The major powers of Europe have flexed their muscles, with four of the big five league titles already snapped up by the giants of the game.
Barcelona, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and PSG have been crowned champions of the lands they survey, and the football odds on Serie A’s Juventus joining them are shortening by the day. But there’s plenty to entertain football betting fans as the lesser mortals up and down the leagues fight for European recognition, and some, their very survival in the top flights.
La Liga
Having dominated right from the off it’s Barca’s league once more, with 32-goal Lionel Messi leading the way. But how the Catalans must be wishing they could have held on to a three goal lead against Roma. With a domestic double completed, Ernesto Valverde’s side must feel like they threw away a golden chance to win the Champions League, too.
This weekend it’s El Clasico, arguably the biggest derby in world football, and a chance for Real Madrid to keep the pressure up on Atletico for second place. But it’s a big ask at the Camp Nou, where Barca are favourites at 1.89 with a -0.75 goal handicap and Los Blancos at 2.04 with that start. Both Madrid clubs will join Barca in next season’s Champions League, along with Valencia, while Villarreal and Real Betis look good for Europa qualification.
At the bottom, it’s a done deal with Malaga, Las Palmas and, most surprisingly Deportivo La Coruna on the way out.
Premier League
With Manchester City crowned Champions, one of the most intriguing battles in the Premier League is an individual tussle for the golden boot. Player of the Year Mo Salah is four ahead of Harry Kane, but the Spurs man is keen. He only needs the ball to brush his leg hair on its way in to claim the goal; such is his hunger to prove he’s as good as Mo!
Spurs will likely join Liverpool and Manchester United in the Champions League places, unless Chelsea can make up a five point gap. The Blues will probably have to be happy with Europa football, along with Arsenal and Burnley.
18th-placed Southampton have the best chance of escaping the bottom three, at the expense of either Swansea or Huddersfield, who have a shocking run-in. If the Saints fail, coach Mark Hughes may get the blame for taking two clubs down, as his former team Stoke looks pretty much doomed along with West Brom!
Serie A
Serie A is in Juventus’ hands, four points clear of Napoli and the Bianconeri is a clear favourite on betting sites to win a seventh successive Scudetto. There’s a big race in Serie A for the mantle of top scorer, with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile, on 29 and Inters’ Mauro Icardi on 27, hoping to fire their teams to Champions League qualification. Roma is in there too and Inter has the most ground to make up, four points behind the Rome duo.
Atalanta and Milan are chasing for a Europa place, while at the bottom, with Hellas Verona set to join Benevento through the trap-door, it looks like a three-way battle for survival between Chievo, SPAL and Cagliari, though Crotone and Udinese aren’t safe quite yet.
Bundesliga
It’s hard to recall when Bayern won the league it’s that long ago, and Jupp Heynckes’ men will be gutted they went out of the Champions league to Real Madrid. But six Bundesligas on the bounce is some achievement.
Beneath the champions, there’s a battle royal going on for European qualification, and in the depths, a tense finale looming in the relegation fight. That’s where you can find the best football bets. Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim are fighting it out for the final Champions League place, while anyone down to Hertha Berlin, in tenth, can still qualify for Europa football.
Cologne are down, and the remaining relegation places are likely to be filled by Hamburg and Wolfsburg, but Mainz and Freiburg aren’t out of the woods yet.
Ligue 1
PSG have regained the crown as King of France, with the form of league top scorer Edinson Cavani pivotal to their success. Kylian M’Bappe is trying to persuade Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante to join him in Paris as the revolution gathers pace.
But, in the meantime, the form team is Lyon, with seven league wins on the run catapulting them into second place and pole position for Champions League qualification. Monaco and Marseille are also in the frame and just two points separate the three teams with two places available.
It’s any two from six to join Metz in a fall to Ligue 2, with Lille, Troyes, Toulouse and Strasbourg in the most peril.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
