Kelvin Omachonu
The top 5 leagues in Europe have finally reached homestretch; the day of reckoning is near for all the teams. The battle for the titles have intensified in the leagues, and the fight against relegation is getting feistier by each coming week. The race for the top 4 among the top 6 is also hot cake in the leagues. How will this last lap play out in the top 5 leagues in Europe? Let’s see:
Italian Serie A
With just seven games to go, the Serie A is one league that many would put eyes on, considering the fact that the dominance of Juventus has been shattered. The current title defenders are third in the league rankings this season. The Serie A season has seen some sort of renaissance for the Milan clubs, AC Milan and Inter Milan. AC Milan sat on top of the league for a huge chunk of the season, but a poor run of games saw them vacate the summit for Inter Milan who have lost only two games this season; the least number of losses in the league. Inter Milan have had an outstanding Serie A campaign and they have a 9-point gap at the top of the table to show for it.
While the race for the title looks done and dusted, the race for Europe looks to be a fight to finish, with only an 8-point gap between the second and sixth. Sixth-placed Lazio (58) would fancy their chances because they are just four points off fourth-placed Juventus (62), especially with Lazio having an extra game. By each passing week, the prospect of Roma making it to Europe seems bleak; they could stage a late fight though to shake off Napoli or Lazio and get into the top four spots, albeit Napoli have been in great form recently.
For the relegation fight, Crotone and Parma look to be on their way to Serie B unless something extraordinary happens. Crotone (15) sit 15 points from safety while Parma (20) are 10 points away from safety. With their poor form, it would only take a miracle to pull them out. Cagliari would look to make a late charge to stay in the Serie A at the expense of Benevento. Cagliari are just 5 points away from safety and they would fancy their chances in this last lap.
German Bundesliga
The German league looks settled at the top, as Bayern Munich, who are current title defenders, continue to exude their confidence. Leipzig, who have had a good season, would look to make a late charge for the trophy, but it’s almost impossible to see Bayern Munich capitulate at this point. However, Leipzig look to have cemented second spot, considering their form and a 7-point difference between them and third-placed Wolfsburg. The battle for 3rd and 4th looks tough, as Borrussia Dortmund sit 5th, four points adrift fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Borrussia Dortmund have been in excellent league form in the last five games, and they would look to be in that form as they hunt for Champions’ League football.
The race for safety is quite unique because Schalke 04, who have had the worst points haul in Europe’s top 5 leagues at this point of the season, are sure relegation candidates. Asides Schalke, the relegation fight looks very tough, as there’s just five points between four teams fighting for survival: Koln, Hertha Berlin, Arminia Bielefield and Mainz 05 would look to slug it out in the remaining five games to decide who joins Schalke.
The French Ligue 1
While PSG have had a great campaign in the Champions’ League, the same can not be said for their league performance, as they sit second in the league, a point away from Lille. PSG have lost eight games this season, the highest number of losses they’ve had in the league for the last seven seasons. PSG would bank on experience and squad power to push it to the wire this season, and they would hope for a usurping of Lille, who are having an excellent campaign buy their own standards.
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As a matter of fact the top four teams in the league have a chance to win the league because the point difference between the first and the fourth is just three. In this league, there is no battle for top four; the top four battle is also the title battle, and all the teams would fancy their chances of nicking it. It is a case of you snooze; you lose.
Dijon will undoubtedly be relegated, as they languish in 20th position with 18 points. Nantes, Homestretch and Lorient would look to slug it out in the bid to not be the other two teams to complete the relegation trio. Only four points separate nineteenth-placed Nantes and seventeenth-placed Lorient.
Spanish La Liga
In Spain, the realistic title race is between Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Atletico had sat on the summit from the first half of the season when Real Madrid and Barcelona were misfiring, but a massive turn around has seen both teams rise to challenge for the title. Just five points separate the first and the third, with third-placed Barcelona having a game in hand. The last lap in the title race would be intricate, and a loss could leave any team at a disadvantage. Sevilla look to have secured the fourth spot, as they sit sixteen points above Villareal, who are fifth.
La Liga has the toughest relegation battle, with six teams fighting: Getafe, Alaves, Huesca, Villadolid, Elche and Eibar are in the fight to stay up, albeit Eibar would have to put in a great fight to stay afloat because they have the least points of the lot.
English Premier League
Manchester City are eight points ahead of Manchester United on the EPL table, and it is safe to say that City would be crowned champions. The fight for the trophy doesn’t seem feasible for United, considering the fact that City have never lost the title with this kind of margin, with just eight games to go. The race for top four is a different story, as any of Leicester City, West Ham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton could make it. There is just a seven-point difference between these teams, and there are only two spots up for grabs because Manchester City and Manchester United have cemented their spots. Chelsea and Liverpool are the more experienced sides as regards making the top four, West Ham are this season’ s surprise package, while Leicester would hope that a frequent loss of form toward the end of the season doesn’t throw the spanner in the works for them.
Sheffield United would be playing in the Championship next season; there’s no doubt about that. West Brom, who are second from bottom, look to be giving a late push, same as Fulham, but it’s difficult to see them survive because of their form, albeit West Brom have won their last 2 games. The teams above them are destined Premier League campaigners and specialists at staying alive in the League.
The top 5 leagues in Europe are popular for pulling pleasant surprises and keeping the fans animated till the very last game. As the final lap rolls in, the race against relagtion seems tougher than the race for the title. It is at this time that relegaton-bound teams could be dangerous for big clubs. Amidst plans for a not-so-super European Super League, let’s sit and watch the surprise that football will bring us from our very favourite top 5 leagues in Europe.
