What's at stake in the top leagues: Cup finals, European places, relegation battles
The European soccer season is coming to a close, but who is in the race for the cup finals, European qualification -- and who's fighting relegation?
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PSG win season finale, while Brest clinch UCL spot
Champions Paris Saint-Germain ended their Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-0 win at Metz on Sunday, while Brest won 3-0 to capture the third Champions League spot and Lille finished fourth after being held 2-2 by Nice on a stoppage-time equaliser.
The 2023-24 season is drawing to a close and the battles for the major honours, relegation and promotion are starting to become clearer.
Here's a quick roundup of what has been decided, and what's still at stake, in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Premier League
League season completed
Title
Pep Guardiola's side were crowned champions for a record-setting fourth consecutive season.
1. Manchester City
Champions League (4)
CONFIRMED
1. Man City (38 games, 91 points)
2. Arsenal (38, 89)
3. Liverpool (38, 82)
4. Aston Villa (38, 68)
Europa League (2)
As it stands, only fifth gets a Europa League place with the other slot, by right, going to the FA Cup winners.
Man United take on Man City in the FA Cup final on May 25 (stream live on ESPN+, U.S. only). If Erik ten Hag's team lift the trophy then they will be in the Europa League (UEL). If Man City win the cup, then the UEL position transfers to Chelsea.
CONFIRMED
5. Tottenham Hotspur (38, 66)
WAITING ON THE FA CUP FINAL
6. Chelsea (38, 63)
Man United, who have finished eighth, can now only qualify for Europe by winning the FA Cup.
Europa Conference League (1)
WAITING ON THE FA CUP FINAL
6. Chelsea (38, 63)
7. Newcastle United (38, 60)
The UECL place will drop to seventh if Man City win the FA Cup.
If Man United win the FA Cup and finish seventh or eighth, the UECL place goes to sixth.
Relegation (3)
RELEGATED
18. Luton Town (38, 26)
19. Burnley (38, 24)
20. Sheffield United (38, 16)
Leicester City and Ipswich Town have been automatically promoted to the Premier League. Leeds United and Southampton will contest the Championship playoff final on May 26.
LaLiga - one round to go
final weekend May 25-26
Title
Real Madrid have been crowned champions.
- Stream all LaLiga games live on ESPN+ (US only)
Champions League (4)
All four places have now been sealed.
CONFIRMED
1. Real Madrid (37, 94)
2. Barcelona (37, 82)
3. Girona (37, 78)
4. Atlético Madrid (37, 73)
Europa League (2)
Athletic won the Copa del Rey and will be in the Europa League. Real Sociedad won at Real Betis on Sunday to claim the league position in sixth.
CONFIRMED
5. Athletic Club (37, 65)
6. Real Sociedad (37, 60)
Europa Conference League (1)
Real Betis cannot be overtaken for the final European place.
CONFIRMED
7. Real Betis (37, 56)
Relegation (3)
The final place was confirmed when Cádiz failed to win at home to Las Palmas and Mallorca took a point from their game against Almería.
It means there's absolutely nothing to be decided on the final day in Spain.
CONFIRMED
18. Cádiz (37, 33)
19. Granada (37, 21)
20. Almería (37, 18)
There are sill two full rounds to be played in LaLiga 2, and no team has yet secured promotion.
Bundesliga
League season completed
Title
Bayer Leverkusen won the first championship in their history with a remarkable unbeaten record.
- Stream all Bundesliga games live on ESPN+ (US only)
Champions League (5)
The Bundesliga has sealed an extra place through the European Performance Spot, which sends the team in fifth to the UCL too.
CONFIRMED
1. Bayer Leverkusen (34, 90)
2. VfB Stuttgart (34, 73)
3. Bayern Munich (34, 72)
4. RB Leipzig (34, 65)
5. Borussia Dortmund (34, 63)
WAITING ON DORTMUND
6. Eintracht Frankfurt (34, 47)
If Dortmund win the UCL final they will take the place reserved for the titleholders, and the European Performance Spot will pass down to sixth -- so the Bundesliga would have six teams in the UCL.
It means that while Eintracht Frankfurt have a place in the UEL right now, they would be promoted to the UCL if Dortmund beat Real Madrid in the final on June 1.
Europa League (2)
There's another complicating factor to the UEL places, which right now go to sixth in the league (Frankfurt) and the winners of the DFB Pokal.
The final of the DFB Pokal on May 25 (stream live on ESPN+, U.S. only) sees Leverkusen take on Kaiserslautern who, incredibly, could win the cup despite almost being relegated to the third division, as they sit four points above the 2. Bundesliga relegation zone with one game to be played. If Kaiserslautern pull off an almighty shock and do what no other team has done all season (beat Leverkusen), the league slots will be unaltered: sixth into the UEL and seventh into the UECL. If Leverkusen win the final, sixth and seventh will get a place in the UEL.
CONFIRMED (SUBJECT TO UCL FINAL)
6. Eintracht Frankfurt (34, 47)
WAITING ON DFB POKAL FINAL
7. TSG Hoffenheim (34, 46)
If Leverkusen win the DFB Pokal, Hoffenheim will be promoted to the UEL. Right now they hold the UECL spot.
