Greyhound Racing Rabbit

What's at stake in the top leagues: Titles, European places, relegation battles

The European soccer season is coming to a close, but who is in the race for the titles, European qualification -- and who's fighting relegation?

Messi a doubt for Orlando game with injury knock

Lionel Messi will be evaluated ahead of Inter Mimai's clash with Orlando City on Wednesday after suffering a minor knee injury, assistant coach Javier Morales said.

Rain keeps Larson from Indy reps prior to double

For the second time in as many attempts, NASCAR star Kyle Larson had rain bring an early end to his track time at Indy as he prepares for the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double.

Postecoglou blasts Spurs' 'fairly fragile' mentality

Ange Postecoglou has questioned Tottenham's mentality around Tuesday's 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City by claiming the club's foundations are "fairly fragile."

Brewers put Hoskins on IL with hamstring strain

The Brewers have placed Rhys Hoskins on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.

The 2023-24 season is drawing to a close and the battles for the major honours, relegation and promotion are starting to become clearer.

Here's a quick roundup of what has been decided, and what's still at stake, in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Premier League - one full round to go final day May 19  Title 1. Manchester City (37 games, 88 points) 2. Arsenal (37, 86)

Manchester City will seal the title with a victory at home to West Ham on Sunday. 

For Arsenal to win the title, they must win at home to Everton and Man City lose or draw. 

If Arsenal win and Man City draw, the Gunners would win the title on goal difference. 

Champions League (4)

All four places have now been sealed. 

CONFIRMED

1. Arsenal 2. Man City 3. Liverpool (37, 79) 4. Aston Villa (37, 68) Europa League (2)

As it stands, only fifth gets a Europa League place with the other slot, by right, going to the FA Cup winners. 

Man United take on Man City in the FA Cup final on May 25 (stream live on ESPN+, U.S. only). If Erik ten Hag's team lift the trophy then they will be in the Europa League (UEL). If Man City win the cup, then the UEL position transfers to the sixth place in the Premier League

IN CONTENTION

5. Tottenham Hotspur (37, 63) 6. Newcastle United (36, 57)  7. Chelsea (36, 57) 8. Manchester United (36, 54) 

Despite poor results, Spurs are in a strong position to finish fifth with a six-point lead over Newcastle and Chelsea. Spurs still need a point away to Sheffield United on Sunday to be absolutely sure.

Spurs could also be confirmed in the Europa League on Wednesday if both Chelsea (go to Brighton) and Newcastle (visit Man United) drop points. 

Man United can now finish no higher than sixth but, because of their vastly inferior goal difference, that will become seventh at best if they don't beat Newcastle.

Europa Conference League (1) Pending the FA Cup final, sixth will go into the Europa Conference League. Newcastle hold it, with Chelsea and Man United close behind. 

The UECL place will drop to seventh if Man City win the FA Cup or if Man United win the FA Cup and finish fifth or sixth. It would still be one of Man United, Newcastle and Chelsea -- one of them will miss out on Europe completely.

If Man United win the FA Cup and finish seventh or eighth, the UECL place goes to sixth. 

Relegation (3)

RELEGATED

19. Burnley (37, 24) 20. Sheffield United (37, 16) 

IN CONTENTION

17. Nottingham Forest (37, 29) 18. Luton Town (37, 26)

Luton are effectively relegated due to their vastly inferior goal difference to fourth-bottom Forest.  On the final day, Luton would need to beat Fulham and Forest lose to Burnley with a goal difference swing of 12. 

Leicester City and Ipswich Town have been automatically promoted to the Premier League. Leeds United, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City compete in the playoffs for one more place.

LaLiga - three rounds to go final weekend May 25-26 Title Real Madrid have been crowned champions.

- Stream all LaLiga games live on ESPN+ (US only)

Champions League (4)

CONFIRMED

1. Real Madrid (36, 93) 2. Barcelona (35, 76) 3. Girona (36, 75)

IN CONTENTION

4. Atlético Madrid (35, 70)  5. Athletic Club (35, 62).

Atletico are almost certain to take the fourth place, holding an eight-point lead over Athletic Club

It will be sealed on Wednesday if Atleti get a victory at Getafe, or if Athletic fail to win at Celta Vigo.

Real Madrid winning the Champions League cannot benefit another team in LaLiga. The team with the highest UEFA coefficient in UCL qualifying will be promoted direct to the group stage. 

Europa League (2)

Athletic won the Copa del Rey and are almost certain to finish in the top six, so we can safely say the place for the cup moves over to the league -- fifth and sixth will enter the UEL.

IN CONTENTION

4. Atlético Madrid (35, 70) 5. Athletic Club (35, 62) 6. Real Betis (35, 55) 7. Real Sociedad (35, 54)  8. Villarreal (36, 51) 9. Valencia (35, 48)

Either Atlético or Athletic will take one of the places, with Betis and Real Sociedad battling it out for the other. Villarreal and Valencia have slim hope. 

That said, on Thursday, Real Sociedad host Valencia (who really must win) and Betis are at Las Palmas.

Europa Conference League (1) This will go to seventh in the league, probably between Real Sociedad and Real Betis, while Valencia and Villarreal require a mini-miracle from here. Relegation (3)

CONFIRMED

19. Granada (35, 21)  20. Almería (35, 17)

IN CONTENTION

15. Mallorca (36, 36) 16. Rayo Vallecano (35, 35) 17. Celta Vigo (35, 34) 18. Cádiz (35, 29) 

One relegation spot is to be decided, with Cádiz giving themselves hope by beating Getafe on Sunday. They still have a lot to do to catch Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano or Mallorca. 

On Wednesday, Cádiz are at Sevilla, Celta Vigo are at home to Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano host Granada

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

1. Bayer Leverkusen (33, 87) 2. Bayern Munich (33, 72) 3. VfB Stuttgart (33, 70) 4. RB Leipzig (33, 64) 5. Borussia Dortmund (33, 60)

All five league slots are already confirmed, but there's a possible twist.

WAITING ON DORTMUND

6. Eintracht Frankfurt (33, 46)  7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43) 

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

7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43) 8. SC Freiburg (33, 42) 9. Heidenheim (33, 39) 10. FC Augsburg (33, 39)  11. Werder Bremen (33, 39)

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

18. SV Darmstadt 98 (33, 17)

IN CONTENTION

14. VfL Bochum (33, 33) 15. Mainz (33, 32) 16. Union Berlin (33, 30) 17. FC Cologne (33, 27)

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

1. Internazionale (36, 92) 2. AC Milan (36, 74) 3. Bologna (36, 67) 4. Juventus (36, 67)

IN CONTENTION / WAITING ON ATALANTA

5. Atalanta (35, 63)  6. AS Roma (36, 60)  7. Lazio (36, 59)

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

20. Salernitana (35, 15) 

IN CONTENTION

14. Hellas Verona (36, 34) 15. Udinese (36, 33)  16. Cagliari (36, 33) 17. Frosinone (36, 32)  18. Empoli (36, 32)  19. Sassuolo (36, 29) 

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

1. Paris Saint-Germain (32, 70) 2. AS Monaco (33, 64)

IN CONTENTION

3. Lille (33, 58) 4. Brest (33, 58) 5. Nice (32, 54)

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

18. Clermont Foot (33, 25)

IN CONTENTION

15. Le Havre AC (33, 32) 16. Metz (33, 29) 17. Lorient (33, 26)

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.