Weekend Schedule: Juventus to wrap up seventh straight Serie A title

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS

After a dramatic conclusion to the Championship last weekend, unlike the upcoming final day of the Premier League campaign, it’s the play-off semi finals, with Derby and Fulham kicking things off at Pride Park. The Cottagers enter the game as favourites but may still be in low spirits having blown the chance to go up automatically, while their hosts secured a top six finish last Sunday with a convincing win over Barnsley.

Boro host Villa on Saturday, meanwhile, with both having had time to prepare for this particular clash. The home side are in better form of late but despite finishing just one place below their visitors, seven points separated Tony Pulis and Steve Bruce’s charges.

Derby vs Fulham
Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa

LIGA NOS

While Porto wrapped the title up with two games to spare, Benfica and Sporting are separated by goal difference alone heading into the final game of the season. The former hold a considerable advantage in that regard in a race for a second spot that would earn Champions League qualification, so Sporting need Benfica to drop points at home to Moreirense and to win at Maritimo to leapfrog their rivals.

It’s a potential winner takes all clash at the bottom that is arguably more intense, however, with just one point separating the bottom four sides, two of whom will be relegated. Bottom club Estoril travel to Feirense knowing that they must win to survive, though even that may not be enough. Indeed, with Vitoria de Setubal and Pacos de Ferreira both with favourable fixtures against Tondela and Portimonense respectively than an Estoril victory would see both sides relegated.

Feirense vs Estoril

BUNDESLIGA

One of the biggest direct match ups in Europe this weekend takes place at Hoffenheim, who host Borussia Dortmund with both sides knowing that a win would guarantee a Champions League berth. The visitors only need a point to secure a top four finish, but their hosts are currently level on points with Bayer Leverkusen (fifth) and just two clear of Leipzig (sixth), who face Hannover and Hertha Berlin respectively.

At the opposite end of the table two former German heavyweights are in a direct battle against relegation, with Hamburg needing a win at home to Gladbach and for Wolfsburg to lose against relegated Cologne. It’s looking unlikely that HSV will complete another unlikely great escape, then, having never previously been relegated from the Bundesliga.

Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund
Hamburg vs Gladbach

SERIE A

The one title race that had promised to go right to the wire just a matter of weeks ago is all but over in Italy. It would take an unprecedented goal swing for Juventus to be denied a seventh successive Scudetti, with Napoli six points back with two games remaining. The first of those fixtures for the Old Lady is a difficult one, however, as they travel to face a Roma side that would ensure a Champions League finish with a victory.

Elsewhere, fresh from a heavy Coppa Italia final defeat to the champions elect, AC Milan have another huge game at Atalanta, who are just one point and one place below them in the race for the final Europa League berth. A draw would really open the door for Fiorentina to come back into the running, with the Viola hosting a Cagliari side in need of points to avoid the drop.

Atalanta vs AC Milan
Roma vs Juventus

LA LIGA

Despite there still being two games remaining in LaLiga there’s only really one formality still to be decided. That’s the race for the Europa League between Villarreal and Sevilla, with the latter hoping to join Seville rivals Real Betis next season, who only need a point to guarantee their qualification. The two neighbours come to blows this weekend, with Betis able to end their visitors hopes, while Villarreal travel to face relegated Deportivo.

Real Betis vs Sevilla

LIGUE 1

Following PSG’s predictable Coupe de France triumph over Les Herbiers on Tuesday fifth place in Ligue 1 will now earn qualification to the Europa League, and there are five sides still mathematically in the running. Rennes are the front runners as things stand but travel to face the champions this Saturday, while Saint-Etienne (sixth), face a Monaco side in a three-way battle for the second Champions League spot.

The former champions are currently third behind Lyon, who are away at Strasbourg, with the hosts in desperate need of points, sitting just one place and one point above a relegation play-off finish. They are one of five teams in France that could yet join bottom club Metz in Ligue 2 next season.

Strasbourg vs Lyon
Monaco vs Saint-Etienne