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Europe's top soccer leagues: Titles, cup finals, UCL, relegation

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Will Arsenal's stars endure many more trophy-less seasons? (1:54)

Mark Ogden questions whether Bukayo Saka and William Saliba will stay at Arsenal or attempt to leave the club. (1:54)

The 2024-25 season has entered the closing stages, with the battles for the major honours, European qualification, relegation and promotion heating up.

Here's a roundup of what's at stake and what could be decided this weekend in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

This page will be updated through to the end of the European season.

Premier League
Last day: May 25

Title

Liverpool (83) were confirmed as champions on April 27 with four games to spare.

Champions League (5)

CONFIRMED

  • 1. Liverpool (36 games played, 83 points)

In 2025-26, the Premier League will have five teams in the Champions League due to the performance of its clubs in Europe this season, meaning the top five will qualify for the UCL.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur play each other in the Europa League final on May 21. The winners will qualify for the Champions League, meaning the Premier League will have six teams in the UCL and nine in Europe.

Liverpool have already booked their place, and while Arsenal (68) looked assured of qualifying they still have a little work to do. Two points will secure it for the Gunners as a maximum of 70 is needed.

All of the top seven are now guaranteed European football of some description.

Five other teams are battling along with Arsenal for the remaining four places, with just two fixtures remaining. Newcastle United (66), Chelsea (66, 37 games) and Aston Villa (66, 37 games) are holding them right now; Manchester City (65) and Nottingham Forest (62) will try to fight their way into those key positions.

On Sunday, Forest travel to West Ham, which looks a must-win game to keep their hopes alive. Then Arsenal are at home to Newcastle, and if the Gunners lose they will suddenly look in a little danger, though they have relegated Southampton on the final day.

Man City don't play until Tuesday, when they are at home to Bournemouth.

There's a big last-day fixture, when Chelsea head to Forest in what could be a winner-takes-all UCL showdown.

Europa League (2)

As it stands, sixth (Villa) will enter the Europa League by league position, and it will go to one of those teams in the Champions League section.

Sixth will be joined by the FA Cup winners, with Crystal Palace taking on Man City in the final on Saturday. (stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S.)

If Palace, who are 12th, win the FA Cup, then there will be no knock-on effect to the league places; the Eagles will be in the Europa League.

If Man City win it and finish in the top six, the FA Cup's Europa League place will go to seventh -- to last of the teams in the UCL race.

If Chelsea win the Conference League -- they are in the final vs. Real Betis on May 28 -- they are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League, but will play in the Champions League if they finish in the top five. Their final position could also influence the allocation of European places.

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2:26
Why Crystal Palace could stun Man City in the FA Cup final

Mark Ogden explains why he is backing Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup final.

Conference League (1)

Newcastle are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League playoff round, as they won the Carabao Cup. But if Newcastle finish in the top six, to play in the UCL or UEL, the Conference League place goes to seventh. If Man City also win the FA Cup, the Conference League playoff-round place goes to eighth -- so it's a position worth fighting for.

With the FA Cup final taking place on Saturday, those in contention will know if it's still on before they play again.

Brentford (55) have eighth in their control, with Brighton & Hove Albion (55), AFC Bournemouth (53) and Fulham (51) in contention.

Fulham have four points to make up and travel to Brentford on Sunday; Brighton have a tough game against champions Liverpool, while Bournemouth have to take on Man City.

If Brentford can win, a loss for Brighton on Monday and a draw/loss for Bournemouth on Tuesday will effectively lock the Bees in eighth, due to their far superior goal difference -- but will it matter?

Relegation (3)

CONFIRMED

  • 18. Ipswich (36, 22)

  • 19. Leicester (36, 22)

  • 20. Southampton (36, 12)

Southampton (12), Leicester City (22) and Ipswich Town (22) have been relegated.

Leeds United and Burnley have been promoted back to the top flight from the Championship; another team will come up via the playoffs.

Sheffield United take on Sunderland in the playoff final on May 24.


LaLiga
Last day: May 25

Title

There are two games left to be played in Spain.

Barcelona (85) were crowned champions on May 15 with a 2-0 victory at Espanyol, moving them seven points ahead of Real Madrid (78).