If Dortmund win the UCL, Germany would surrender the place in the UEL earned by Dortmund in the league. So, Dortmund would qualify as UCL titleholders in fifth, with sixth getting the European Performance position. The only way seventh can get a UEL place is if Leverkusen win the cup.
Europa Conference League (1)
WAITING ON DFB POKAL FINAL
7. TSG Hoffenheim (34, 46)
8. Heidenheim (34, 42)
If Leverkusen win the DFB Pokal, Heidenheim will get a place in the UECL in their first-ever season in the Bundesliga.
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated automatically, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2. Bundesliga.
RELEGATION PLAYOFF
16. VfL Bochum (34, 33)
Bochum lost 4-1 to Werder Bremen on the final day, dropping from 14th to 16th due to victories for Union Berlin and Mainz.
Bochum will now meet Fortuna Düsseldorf for the right to play in the Bundesliga next season. The first leg takes place on Thursday, with the return on Monday, May 27.
RELEGATED
17. FC Cologne (34, 27)
18. SV Darmstadt 98 (34, 17)
St. Pauli and Holstein Kiel have been automatically promoted into the Bundesliga.
Serie A
final day May 26
Title
Internazionale have wrapped up the Scudetto as runaway champions.
Champions League (5)
Like Germany, Italy has secured an extra place in next year's competition through its clubs' performance in Europe this season, meaning at least five clubs will qualify.
The places have already been sealed as Atalanta hold the head to head over Roma.
CONFIRMED
1. Internazionale (37, 93)
2. AC Milan (37, 74)
3. Bologna (36, 67)
4. Juventus (36, 67)
5. Atalanta (36, 66)
WAITING ON ATALANTA
6. AS Roma (37, 63)
7. Lazio (37, 60)
If Atalanta win the UEL (they face Leverkusen in the final on Wednesday) then Italy will have the top six clubs in the UCL -- the top four, Atalanta as UEL titleholders and the European Performance Spot.
Lazio are mathematically still fighting for sixth, but their goal difference is 10 worse than Roma's, so it's slender hope.
It means Roma are almost certain to finish sixth and will be cheering on Atalanta against Leverkusen.
On the final weekend, Roma go to relegation-threatened Empoli and Lazio are to home to already-doomed Sassuolo.
Europa League (2)
Juventus won the Coppa Italia, so sixth and seventh will qualify for the UEL by right.
IN CONTENTION
6. AS Roma (37, 63)
7. Lazio (37, 60)
8. Fiorentina (36, 54)
Roma and Lazio in the box seat, with Fiorentina the outsiders -- however, their goal difference is better than Lazio's, if they can catch them. Fiorentina play at Cagliari on the final weekend, but they do have an extra game to come. That extra match is against Atalanta and as both teams are in European finals; the only possible date to play the game is Sunday, June 2 -- a week after the final round of Serie A matches is played. Fiorentina will therefore go into the "extra" game in full knowledge of what a result will earn.
If Atalanta win the UEL to qualify for the UCL, Italy will surrender the place for the league in the UEL which Atalanta would have earned (complicated, but technically the European Performance Spot goes to sixth). So, only seventh would be in the UEL.
Europa Conference League (1)
IN CONTENTION
7. Lazio (37, 60)
8. Fiorentina (36, 54)
9. Torino (37, 53)
10. Napoli (37, 52)
Eighth place will enter the UECL, which is currently held by Fiorentina who are favourites with that game in hand. Lazio could drop into it, but realistically it's a battle between Fiorentina, Napoli and Torino.
If Fiorentina win the UECL to qualify for the UEL and finish eighth, Italy will surrender its league place in the UECL.
Fiorentina will be sure of the UECL position if they win at Cagliari on Sunday.
Torino go to Atalanta and must win and, because of goal difference, hope Fiorentina pick up no more than one point from their last two fixtures.
Napoli must win at home to Lazio and, because of goal difference, hope Fiorentina lose both of their games, and Torino draw/lose.
Relegation (3)
RELEGATED
19. Sassuolo (37, 29)
20. Salernitana (36, 16)
IN CONTENTION
14. Cagliari (37, 36)
15. Frosinone (37, 35)
16. Hellas Verona (36, 34)
17. Udinese (37, 34)
18. Empoli (37, 33)
Sassuolo lost at home to Cagliari on Sunday, with results elsewhere confirming their relegation. That leaves one place to be decided.
Empoli looked like they were going to rise out the relegation zone ... until Udinese equalised in the 14th minute of added time at the end of the game.
That leaves Empoli third bottom, one point behind Udinese and Verona. On Monday, Verona are at rock-bottom Salernitana and a win secures their survival.
On the final day, Empoli host Roma, Udinese are at Frosinone and Verona host Inter Milan.
Parma and Cesc Fàbregas' Como have been promoted to Serie A. Venezia. Cremonese, Catanzaro and Palermo the remaining teams in the promotion playoffs.
