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How European football's biggest leagues are shaping up

:Headline: How European football's biggest leagues are shaping up: ID:219834: from db_amp
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look across European football's biggest leagues to see how things are shaping up at both ends of the table.

The final month of the domestic league season is upon us, and there is still plenty to be decided at both ends of the table in each of Europe's five big leagues.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how things are shaping up in the Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 heading into the final weeks.


Bundesliga

Title chase

There may still be a month of the season left to play, but Bayern Munich have already wrapped things up in the German top flight. In truth, Pep Guardiola's men never looked likely to surrender the title that they have now won nine times since the turn of the century.

A slender 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin at the weekend took the Bavarians to the cusp of glory, but it was not until Wolfsburg fell to defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach the following day that their title joy was officially sealed.

Race for Champions League

That leaves two more spots up for grabs in the hunt for Champions League football next season, with Wolfsburg and Gladbach the two sides currently in the driving seat. The Wolves' defeat against their rivals at the weekend leaves them six points clear of Bayer Leverkusen in fourth, although there is still plenty of football to be played between now and the end of the season.

Wolfsburg have suffered a shaky spell of late, failing to win any of their last four games in all competitions, while Lucien Favre's charges have now gone 10 games unbeaten. Leverkusen's run of seven successive victories may have come to an end last time out, but they will feel confident that they can mount a charge to oust one of the two sides directly above them.

Battle for survival

While matters at the top end of the table look fairly straightforward, events at the bottom end are unfolding nicely. Just three points separate the bottom five sides, with seven points from the last 15 on offer giving basement club Stuttgart some hope. Hannover and Hamburger SV continue to struggle for form, meanwhile, to leave them in real danger of facing the drop.

Hamburg in particular have flirted with relegation too often in recent years and, while they managed to end a nine-game spell without a win last time out - a run which started with an 8-0 reverse at Bayern - the six-time Bundesliga winners are starting to look doomed. They will be relying on SC Paderborn failing to collect sufficient points in the closing weeks, while fellow strugglers Freiburg have shown some real battling qualities of late to maintain hope.


Serie A

Title chase

Bayern may have secured the title already, but Juventus have been made to wait for what seems like an inevitable outcome following their surprise 2-1 defeat at the home of rivals Torino.

That was just a third defeat of the campaign for the Old Lady, but they can cross the line by picking up maximum points in their midweek meeting with Fiorentina.

Race for Champions League

That effectively leaves closest challengers Lazio, Roma and Napoli battling it out for a place to complete in European football's elite club competition next season - and it is a race which should go right down to the wire. Rafael Benitez's Napoli can still make it into the competition via the back door should they win the Europa League, but with three games to navigate their best bet may well come domestically.

Three wins on the bounce makes the Partenopei real contenders to finish in the top three, even though they have some catching up to do. A final-day meeting against Lazio at their Stadio San Paulo home could prove pivotal, while Napoli must also take on Juventus in the toughest of the remaining fixtures left for all three sides.

Battle for survival

Parma may currently be one of the division's most in-form sides, having taken 10 points from the last 15 on offer, but a hefty points deduction has seen them consigned to football in the second tier of Italian football next season.

That news will provide a huge boost to Cesena and Cagliari Calcio, both of whom are still able to make up the gap on Atalanta BC in 17th place. That deficit currently stands at eight and seven points respectively, though, meaning that a real strong end to the season is needed. If recent form is anything to go by, then this is one relegation race that will not be going all the way.


La Liga

Title chase

This one is shaping up to be a real classic two-way showdown between European giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, although at this stage the Catalan club show no signs that they are ready to let their grip on the title loosen. A 2-2 draw at Sevilla aside, Barca have won each of their last eight league games to build up a two-point advantage at the top.

Real will know full well that their great rivals must still visit Atletico Madrid on the final day, however, meaning that the more pressure they put on the current leaders, the higher their chances of stealing the crown right at the very death. Both sides are on a collision course to meet in next month's Champions League final, also, so it really is win or bust time.

Race for Champions League

It may seem a little harsh discounting Atletico for the title - they are the Champions after all - yet it will take an almighty collapse from perennial title chasers Real and Barca for them to lift the trophy they won in superb fashion 12 months ago. A third-place finish would mark another good season for Diego Simeone's men, albeit one tinged with slight disappointment after their recent Euro exit at the hands of Los Blancos.

While their place in the top four is almost guaranteed, Valencia still have some work to do. It is turning into a real tussle between Los Che and Sevilla for a place among the big boys next term, although Unai Emery - a former manager of Valencia - must also keep his side focused on their Europa League final-four exploits.

Battle for survival

Cordoba have struggled all season, so it is perhaps not surprising to see them at the foot of the table and some 11 points from safety. With just three wins to their name, a return to the Segunda Division awaits barring a miraculous recovery.

Granada also appear to have left themselves with too much to do, while Eibar and Almeria continue to pick up points at a better rate than Deportivo La Coruna. Elsewhere, even David Moyes's Real Sociedad could still face the drop, although it is likely to be a four-team fight between Deportivo, Almeria, Eibar and Levante, with five key games to be played over the next few weeks.


Ligue 1

Title chase

Arguably the most exciting top tier on the continent, the Ligue 1 title race has swung one way and another countless times across the duration of the season. It is Lyon who currently occupy top spot, edging out Paris Saint-Germain by the virtue of a better goal difference. Even then, just four goals is what stands between them, while the sides could not be separated in either meeting this term.

PSG looked a real force in their 6-1 thrashing of Lille to move in on top spot, and claw their way ever closer to yet another league triumph. Of course, Lyon will have other ideas as they look to win each of their remaining matches, but the game in hand that Laurent Blanc's men still have left to play could decide which way this one swings.

Race for Champions League

Three draws in four games earlier this month saw AS Monaco slip off the pace somewhat and, while they can still make up the gap on their two title rivals, it is likely that they will have to settle for third place. The former big spenders can be happy with their exploits in Europe this season, and with just the league to focus on now, they should see off the challenge of Saint-Etienne.

Marseille also harbour realistic hopes of a top-three finish which will secure a qualification berth for the Champions League, while Bordeaux and Montpellier appear to be a little too far back. The onus is very much on Monaco to string together successive wins in the closing month, which is something they have not achieved since early March.

Battle for survival

Lens and Metz are as good as down on 26 and 30 points respectively, although Les Grenats will have different ideas after going three games without defeat to keep their hopes alive just a little. Lorient's 5-3 win over Marseille last time out moved them up to 38 points, meanwhile, which is the same tally boasted by Caen and Stade Reims whom they sandwich in the table.

Evian are still to face Caen and Reims in their final four games, however, which could essentially make this a playoff scenario to avoid relegation. Tolouse and Bastia are themselves not clear of danger, but they are unlikely to be dragged into the fight at the bottom.


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