The best action to follow this weekend
Saturday
?? There can’t have been that many final weekends of the seasons where all five of Europe’s biggest leagues still had something to play for – let alone titles still to be decided, as is the case in La Liga and Ligue 1. Today, La Liga takes centre-stage with all the important games kicking-off at the same early time to avoid any clashes with the Eurovision Song Contest. Yes, really.
As you’ll know the title will go to one of the Madrid clubs with Atlético currently holding a two point advantage over Real Madrid and looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 2014. The job for both sides is complicated by the fact they play sides who have something to play for themselves, with Atleti’s opponents Real Valladolid involved in a four-way fight over the three relegation spots and Madrid facing Villarreal, who are desperate to sneak in to the European qualification places.
Turn your notifications on for these games, there will be drama. ?
?? In Germany, the title and Champions League places may already be sown up but at the bottom, there’s still the small matter of three teams battling over one automatic relegation spot, a place in the relegation play-off versus the team who finishes third in the 2.Bundesliga AND out-and-out safety.
FC Köln start in the relegation zone but perhaps have the advantage of playing Schalke 04 who are already down whilst Werder Bremen have to play Borussia Mönchengladbach. And Arminia, the side currently sitting above the drop zone need to get something at Stuttgart.
It might still be worth watching the game between champions Bayern München and Augsburg, if only for the usually raucous title celebrations.
??????? St. Johnstone are set to meet Hibernian in today’s Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park. This will be a special occasion for fans of both clubs, but plans to let in a heavily capped crowd of just 600 have been shelved due to current lockdown restrictions in Glasgow.
St. Johnstone return to the final for the first time since they won the competition in 2014 whilst Hibs are back looking to repeat their success of 2016. That famous game against Rangers ended the club’s 114-year (ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN!) wait for a final win.
??????? Elsewhere in the UK, some of the most important games of the season take place in the EFL Championship play-offs with the second legs of both semi-finals set for today. These games will ultimately decide who gets a shot at the third promotion spot to the Premier League and both ties are on currently on a knife-edge.
AFC Bournemouth travel to Brentford with a slim 1-0 lead whilst Swansea City will at least have home advantage when they defend the same one-goal advantage against Barnsley. Remember: Away Goals do not count in these games – a rarity in English football.
Sunday
?? Make sure you get some sleep after all that drama today, because there’s bound to be more in store tomorrow. And that’s most likely to come from France, where as mentioned above – the Ligue 1 title will be decided on the final day.
LOSC hold all the cards with their one point advantage but they do have to play away at Angers. PSG are best placed to take advantage should Lille slip up but their opponents, Stade Brestois will want to avoid dropping into the relegation play-off place so need points themselves. Finally, Monaco are waiting in the wings in the unlikely event of both Lille and PSG losing, as with a significant swing in goal difference they could steal the title.
?? Elsewhere, with the Serie A title already taken by Inter, all eyes will be on the race for the Champions League places. Atalanta currently sit in second and are assured of their spot amongst Europe’s elite but they will have a significant say in who’ll join them as they play third placed Milan.
Milan are level on points with Napoli, who travel to Hellas Verona. Wins for both would guarantee that Juventus (one point back in fifth) are the Italian giants to miss out but you would be a fool to write off the Old Lady just yet! A win at Bologna combined with the likelihood of at least Milan dropping points against such strong opposition will be all it takes for them to slide their way in.
??????? Matters are perhaps even more complicated in the Premier League with three sides fighting over two Champions League places, another three contesting the remaining Europa League spot and even Arsenal down in 9th eyeing up Europa Conference League qualification.
With that said, perhaps the key games to look out for are Chelsea’s trip to Aston Villa, Roy Hodgson overseeing his final match in charge of Crystal Palace at former club Liverpool, Leicester City vs. Spurs and Arsenal against Brighton.
?? Finally, if the maths needed to keep track of all those leagues is too much, there’s the simple winner-takes-all final of the Taça de Portugal to look forward to. Braga take on Benfica in the finale to what’s been an interesting season in Portugal with Benfica’s rivals Sporting shaking things up by winning the league.
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