against +8), while Freiburg will have to win in Frankfurt and count on a Berlin misstep.
Bayer Leverkusen (50 pts), Wolsfburg (49) and to a lesser extent Frankfurt (47) can still hang on to 6th place for the Conference Europa League. Xabi Alonso's men can bend the case if they succeed in Bochum, while Wolfsburg will have to win at home against Hertha Berlin, already relegated. If Leipzig win the Cup next week, this sixth place will offer a ticket to the Europa League.
England: Tottenham, the chalice to the dregs?
For the moment, Aston Villa (7th) holds the rope for the C4 with 58 points and needs a victory against Brighton, assured of the 6th place and to play the C3, not to depend on the result of Tottenham, 8th to one point and who travels to Leeds.
For Spurs, a European non-qualification would be the culmination of a season marked by the psychodrama of Antonio Conte's departure and which ends painfully, with four points taken in the last seven games.
Tottenham captain Harry Kane marked by his team's 3-1 home defeat to Brentford, May 20, 2023 © Glyn KIRK / AFP/Archives
In front of them, they will have Leeds, 19th, who absolutely need a win to have a chance to overtake Everton, first non-relegable with two lengths ahead and who also finish at home, against Bournemouth (15th).
Leicester, who have the same number of points as Leeds, but a better goal difference, will also play their part by hosting West Ham, with their ears glued to the transistor to follow the other scores.
Spain: Real still without Vinicius
In Spain, the champion is already known (FC Barcelona), but the fight for the maintenance and for the last qualifying tickets for European competitions is still fiery.
The only match that has been brought forward to Saturday (19:00), due to the Andalusians' Europa League final scheduled for Wednesday in Budapest, is Sevilla FC - Real Madrid, which will be played without Vinicius, a week after the racist insults he suffered in Valencia. Cleared of any suspension, the Brazilian was already in civilian clothes Wednesday at the Bernabéu, hit in a knee.
Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior in civilian clothes forfeit for the derby against Rayo Vallecano at Santiago Bernabeu, May 24, 2023 © JAVIER SORIANO / AFP/Archives
All other matches will take place on Sunday at 19:00.
If they do not lose on the pitch of Atlético Madrid, Real Sociedad will be guaranteed to return to the Champions League ten years after their last appearance, regardless of the result of Villarreal, their first pursuer (five points behind), who moves to the field of Rayo Vallecano.
The bottom of the ranking looks like a pocket handkerchief! Six teams stand in two points, and everything will be decided on the last day.
Italy: two tickets for the C1
Two tickets for the Champions League have yet to be awarded, the other European accessits and the final place in the lift to Serie B.
For C1, Inter Milan (3rd, 66 pts) and AC Milan (4th, 64 pts) are best placed to accompany Napoli and Lazio. To secure their places in the Top 4 this weekend, Inter need a point on Saturday against Atalanta Bergamo (5th, 61 pts) and Milan must win Sunday in Turin against Juve. In case of defeat, the Rossoneri will remain under pressure until the end.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has the battle with AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw in C1, May 16, 2023 © Isabella BONOTTO / AFP/Archives
Inter's victory in the Coppa Italia means that the 5th and 6th places will qualify for the Europa League and the 7th for the Conference Europa League. This will be the consolation prize of the three beaten in the final sprint for C1, even if Roma (6th) can also join the Champions League in case of success in the Europa League (May 31 against Sevilla).
The last place for Serie B will be played between Lecce (16th, 33 pts), La Spezia (17th, 31 pts) and Hellas Verona (18th, 30 pts).
© 2023 AFP