Champions League (5)

CONFIRMED

  • 1. Barcelona (36, 85)

  • 2. Real Madrid (36, 78)

  • 3. Atlético Madrid (36, 70)

  • 4. Athletic Club (36, 67)

Like the Premier League, LaLiga will have five teams in the Champions League next season.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid (70) had already booked their places, with Athletic Club (67) making it four with a 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday.

The contenders for the last UCL place are fifth-placed Villarreal (64) and Real Betis (59) in sixth.

Villarreal beat Leganés 3-0 on Wednesday to pull away from Betis.

Betis dropped points in a draw at Rayo Vallecano on Thursday, and that means it's almost over for them. Villarreal can seal their place with a win on Sunday ... the only issue is they are away at Barcelona. A chance for Betis? Unfortunately they also have a very difficult away fixture, at Atlético Madrid.

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

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1:35
McManaman: I've never seen an El Clásico as chaotic as that

Steve McManaman reacts to Barcelona's 4-3 win over Real Madrid in LaLiga.

Europa League (2)

As Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, the place for the cup transfers to the league -- sixth and seventh will enter the Europa League. One place will go to Athletic Club, Villarreal or Real Betis in sixth, but there's a close race for seventh.

Celta Vigo (52) hold the spot, followed by Rayo Vallecano (48), Osasuna (48) and Mallorca (47).

On Tuesday, Celta Vigo won at Real Sociedad to open a gap and end the home side's hopes of European football. On Wednesday, Valencia suffered a damaging defeat at Alavés and Mallorca lost at the Bernabeu.

Then on Thursday, Osasuna won 2-0 against Atlético Madrid and Vallecano drew with Betis.

It now looks very good for Celta, and they can confirm their place in the Europa League if they win on Sunday -- but it's certainly not over. Celta entertain Rayo Vallecano, so an away win opens it right back up again. Also on Sunday, Osasuna are at home to Espanyol and Mallorca host Getafe.

Real Betis are in the Conference League final, with the winners of competition earning a spot in the Europa League, but this can't impact the LaLiga allocation.

Europa Conference League (1)

This will go to eighth place, held right now by Rayo Vallecano, with the same list of teams battling it out as noted in the Europa League section.

Although Valencia (45) cannot now qualify for the Europa League, they do have a sniff of eighth. But on Sunday they face a tough home game against Athletic Club.

Relegation (3)

CONFIRMED

  • 19. Las Palmas (36, 32)

  • 20. Real Valladolid (36, 16)

Real Valladolid (16) went down last month, and they were joined by Las Palmas (32) on Wednesday. Alavés (38) pulled clear by beating Valencia, leaving them six points ahead of Las Palmas with a better head-to-head record.

That leaves one place, with Leganés (34) looking doomed after losing in midweek. There would appear to be no way out, but there actually is hope of catching Alavés as Leganés travel to Las Palmas on Sunday.

If Leganés lose, they would definitely be down.

If the game is a draw, Leganés would be relegated if Alavés win or draw.

If Leganés win, it will likely go to the final day for the third relegation place and we might see Espanyol (39) and Getafe (39) in trouble.

It's a very tight race for the two automatic promotion places from LaLiga2.

Elche, Levante, Mirandés, Racing Santander and Real Oviedo are fighting it out. A third team comes up through four-team playoffs.


Bundesliga
Last day: May 17

Title

Bayern Munich (79) won the title on May 4.

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

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2:04
Has Bayer Leverkusen's golden era come to an end?

Janusz Michallik believes Bayer Leverkusen's most successful era has officially come to an end.

Champions League (4)

CONFIRMED

  • 1. Bayern Munich (33, 79)

  • 2. Bayer Leverkusen (33, 68)

Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen (68) have already secured their places.

It's now a three-horse race for the final two spots, with one game to be played on Saturday.

Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt (57, +20) looked certainties two weeks ago, but are now in danger of finishing fifth; while SC Freiburg (55, -2) sit fourth.

But Freiburg are at home to Frankfurt on the final day, and that leaves the door wide open for in-form Borussia Dortmund (54, +17).

Dortmund are assured of UCL football if they win at home to relegated Holstein Kiel by 2+ goals. A win of any description will be enough if Freiburg draw. A draw or win does the job for Dortmund if Freiburg lose.

For Freiburg, they will be in the UCL if they match or better Dortmund's result but, with BVB at home to Kiel, the likelihood is that Freiburg must win.

And if Freiburg do win, it means Frankfurt, who only need a point, are in big trouble and could miss out on goal difference to Dortmund (if they win by those 2+ goals). If Freiburg win by one goal, they would qualify for the UCL with a negative goal difference.

If Freiburg get a victory, and Dortmund win by only one goal, then it's Freiburg and Frankfurt (goal difference over BVB) in the UCL.

Europa League (2)

Only fifth place will be in this competition via league placing, and that place will almost certainly go to the team that misses out on the UCL.

For the second successive season, the final of the DFB Pokal (stream LIVE on May 24 on ESPN+, U.S. only) sees a Bundesliga club take on a lower-league side. Last season, Leverkusen beat then-2. Bundesliga strugglers Kaiserslautern.

This time VfB Stuttgart will play Arminia Bielefeld who, incredibly, are in the third division. The winners of the final will qualify for the Europa League.

Stuttgart are in ninth on 47 points and can't finish in the top six, so there will be no transfer of the place to the league if they win the cup. If Arminia Bielefeld, who are top of 3.Liga and have sealed promotion, produce a shock win in the final, they are set to play in the Europa League as a second-division club

Conference League (1)

While Mainz (51, +12) and RB Leipzig (51, +6) have a mathematical chance of finishing fifth if Dortmund lose, goal difference means that's highly improbable. The same can be said of Werder Bremen (48, -6) and their chances of sixth.

So, two clubs are fighting for sixth and a place in Conference League qualifying.

Mainz have a far superior goal difference to RB Leipzig, so a win will punch their ticket. The problem is Mainz are at home to Leverkusen, not an easy task. RB Leipzig host Stuttgart, who will have one eye on the cup final and must better Mainz's result to claim sixth.

There is no route into Europe for seventh or eighth as there was last season.

Relegation (2+1)

Two teams are relegated automatically, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2.Bundesliga in a playoff.

CONFIRMED

  • 17. Holstein Kiel (33, 25)

  • 18. VfL Bochum (33, 22)

VfL Bochum (22) and Holstein Kiel (25) are down, with 1. FC Heidenheim (29, -24) only having slim hopes of avoiding the playoff as they are three points behind TSG Hoffenheim (32, -18).

Heidenheim must beat Werder Bremen at home, hope Hoffenheim lose and there be a goal difference swing of 6+ goals. A chance? Hoffenheim have to host champions Bayern.

In 2.Bundesliga, Hamburg have been promoted. FC Cologne need at least a draw at home to sixth-placed Kaiserslautern on Sunday to be promoted. If Cologne lose, SV 07 Elversberg or Paderborn would overtake them on goal difference with a win for the second automatic spot.


Serie A
Last day: May 25

Title

The tight title race continues between Napoli (78) and Internazionale (77) with two games to be played.

On Sunday, it's Parma vs. Napoli and Inter vs, Lazio. The title can be decided if Napoli win and Inter lose.

If the two teams finish on the same points there will be a one-legged playoff, hosted by the club with the best goal difference, to decide the Scudetto.

Champions League (4)

CONFIRMED

  • 1. Napoli (36, 78)

  • 2. Inter Milan (36, 77)

  • 3. Atalanta (36, 71)

Atalanta (71) got over the line with a 2-1 win over Roma on Monday. The fight for the last spot is intense, with a maximum of 71 points required.

Juventus (64) are in fourth, followed by: Lazio (64), AS Roma (63), Bologna (62) and AC Milan (60).

All the teams in contention play at the same time on Sunday.

Juventus are at home to Udinese and have the most favourable fixture. Lazio have to go to Inter Milan, Roma and Milan face each other, and Bologna are at Fiorentina.

Juve could be confirmed in the UCL if they win, Lazio and Roma lose, and Bologna fail to win.

Milan have won four of their last five matches to climb back into contention for Europe, but taking fourth looks a huge stretch.

If Inter win the Champions League there will be no impact on the Serie A places.

