The 2024-25 season has entered the closing stages, with the battles for the major honors, European qualification, relegation and promotion heating up.
Here’s a roundup of what’s at stake and what could be decided this weekend in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.
This page will be updated through to the end of the European season.
Premier League
Last day: May 25
Title
Liverpool (82) were confirmed as champions on April 27 with four games to spare.
Champions League (5)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Liverpool (35, 82)
In 2025-26, the Premier League will have five teams in the Champions League due to the performance of its clubs in Europe this season, meaning the top five will qualify for the UCL.
Liverpool have already booked their place, with Arsenal (67) on the brink of sealing their spot. They need a maximum of three points to guarantee it.
Five teams are battling for the remaining three places with just three fixtures remaining. Manchester City (64), Newcastle United (63) and Chelsea (63) are holding them right now. Nottingham Forest (60, with a game in hand to be played on Monday) and Aston Villa (60) will try to fight their way into those key positions.
Man City appear to have the most favorable fixture list, with Chelsea the trickiest.
There are two key head-to-head clashes, both involving Chelsea. The Blues must travel to Newcastle on Sunday, and then to Forest on the final day, which could be a winner-takes-all UCL showdown.
If Manchester United or Tottenham win the Europa League — they are both in the semifinals — the Premier League will have an additional sixth team in the Champions League. (It would be seven in total if Arsenal were also to win the UCL and finish outside the top four.)
Europa League (2)
As it stands, sixth (Forest) will enter the Europa League by league position, and it will go to one of the teams in the Champions League section.
Sixth will be joined by the FA Cup winners, with Crystal Palace taking on Man City in the final on May 17 (stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S.).
If Palace, who are 12th, win the FA Cup, then there will be no knock-on effect to the league places; the Eagles will be in the Europa League.
However, if Man City win it and finish in the top six, the FA Cup’s Europa League place will go to seventh — most probably to last of the teams listed in the UCL race.
If Chelsea win the Conference League — they are also in the semifinals — they are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League, but will play in the Champions League if they finish in the top five. Their final position could also influence the allocation of European places.
Conference League (1)
Newcastle are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League playoff round, as they won the Carabao Cup. But if Newcastle finish in the top six, to play in the UCL or UEL, the Conference League place goes to seventh.
If the FA Cup winners and Newcastle finish in the top seven, the Conference League playoff-round place goes to eighth. AFC Bournemouth (53) are eighth, followed by Brentford (52), Brighton & Hove Albion (52) and Fulham (51), so there’s every reason for these four clubs to play as though the season is still alive.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
- 18. Ipswich (35, 22)
- 19. Leicester (35, 21)
- 20. Southampton (35, 11)
Southampton (11). Leicester City (21) and Ipswich Town (22) have been relegated.
Leeds United and Burnley have been promoted back to the top flight from the Championship; another team will come up via the playoffs. Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City have booked the playoff places, with the final taking place on May 24.
LaLiga
Last day: May 25
Title
Most teams have played 34 matches, unless noted, so there are four rounds to be played.
Barcelona (79) hold a four-point advantage over Real Madrid (75). The meeting of the two sides at Barcelona’s temporary home, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, on Sunday could be must-win for Los Blancos.
– Stream all LaLiga games live on ESPN+ (US only)
Champions League (5)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Barcelona (34, 79)
- 2. Real Madrid (34, 75)
Like the Premier League, LaLiga will have five teams in the Champions League next season.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are both assured of being in the competition, while Atlético Madrid (67) are almost there with a maximum of 70 points required.
Athletic Club (61) in fourth are favourites to qualify, though they have work to do.
It then looks likely to be a straight battle for the last UCL place between fifth-placed Villarreal (58) and Real Betis (57) in sixth.
Barcelona winning the Champions League cannot change the LaLiga allocation. But if Athletic Club win the Europa League — they are in the semifinals — and finish fifth or sixth, then the top six will play in the Champions League next season.
Europa League (2)
As Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, the place for the cup transfers to the league — sixth and seventh will enter the Europa League. One place will go to Villarreal or Real Betis, but there’s a close race for seventh.
