State of play across Europe heading into final day
Europe's top five leagues all conclude this week and there are still plenty of matters to be resolved – not least who will be crowned champions in Spain and France.
Every division has something riding on the final days of the season, whether it be top spot, European qualification, or relegation.
Ahead of what is set to be a dramatic conclusion to the Premier League, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga campaigns, we look at the state of play in each league.
LALIGA
The Spanish title race appeared to take a dramatic twist on Sunday as Real Madrid leapfrogged Atletico Madrid at the summit for around 20 minutes. However, Atleti scored two late goals to beat Osasuna, meaning they are two points ahead of their city rivals heading into the final round of games.
Atleti, which has led the way at the top for 29 matchdays, now need to match Madrid's result against Villarreal when they travel to relegation-threatened Real Valladolid on the final day of the season. It is worth noting that Los Blancos have the superior head-to-head record, so a draw would not be enough for Atleti if Madrid win.
Barcelona is officially out of the title race, meanwhile, but it is assured of a top-four finish along with Sevilla. Real Sociedad and Real Betis occupy the Europa League spots, while Villarreal are in a Europa Conference League berth, though just one point separates the three teams so that could all yet change.
To complicate matters, Villarreal could still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League final against Manchester United.
At the bottom end of the division, Eibar is already relegated and they will be joined by two of Valladolid, Elche or Huesca. Valladolid must beat Atletico in their final game to have a chance of staying up, while the onus is on Elche to better Huesca's result as it is level on points but have an inferior head-to-head record.
LIGUE 1
The Ligue 1 title battle is also going right down to the wire in a three-way dogfight. After a thrilling race that has lasted the course of the season, underdogs Lille lead heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain by one point with one matchday left.
Monaco has won seven of its previous eight games and is three points off leaders Lille, though it requires both Les Dogues and PSG to slip up on the final day, as well as beating Lens. Should it come down to goal difference, PSG holds a big lead over its two title rivals.
Incredibly, PSG is still not yet technically assured of a Champions League place as Lyon in fourth are only three points worse off, although it would take a defeat for the reigning champions and victory for Lyon, plus a goal swing of 16, for them to miss out.
Monaco's opponent Lens, incidentally, also has plenty to play for at the weekend as it is sixth – enough for Europa Conference League qualification – but can still be caught by Rennes in seventh, while they could yet overtake Marseille in fifth if results go its way.
At the opposite end of the table, there may only be one spot left to be settled in the bottom three – Dijon and Nimes are both already down – but six teams are still very much in danger of the drop. Nantes occupies the relegation play-off spot, with Lorient, Brest and Strasbourg just a point better off, and Bordeaux and Reims only two points clear.
SERIE A
With Inter being crowned Scudetto winner for the first time in 11 years at the start of the month, the biggest storyline in Serie A regards Juventus' top-four fate. The dethroned champion, which had finished top nine years running before this season, is currently down in fifth.
Juve is one point behind Napoli and Milan in the two spots directly above it, while Atalanta is three points better off in second and have the better head-to-head record against the Bianconeri.
Andrea Pirlo's side are therefore in need of favours on the final day in what is poised to be a nail-biting finale in terms of those Champions League places. Lazio will finish sixth, so it is assured of Europa League football next term, while Roma holds a two-point advantage over Sassuolo in the Europa Conference League position.
Parma and Crotone are both down already and one of Benevento or Torino will join them, the latter currently three points outside of the relegation zone and with a game in hand to play on Benevento.
BUNDESLIGA
RB Leipzig provided Bayern Munich with some stern competition for a while, but the Bavarian giant's quality eventually told and it is Bundesliga champion for a ninth year running.
It's not only the title race that's done and dusted in Germany, in fact, as RB Leipzig is certain of second place, and both Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg will join the club in the Champions League next season.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, will finish in fifth and sixth respectively regardless of events later this week.
However, Union Berlin has work to do if it is to finish seventh for a place in the Europa Conference League play-offs as Borussia Monchengladbach is a point further back, while Stuttgart and Freiburg are two behind with a game to go.
Seven-time German champion Schalke will be competing in the second tier of German football next season, but Cologne and Werder Bremen is hanging on in there, sitting two and one point behind Arminia Bielefeld respectively in 15th place.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City wrapped up the Premier League title with three games to spare, making them the first team in the competition's history to win the title despite being as low as eighth on Christmas Day.
All three relegation places were also decided with three games remaining – a Premier League record – with Fulham joining Sheffield United and West Brom in dropping down a division.
That leaves just the European spots to fight for, and it is shaping up to be an entertaining end to the English top-flight season in that regard. Manchester United is guaranteed a top-four finish, but five other teams – Leicester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham – are in the mix for the two other Champions League berths with two rounds of games to go.
There is also the small matter of the Europa League places for the teams finishing in fifth and sixth, as well as a spot in the inaugural Europa Conference League, which goes to the team in seventh, meaning everyone from 10th-placed Leeds United to Leicester in third have something to play for. That includes Arsenal, which has not missed out on European football of some sort in 25 years.
