The end of the season is near. While other teams are looking to get their hands on a trophy, others are just doing enough to survive the competition.
Some teams are trying to finish in a position that will allow them to contend for more titles in the next season.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Hertha Berlin will do all the other relegation-threatened teams a favor if they beat FC Koln.
Mathematically, Hertha Berlin is still under the threat of relegation, but all they need is a point against FC Koln to end that ‘mathematical’ threat. Because they’ve been unbeaten in their last 7 league games, getting at least a point against FC Koln is a high probability for Hertha Berlin.
FC Koln does not have any luxury in this tie. It is a must-win or stand at a very high risk of getting relegated at the end of the round.
Should Arminia Bielefeld happen to pick up a win against Hoffenheim, FC Koln will be relegated if they don’t get a win against Hertha Berlin.
Augsburg sits 4 points from relegation, while Werder Bremen sits 2 points from it. If Hertha Berlin does not do them a favor, both teams will require a win to help them to safety.
Wolfsburg can move a point closer to second place if they are to win against RB Leipzig.
A defeat for Wolfsburg will open them up to the possibility of falling to fourth and at risk of losing out on Champions League qualification.
Should Wolfsburg suffer a defeat, RB Leipzig will move 7 points clear of them, while Dortmund will use a victory at Mainz to take 3rd-place, and Frankfurt will use a victory against relegated Schalke to move even on points accumulated.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Since the title has been decided and every team is safe from relegation, the Premier League in the last couple of rounds is about picking up a place in the continental football competition for the coming year. The goal is always the UEFA Champions League, but some teams won’t mind playing in the UEFA Europa League.
The two Manchester teams (City and United) are the only teams to have secured a place in the group stage of next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Leicester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham, Tottenham, and Everton are all in a position to grab the final two Champions League spots left.
Everton and Tottenham are the least likely but picking up victories will help their odds.
West Ham is hitting above pre-season expectations. They are happy to be where they are at this stage of the season. A win against Brighton will put West Ham 3 points from the ‘top 4’.
Liverpool has regained hope of clinching Champions League qualification. A win against West Brom will have them a point away from the ‘top 4’.
ENGLISH FA CUP FINAL
Chelsea or Leicester City would be the new FA Cup champions.
Chelsea is going for their 9th title, while Leicester City is going in for their first.
ITALIAN SERIE A
Two rounds left and five teams are in contention for the three remaining Champions League qualifying spots.
Atalanta, AC Milan, Napoli, Juventus, and Lazio.
None of the teams can afford defeat if the others are winning.
A Napoli win against Fiorentina will kill Lazio’s odds of qualifying for the Champions League.
Derby d’Italia
The league title is clinched so Inter Milan is playing for the records.
Inter Milan will visit Turin to play against a Juventus side that is desperate for a win that will give them some security in their bid for Champions League qualification.
Should Inter Milan come out with a victory; and the remaining three teams currently in the ‘top 4’ spots are to win their games, Juventus will be out of the race to finish ‘top 4’.
Derby della Capitale
Lazio will be involved in the Rome Derby.
A derby defeat will end Lazio’s run for Champions League qualification.
FRENCH LIGUE 1
A win for Lille will end the slim chance Monaco, and Lyon has at the league title.
Lille is two wins from being Ligue 1 champions. They can afford a win and a draw, but the ideal will be to finish strong with wins.
Their first will be against Saint-Etienne.
Paris St. Germain will use a win against Reims to push the title race to the last day of the season, while Monaco will use a win against Rennes to stay a touching distance from second place.
A victory for Lyon this weekend will help their Champions League qualification while relegating Nimes.
Nimes are two points from the relegation playoff spot, and with a huge goal difference to make up against Nantes (who are currently in the relegation playoff spot).
Nimes will be relegated if Nantes can get at least a point against relegated Dijon, while Nimes suffer the expected defeat to Lyon.
Bordeaux, Nantes, Lorient, Brest, and Strasbourg.
A Nimes defeat is what all the relegation-threatened teams are hoping for.
SPANISH LA LIGA
A win for Atletico Madrid against Osasuna will end Barcelona’s bid for the league title. (and Sevilla’s)
Atletico Madrid is two wins from a league title.
Real Madrid needs two wins to keep their title dreams alive.
At the other end of the league table, 6 teams remain in a relegation battle.
Alavés, Getafe, Huesca, Valladolid, Elche, and Eibar
Alaves Getafe and Huesca can afford to drop points if the three teams in the relegation zone (Valladolid, Elche, and Eibar) drop points.
