European competitions under the microscope: Barcelona is champion, almost Champions League football for Ten Hag | Foreign football

The month of May is already one week away and that only means one thing: the football competitions are approaching their denouement. Which clubs are heading for the title? What are the stunt teams and who surprises in a negative way? This is the state of play in Europe’s major leagues.

Starting in the largest national football competition in the world: the Premier League. After Manchester City’s victory over Arsenal, the roles there have been completely reversed. City is at the top with four points ahead of the Londoners and also has a game credit, the leader still plays three in total. As a result, the title seems to go to the team of Pep Guardiola and Nathan Aké.

The positive surprises this year are Aston Villa and Brighton. Both teams have a great chance of reaching European football. Brighton in particular, Joël Veltman’s team is in very good shape. The outlier to the bottom is Chelsea. Despite spending hundreds of millions of euros, the team will close the season as a gray mid-engine.

Erik ten Hag has a mostly good season in England. In February he won the League Cup and will be in the final of the FA Cup at the beginning of June. The Europa League was somewhat disappointing with ‘only’ a quarter-final spot. United will most likely finish the competition in the top 4, but still have to pull out all the stops. Top 4 means Champions League football next year.

Stand at the top
1. Manchester City 35-85
2. Arsenal 36-81
3.Newcastle United 35-66
4.Manchester United 35-66
5.Liverpool 35-62

The relegation battle is extremely exciting. Leicester City, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Everton are competing for two tickets to next season’s Premier League. The other two lose out and descend to the Championship. Southampton seem already relegated.

Nathan Aké can make a shot at the title with Manchester City. ©AFP

View the results, the program, the standings and the position in the Premier League here.

German title race exciting until the last second

The Bundesliga is approaching an exciting denouement. Bayern Munich recently took over the lead from Borussia Dortmund. With 2 games to go, the difference in Germany is also one point. Both title contenders are extremely volatile. It therefore seems that the title race will only be settled in the last round.

The most positive surprise is that there is finally a real title race in Germany again. It was still exciting in 2019, but the last other champion – other than Bayern – was Dortmund in 2011-2012. The fact that Union Berlin and Freiburg have also been at the top all season is also striking. Both are still on course for Champions League football.

The negative surprise seems to be Frankfurt. Despite last season’s Europa League win and wintering in the Champions League this season, the people’s club is in danger of grabbing next to European football after a dramatic second half of the season. Yet it is in the cup final and the players are therefore one win away from ‘Europe’.

Position at the top:
1. Bayern Munich 32-68
2. Borussia Dortmund 32-67
3.RB Leipzig 32-60
4. Union Berlin 32-59
5. SC Freiburg 32-56

The fight against relegation is also exciting in Germany. ‘Traditionsvereine’ Hertha, Stuttgart and Bochum are still far from sure of a longer stay in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim and fallen top club Schalke 04 also have to give everything for enforcement.

Matthijs de Ligt laughs, because Bayern Munich has the title in their own hands.
Matthijs de Ligt laughs, because Bayern Munich has the title in their own hands. © REUTERS

View the results, the program, the standings and the position in the Bundesliga here.

Barcelona are champions despite few goals scored

Frenkie de Jong’s team dominates the Spanish league this season. There was no question of any tension about the title for a long time. With 4 rounds to go, the lead over Real Madrid is 14 points. After three seasons without a national title, it was time for a championship again.

There is no real positive surprise in Spain. Although Osasuna has the best papers for this ‘title’. The club from Pamplona is in the left row, but lost the cup final. European football is therefore still anything but excluded. The negative surprise is Valencia. After years of mismanagement, one of the biggest Spanish clubs is embroiled in an exciting relegation battle. They are only three points above the line.

Position at the top:
1. FC Barcelona 34-85
2. Real Madrid 34-71
3. Atletico Madrid 34-69
4. Real Sociedad 34-62
5. Villarreal 34-57

In addition to Valencia, no less than six other clubs are fighting against relegation. Elche is already relegated with 16 points. Cádiz, Real Valladolid, Almería, Espanyol and Getafe are very close together with Valencia. In theory, every club can even be relegated from position 11, but then everything has to go wrong.

Frenkie de Jong will take his first national title with FC Barcelona.
Frenkie de Jong will take his first national title with FC Barcelona. ©AFP

View the results, the program, the standings and the position in the Primera Division here.


After a long wait, finally another title in Naples

Napoli is the first champion in a European top competition. It means the first title since 1990. Napoli is therefore also the positive surprise this season. It is also a good year for Italian clubs outside the country’s borders. Five teams are in a European semi-final.

What was also striking is the unrest at Juventus, although this has not been unique at the Turin club over the years. A heavy point penalty, which was later reversed, and racism do not do the already not too good image of the 36-time national champion. Yet the Champions League, with 4 games and a Europa League campaign ahead, is within reach.

Position at the top:
1. Naples 35-83
2.Juventus 35-69
3. Internazionale 35-66
4.Lazio 35-65
5. A.C. Milan 35-61

The Napoli fans can't wait for the next national title.
The Napoli fans can’t wait for the next national title. © AP

View the results, the program, the standings and the position in the Serie A here.


Even in a volatile year, Paris Saint-Germain is unapproachable

PSG have been champions eight times in the last 10 years. This season that will most likely be 9 out of 11. The star ensemble with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé as leaders regularly drops a stitch in Ligue 1 this season. In addition, an early elimination in the cup and Champions League, which will make the fans believe be that the season has failed.

The positive surprise is without a doubt RC Lens. The fallen sub-topper is completely back after years of bivouacking at the second level. Last season, the team was already close to European football with a fanatical following and that will certainly succeed this season. In fact, the Champions League group stage is within reach.

Position at the top:
1. Paris Saint Germain 35-81
2. RC Lens 35-75
3. Olympic Marseille 35-73
4. AS Monaco 35-65
5. Lille 35-60

It is not obvious this season for Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, but the title will probably be won 'just'.
It is not obvious this season for Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, but the title will probably be won ‘just’. © REUTERS

View the results, the program, the standings and the position in the Ligue 1 here.


Three teams compete in ‘Championship play-offs’ for the national title

Mark van Bommel won his first grand prize as a trainer at the end of April. In a few weeks he can double that number by winning the national title with Antwerp. Racing Genk and Union Sint-Gillis are the other two teams competing for the title. The differences are minimal and that’s why we don’t know who will be the champion of Belgium until late. Club Brugge is the fourth and last team in the championship group, but is only a filler.

The biggest surprise is that the largest Belgian club has ended up in the right row. RSC Anderlecht finished 11th this season. Next season, therefore, no European football with the 34-time Belgian champion. A major cleaning is more likely.

Championship Pool Participants:
1. Antwerp 3-45
2. Union Saint-Gilles 3-44
3.Racing Genk 3-41
4. Club Bruges 3-30
After the regular competition, participants’ points are halved. They play against each other twice in the championship pool.

The Dutch training staff of Antwerp with head coach Mark van Bommel (r) also wants to win the national title after the Croky Cup.
The Dutch training staff of Antwerp with head coach Mark van Bommel (r) also wants to win the national title after the Croky Cup. ©AFP

View the results, the program, the standings and the position in the Jupiler Pro League here.

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