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1:27
Inter or PSG: Which team is favourite to win the Champions League?

Stewart Robson and Alejandro Moreno preview the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan.

Europa League (2)

Bologna are guaranteed at least Europa League football after they won the Coppa Italia, beating AC Milan 1-0 in the final. If Bologna finish in the top five, then sixth will play in the UEL by league position.

On league position, fifth place (Lazio as it stands) will play in the Europa League, which will also be a battle between the clubs listed above.

Milan and Fiorentina (59) still have a chance of finishing fifth or sixth if others stumble.

Conference League (1)

At present this goes to sixth (Roma), though it will pass to seventh if Bologna finish in the top six. If so, that gives AC Milan and Fiorentina a marginally better chance of claiming a place in Europe.

Relegation (3)

CONFIRMED

  • 20. Monza (36, 18)

Monza (18) were relegated last month.

It's a fierce battle to avoid the last two spots between Empoli (28), Lecce (28) and Venezia (29).

On Sunday, Empoli are at Monza, Lecce host Torino and Venezia make the trip to Cagliari.

While it's probably a three-horse battle, Parma (32), Hellas Verona (33) and Cagliari (33) aren't quite safe.

In Serie B, Sassuolo and Pisa have been promoted. One of six clubs will also come up through the end-of-season playoffs. Spezia, Cremonese, Juve Stabia, Catanzaro and Palermo have booked five of the six places with one round to play.


Ligue 1
Last day: May 17

All teams have played 33 games, with one round of games to go -- to be played on Saturday.

Title

Paris Saint-Germain (81) secured the title with ease on April 5.

If PSG win the Champions League there will be no impact on the Ligue 1 places.

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 (33, 81)

  • 2. Marseille (33, 62)

  • 3. AS Monaco (33, 61)

An incredibly tight race, where most teams kept on winning, took a strange twist on Saturday.

Nice, Lille, Strasbourg and Lyon remarkably all lost, meaning that victories for Marseille (62) and AS Monaco (61) sealed their spots. It seemed certain to go down to the final day, but it's already resolved.

That does still leave the fourth place in qualifying, which is in the control of Nice (57, +19). A home victory over Brest should be enough, because they are four goals better off than Lille (57, +15) and six of Strasbourg (57, +13).

If Nice fail to win though, Lille (home to Reims) or Strasbourg (home to Le Havre) could take advantage.

There's a very unlikely scenario where all three lose and are overtaken by Lyon (54, +17), who are at home to Angers, on goal difference.

NB: Lyon are provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 on financial grounds, which could affect European allocation.

Europa League (2)

Fifth place (Lille now) will be in the Europa League.

However, if PSG win the Coupe de France final on May 24, the UEL place will pass to sixth (that's Strasbourg at the moment). PSG play Stade de Reims, who are 14th and will not finish in a domestic European place. If Reims win the cup, they will be in the Europa League.

Conference League (1)

At present, this goes to sixth (Strasbourg) and is a battle between the clubs listed in the Champions League section.

If PSG take the Coupe de France, seventh will be in the Conference League playoff round -- a position held by Lyon.

Relegation (2+1)

CONFIRMED

  • 18. Montpellier (33, 16)

Montpellier (16) are already relegated, leaving one automatic and one playoff spot to be decided.

The best second-bottom Saint-Etienne (30, -37) can hope for is to get above Le Havre AC (31, -32) and into the playoff place as they have far inferior goal difference to 15th-placed Nantes (33, -16) and Stade de Reims (33, -13).

To avoid automatic relegation, Saint-Etienne almost certainly must win at home to Toulouse, and hope Le Havre do not take three points at Strasbourg.

There is a scenario whereby Saint-Etienne draw and Le Havre lose by five goals -- which would see Saint-Etienne in the playoff place on goal difference and Le Havre relegated.

Due to goal difference, Nantes and Reims only need a point to make sure they avoid the playoff spot. But if Le Havre beat Strasbourg, a loss for Nantes (home to Montpellier) or Reims (away to Marseille) would seen them finish third bottom and in the playoff.

Lorient and Paris FC have secured promotion from Ligue 2, with Metz playing third bottom in that relegation/promotion playoff.