Serie A, La Liga & Premier League: The Final Weekend

It’s the final weekend of the season in Serie A, La Liga and the English Premier League. Two of the three title races are still up for grabs, European places are on the line and the relegation battle in all three leagues is not settled. Here’s what to look for on Matchday 39.

So the four Champions League spots have been clinched (by AC Milan, Inter, Napoli and Juventus), but the Scudetto (League Championship) is still up for grabs between AC Milan and Inter. The former will head into Sunday with a two-point advantage and only need a draw with Sassuolo to finish first. Inter must beat Sampdoria and have AC Milan lose. Both teams play at Noon ET Sunday.

Overachiever Lazio has already clinched one of the two Europa League spots for next season. Sixth place Roma will join them with a win over Torino on Friday. If Roma (60 points) loses or draws that match, then there’s the chance Fiorentina (59) and Atalanta (59) could both jump them. If that happens, Roma would still have a second chance to qualify for the Europa League, if they win next week’s Europa Conference League Final against Feyenoord. 

If Roma clinches sixth place on Friday, then Fiorentina and Atalanta will fight for seventh and the Europa Conference League spot for next season. Fiorentina has the tiebreaker based on head to head points, which could decide sixth or seventh place. Both teams play Saturday at 2:45 ET. 

Looking at the relegation battle, we know Venezia and Genoa are already confirmed for Serie B next season. It’s Salernitana (31 pts) and Cagliari (29) fighting to avoid being the third team to be relegated. All Salernitana needs is a win Sunday over Udinese to avoid relegation, or a Cagliari loss. Cagliari would need to beat last place Venezia AND then hope Salernitana does not win (draw or lose). Cagliari has the tiebreaker by virtue of a superior goal differential.

Both Lecce and Cremonese are confirmed to move up from Serie B for next season. The third team to move up will be determined by the ongoing playoff.

La Liga 

Not much drama here. The top four spots are clinched with Real Madrid as champions. Barcelona, Atletico and Sevilla join Los Blancos in the Champions League next season.

Real Betis and Real Sociedad are guaranteed to finish 5th and 6th and while the order is yet to be determined, that means both are going to represent La Liga in the Europa League.

Seventh place is still up for grabs with Villarreal holding a tenuous one-point edge over Athletic Club. In order for the latter to pass, they must beat Sevilla on Sunday and have Villarreal do no better than a draw vs. Barcelona. Any other results puts the Yellow Submarine in the Europa Conference League next season.

So the most drama is at the bottom of the table with the third relegation spot to be decided and three teams involved. We know both Levante and Alaves have their relegation confirmed. That leaves Granada, Mallorca and Cadiz still fighting for survival. Right now, Granada (37) is one point ahead of the other two. They are safe with a win Sunday vs. Espanyol. If they don’t win, that leaves the door open to get jumped by the other two. Mallorca has the tiebreaker over Cadiz based on head to head points, if those two end up level on overall points. So Cadiz is the one that must earn at least a point (they are at Alaves) and hope Mallorca comes up empty at Osasuna. 

The Segunda Division (La Liga 2) season is not yet complete, so we still don’t know which sides will earn promotion for next season. 

4 spots. 8 teams. Let’s get to it.

The race for the title has come down to the final matchday with Manchester City holding a one-point lead over Liverpool. If Man City defeats Aston Villa on Sunday, then they are Premier League Champions for a second consecutive season and Liverpool’s dreams of a “quadruple” (Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Premier League Title, Champions League) are out the window. Liverpool must defeat the Wolves and then hope Man City draws or loses. Liverpool faces La Liga Champions Real Madrid the following Sunday in the Champions League Final. 

The fourth Champions League spot goes to either Tottenham or Arsenal. Tottenham needs only a draw vs. last place Norwich City on Sunday to clinch top four. Arsenal must defeat Everton (who no longer has anything to play for) and hope the Spurs lose.

Whomever finishes fifth (Tottenham or Arsenal) goes to the Europa League. They will be joined by either Manchester United or West Ham in that competition next season. It will be Man U if the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace Sunday. But if they draw or lose, then West Ham moves into sixth with a win over Brighton. The seventh place finisher heads to the Europa Conference League.

With Everton having now secured survival for next season, the battle for the third relegation spot is now between Burnley and Leeds United. Both teams have 35 points, but Burnley is way ahead on goal differential. That means Leeds must finish ahead in order to secure their survival.. If Burnley beats Newcastle United, they are guaranteed to avoid relegation. Leeds faces Brentford.

We know Fulham and AFC Bournemouth will be replacing Watford and Norwich City next season in the EPL. Burnley or Leeds will be replaced by the winner of next week’s EFL Championship Playoff between Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield.