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?
Tucker homers twice, ties for lead with 15 as Astros beat Brewers 9-4 for 9th win in 11 games
— Kyle Tucker homered twice to tie for the major league lead with 15 and drove in four runs, leading the Houston Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers 9-4 on Sunday for their ninth win in 11 games.
Soriano's career-long start and Pillar's pinch hit get Angels a series-clinching 4-1 win at Texas
— Angels right-hander José Soriano pitched a career-high 7 2/3 innings, pinch-hitter Kevin Pillar had a tiebreaking two-run single for his 1,000th career hit and Los Angeles got a series-clinching 4-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
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.
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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.
Source: Boeser (blood Clots) Not Expected In G7
HOUSTON -- — Kyle Tucker homered twice to tie for the major league lead with 15 and drove in four runs, leading the Houston Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers 9-4 on Sunday for their ninth win in 11 games.
After striking out in his first three at-bats, Tucker decided to change his cleats from a pair of lime green Astros mascot Orbit-themed ones to his normal orange pair.
“I just didn’t really have great first three at-bats with them,” Tucker said. “I just decided to come in and swap them back out for my other cleats and it ended up pretty well for me.”
Jose Altuve hit his 37th leadoff homer in a four-run first inning and Jake Meyers had three hits for Houston, which took two of three from the Brewers and improved to 21-26 with its third straight series win.
“You've just got to pile up wins, especially series wins, throughout the year,” Tucker said. “At the end of the year it will be what it is.”
Tucker hit a solo homer to right in the sixth off Thyago Vieira and a three-run, opposite-field drive to left in the seventh against Mitch White.
“He’s playing on a different level right now,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He’s a really, really good player.”
Tucker tied Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson at 15 home runs after his third multi-homer game this season and the sixth of his big league career.
“I just try to get pitches over the plate and try and barrel them up and they just happen to fall for homers,” Tucker said. “It’s not like I’m trying to lift the ball and start hitting them. It just kind of comes with pitch selections and trying to barrel balls to the outfield.”
Rookie Spencer Arrighetti (2-4) won his second straight start after going 0-4 in his first five. He allowed four runs and six hit with six strikeouts and two walks over 6 1/3 innings, his big league high.
“I think my general presence is getting a little better,” Arrighetti said. “Obviously, that team runs really well and I gave up a couple stolen bases, but as soon as that happened I feel like I was able to make a good adjustment with controlling the running game a little bit and still being able to execute pitches while doing that.”
Colin Rea (3-2) gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.
“He didn't have command of his stuff and Colin's a command pitcher," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.
After Christian Yelich's RBI single in the first, Houston went ahead for good on Altuve's homer, Jon Singleton's run-scoring groundout and Meyers' two-out, two-run double.
Brice Turang had a two-run single in the seventh and scored on Yelich's single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: LHP DL Hall (knee) pitched one inning and struck out one for Class A Wisconsin on Sunday in a rehab start.
Astros: OF Chas McCormick (hamstring) went 2 for 4 with a single, double and a stolen base as the designated hitter for Double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday. Ryan Pressly (sore finger) threw a bullpen on Sunday. He has not pitched since Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Joe Ross (2-4, 4.61) starts for Milwaukee against LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.81) on Monday to open a three-game series at Miami.
Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (3-1, 2.95) starts for Houston at home on Monday in a series opener against LHP Reid Detmers (3-4, 5.19) and the Los Angeles Angels.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