Celta Vigo (46) hold seventh now, followed by Osasuna (44), Rayo Vallecano (44), Mallorca (44, play their 34th game on Monday), Real Sociedad (43) and Valencia (42).
Real Betis are in the Conference League semifinals, with the competition earning a spot in the Europa League, but to impact the LaLiga allocation they would have to finish eighth or lower, which won’t happen.
Europa Conference League (1)
This will go to eighth place, held right now by Osasuna, with the same list of teams battling it out as noted in the Europa League section. There’s a small chance Getafe (39) or Espanyol (39) could push into contention.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
- 20. Real Valladolid (34, 16)
Real Valladolid (16) are down, and it then seems to be a battle between four clubs for the final two places. Leganés (31) and Las Palmas (32) are trying to fight their way out of trouble with Girona (35, play their 34th game on Monday) and Alavés (35) within range.
Sevilla (38) probably have enough of a buffer to avoid a shock relegation — but they do host Las Palmas on May 13, so a defeat would change the picture a little. It’s also Leganés vs. Las Palmas on the penultimate weekend.
Two of Elche, Levante and Racing Santander are in the driving seat in LaLiga2, though Real Oviedo or Mirandés could still break into the top two. A third team comes up through four-team playoffs.
Bundesliga
Last day: May 17
Title
Bayern Munich (76) won the title on May 4 when Bayer Leverkusen (68) failed to win away to Freiburg.
– Stream all Bundesliga games live on ESPN+ (US only)
Champions League (4)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Bayern Munich (32, 76)
- 2. Bayer Leverkusen (32, 68)
Bayern and Leverkusen have already secured their places, leaving two to play for in the final two gameweeks.
Eintracht Frankfurt (56) are in a very strong position, needing a maximum of two points to secure UCL football.
SC Freiburg (52) conceded in the fourth minute of stoppage time to draw at home to Leverkusen on Sunday, and while that took them back into fourth the two dropped points could prove crucial.
Borussia Dortmund (51) look menacing and are up to fifth after a 4-0 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday; RB Leipzig (50) are in touch after taking a late point against Bayern. Mainz (48) and Werder Bremen (47) are effectively out of it after drawing.
Europa League (2)
Only fifth place (Dortmund as it stands) will be in this competition, with the same clubs listed above in contention.
For the second successive season, the DFB Pokal (stream the final live on May 24 on ESPN+, U.S. only) sees a Bundesliga club take on a lower-league side. Last season, Leverkusen beat then-2. Bundesliga strugglers Kaiserslautern.
This time VfB Stuttgart will play Arminia Bielefeld, who incredibly are in the third division. The winners of the final will qualify for the Europa League.
Stuttgart are in 10th on 44 points and won’t finish in the top six, so there will be no transfer of the place to the league if they win the cup. If Arminia Bielefeld, who are second in the 3. Liga, produce a shock win in the final, they are set to play in the Europa League as a second- or third-division club
Conference League (1)
Sixth place (now RB Leipzig) will enter the Conference League playoff round. This is a place Mainz and Bremen have a more realistic chance of fighting for.
There is no route into Europe for seventh or eighth as there was last season.
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated automatically, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2. Bundesliga in a playoff.
Holstein Kiel (25) gave themselves a great chance of avoiding the automatic drop with victory at FC Augsburg on Sunday, leaving them a point behind 1. FC Heidenheim (26) who are in the playoff place.
Heidenheim and VfL Bochum (22), who can now finish no better than third-bottom and could be relegated next weekend, drew 0-0 on Friday.
It looks like a three-horse battle for the relegation places, with TSG Hoffenheim (31) and St Pauli (31) five points clear with two matches to play.
In 2. Bundesliga, FC Cologne and Hamburg are holding the top two places with SV 07 Elversberg in third and hoping to make a late challenge.
Serie A
Last day: May 25
Title
Internazionale (74) and Napoli (77) both won on Saturday as a tight title race continues; there are three rounds of games to be played.