Ligue 1
League season completed
Title
Paris Saint-Germain secured the title with ease.
Champions League (3+1)
France gets three automatic places, with fourth place entering the UCL in the third qualifying round.
Remarkably Brest were in fourth when the games on the final day entered the 90th minute. Brest scored to go level with Lille on points and goal difference, but Lille stayed third on head to head. Then Lille conceded at home in the fourth minute of added time, sending Brest directly into the Champions League group stage.
CONFIRMED
1. Paris Saint-Germain (34, 76)
2. AS Monaco (34, 67)
3. Brest (34, 61)
4. Lille (34, 59)
Europa League (2)
The UEL places go to fifth and the winners of the Coupe de France -- PSG take on Lyon on May 25, and if PSG win it the place transfers to sixth in the league. As Lyon managed to finish sixth they are guaranteed a place in the UEL.
Lyon beat Strasbourg on the final day, while Lens only drew. It means that Lyon, who at one stage were in a relegation battle, will be in the UEL even though they have a goal difference of minus-6.
CONFIRMED
5. Nice (34, 55)
6. Lyon (34, 53)
Europa Conference League (1)
CONFIRMED
7. Lens (34, 51)
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated, with third-bottom facing a playoff with a team from the second division to remain in Ligue 1.
Metz will play one of Paris FC, Rodez and Saint-Étienne to fight to stay in the top flight.
RELEGATION PLAYOFF
16. Metz (34, 29)
Lorient needed an eight-goal swing on Metz to stay up on the final day, they only managed seven so -- even though they scored more goals in the GD calculation -- are relegated on head-to-head away goals.
RELEGATED
17. Lorient (34, 29)
18. Clermont Foot (34, 25)
AJ Auxerre and Angers have been automatically promoted to Ligue 1. will take part in the playoffs.
Labuschagne, Ingram Hundreds Keep Glamorgan Above Water
TORONTO -- — Daniel Vogelbach homered and scored three runs, Alek Manoah struck out seven in seven innings to win for the first time since last August and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided their first sweep of the season by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Sunday.
Alejandro Kirk reached base three times and drove in two runs as the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak with their third shutout win.
“I think it’s huge for this team,” Manoah said. “AL East opponent, don’t want nobody coming in our house and sweeping us.”
George Springer hit an RBI double, walked twice and scored twice as Toronto stopped Tampa Bay’s winning streak at four. The Rays had won 11 of their previous 15.
“Quiet day offensively for us,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You’ve got to appreciate that Manoah was tough. Everything was working.”
Making his third start of the season, Manoah (1-1) walked one, hit two batters and allowed just one hit, Ben Rortvedt’s leadoff single in the third.
“He stepped up when we really needed him,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “This was probably the best he’s looked, even going back to 2022.”
Manoah went 9-2 as a rookie in 2021 and was a Cy Young finalist in 2022, when he finished 16-7. He struggled to a 3-9 mark last year and was sent down twice.
The right-hander said he’s not interested in comparing his current form to his standout sophomore season.
“I’m not looking back,” Manoah said. “I’m not going that way.”
Sunday was Manoah’s first big league win since beating Boston at Fenway Park last August 4. He made one more start last season before being demoted to Triple-A.
“He pitched at the top of the zone really well,” Cash said. “We just couldn’t get anything going against him.”
Jonny DeLuca, who stole second after being hit by a pitch in the fifth, was the only Rays runner to advance past first base against Manoah. The right-hander pumped his fist and yelled after striking out DeLuca swinging on a high fastball to end his outing.
“The energy from this crowd has been unbelievable,” Manoah said. “Just trying to feed off all that and let my emotions go freely there.”
Trevor Richards pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. After Jonathan Aranda reached on a two-out infield single against Zach Pop in the ninth, Isaac Paredes followed with a two-run homer, his ninth. Paredes has reached safely in a career-best 18 straight.
Richie Palacios chased Pop with a single before Jordan Romano finished for his seventh save in eight chances.
Vogelbach finished 3 for 4. He homered off Rays right-hander Aaron Civale in the second, his first, doubled and scored in the fourth, and singled and scored in the sixth.
Later in the sixth, Kirk made it 5-0 with a two-out double off reliever Manuel Rodríguez.
Civale (2-4) allowed five runs, four earned, and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. His ERA rose from 5.83 to 5.92.
“He fell behind some guys and they made him pay a little bit,” Cash said.
Civale is 0-3 in seven starts since an April 9 victory over the Angels.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Chad Green (teres major strain) struck out a batter in one scoreless inning in a rehab outing at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday. Green allowed a leadoff double and retired the next three batters. … RHP Bowden Francis (forearm) got the win for Buffalo with 2 1/3 shutout innings in a rehab outing in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (1-1, 2.45 ERA) starts Monday as Tampa Bay hosts Boston. RHP Tanner Houck (3-5, 2.17) goes for the Red Sox.
Blue Jays: RHP José Berríos (4-2, 2.82 ERA) starts Monday as Toronto begins a three-game series against the White Sox. RHP Erick Fedde (4-0, 2.60) starts for Chicago.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