Champions League (4)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Napoli (35, 77)
- 2. Inter Milan (35, 74)
Napoli and Inter have sealed their places, but the fight for the last spots is intense.
With three games to go, Atalanta (68) look strong in third with Juventus (63) in fourth, but there’s a chasing pack: AS Roma (63), Lazio (63), Bologna (62) and Fiorentina (59).
Fiorentina’s defeat at Roma on Sunday leaves their UCL hopes all but over.
There are some big head to heads coming up.
Sunday 11: Atalanta vs. Roma, Lazio vs. Juventus
May 18: Inter vs. Lazio
If Inter win the Champions League, there will be no impact on the Serie A places.
Europa League (2)
Fifth place (Roma as it stands) will play in the Europa League, which will also be a battle between the clubs listed above.
The Coppa Italia final sees Bologna play AC Milan on May 14 — 11 days before the league season finishes. Milan (54, play their 35th game on Monday) are ninth and struggling to qualify for Europe, six points behind sixth and seventh; winning the Coppa Italia could be their best hope.
Sixth place (now Lazio) in the league will earn a Europa League place if Bologna win the final and finish in the top five.
Fiorentina are in the Conference League semifinals with the winners getting a place in the Europa League. This could not benefit another Serie A club.
Conference League (1)
At present this goes to sixth (Lazio), subject to whether Bologna win the Coppa Italia and where they finish.
If Bologna lift the trophy and finish top six, seventh (Bologna) will be in the Conference League playoff round spot. If so, that actually gives AC Milan an outside chance if they can bridge the six-point gap.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
- 20. Monza (35, 15)
Monza (15) were relegated last weekend after they lost 2-0 at Juventus.
It’s a fierce battle for the last two spots between Empoli (25), Venezia (26) and Lecce (27).
In Serie B, Sassuolo and Pisa have been promoted. One of six clubs will also come up through the end-of-season playoffs. Spezia, Cremonese and Juve Stabia have booked their places.
Ligue 1
Last day: May 17
Title
Paris Saint-Germain (78) secured the title with ease on April 5.
Champions League (3+1)
France gets three automatic places, with fourth place entering the UCL in the third qualifying round.
CONFIRMED
- 1. Paris Saint-Germain (32, 78)
It’s a very, very close battle in France, with six clubs in realistic contention to play in the Champions League along with PSG. There are two rounds of games remaining.
Marseille (59) and AS Monaco (58) sit in the League Phase spots, with Nice (57) in the qualifying round place.
The trio are being hunted down by Lille (57) after they beat PSG on Saturday, plus Strasbourg (57) and Lyon (54).
Lyon suffered a home loss to Lens on Sunday, a huge blow which may have ended their chances.
Looking ahead, Lyon go to Monaco on Saturday in a huge UCL head-to-head clash, and it’s must-win for Lyon.
Europa League (2)
Fifth place (Lille now) will be in the Europa League.
However, if PSG win the Coupe de France final on May 24, the UEL place will pass to sixth (that’s Lille at the moment). PSG play Stade de Reims, who are 13th and will not finish in a domestic European place. If Reims win the cup, they will be in the Europa League.
Conference League (1)
At present, this goes to sixth (Strasbourg) and is a battle between the clubs listed.
If PSG take the Coupe de France, seventh will be in the Conference League playoff round — a position held by Lyon.
Relegation (2+1)
CONFIRMED
- 18. Montpellier (31, 16)
Montpellier (16) are already relegated, leaving one automatic and one playoff spot to be decided.
Saint-Etienne (27) are second bottom and appear doomed after Le Havre AC (31), who are in the playoff position, won at Auxerre on Sunday. Le Havre will hope to drag one of Nantes (32), Angers (33) or Reims (33) in the 16th place. Saint-Etienne go to Reims in the penultimate gameweek.
Third bottom will playoff against a Ligue 2 club, with the top two in that division up automatically. Lorient and Paris FC have secured promotion; with Metz in the playoff.
