Match Day 35 Preview

With only four games to go and clubs rapidly running out of runway after Thursdays fixtures here’s the update on the likely crash landers and those joining the mile high club.

Both Barca (93pts) and Bayern (88pts) won again this Thursday leaving the Spaniards 5pt lead over the Germans in the battle for the title in tact, Bayern will be looking to their future clash on MD 36 knowing that victory is a must and hope that either Man City, PSG or Atletico can take points in Barcas other remaining fixtures.

In the battle to join these two in the SMFA Champions Cup Real stumbled with defeat away to Napoli, the Spaniards being joined on 60pts by Juve with Dortmund on 58pts after their win over Leverkusen then Liverpool on 55pts after their surprise defeat at Schalke.

Dortmund are assured at least an SMFA Shield spot with Liverpool all but guaranteed a place too, Lazio (50pts), Arsenal (49pts), Napoli (49pts) and PSG (48pts) currently sit in the other places with a comfortable gap to 11^th placed Valencia (44pts).

Whilst additional Cup and Shield spots may arise from the outcomes of this seasons competitions the only other club guaranteed a spot is Porto after their T100 Shield victory.

At the bottom defeat for Fiorentina (18pts) to Barcelona condemned them to Div 2 football next season, Leverkusens (21pts) failure to pick up points against Dortmund mean that a similar fate awaits them if they lose to Man Utd on Sunday or, due to their much poorer goal difference, Fenerbahce or Schalke pick up a point.

Man Utd (29pts) despite defeat at Porto on Thursday are far from down and will be hoping for 3pts at home to fellow strugglers Leverkusen on Sunday to gain ground on the teams above them.

Fenerbahce (32pts) have slipped into the bottom four by nature of an inferior goal difference to Schalke, which could be crucial come the final game. The Turks off the back of a defeat to Arsenal host an in form Napoli side whilst the Germans follow up a surprise victory over Liverpool with a tough trip to their fellow countrymen Dortmund.

Then come Man City (34pts) who gained a vital point at Valencia on Thursday, they have the unenviable task of taking on Barca at the Ethiad whilst the last of those realistically in danger Atletico (36pts) are away to a PSG side currently struggling for form.

Whilst all games at this stage are crucial the stand out fixture at the top has to be Juves visit to Real whilst at the bottom the Man Utd, Leverkusen clash is a must win game for both clubs.

Chelsea           v          Lazio

Real Madrid   v          Juventus

Fenerbahce    v          Napoli

Liverpool        v          Arsenal

Dortmund      v          Schalke

Man Utd         v          Leverkusen

Fiorentina      v          Porto

Man City         v          Barcelona

Bayern            v          Valencia

PSG                 v          Atletico

None of the protagonists currently in the automatic promotion spots managed a win between them in their Thursday fixtures with Milan (68pts) drawing at home to Zenit whilst Monchengladbach (64pts) went down away at Roma and Spurs (64pts) lost at the Lane to Wolfsburg.

All are still favourites to go up, for Milan realistically a draw away to Boca on Sunday will see their return to the top flight by virtue of their superior goal difference to Roma who are the only club outside the top three that could possibly catch them. Monchengladbachs game with Spurs would see a victor with the opportunity of gaining promotion on MD 36 whilst a loser would still have clear daylight between them and 4^th place.

That spot is currently occupied by Roma (57pts) whose victory over Spurs saw them leap frog over Zenit (56pts) after their draw in Milan, these two face each other on Sunday in a game which will end any outside hopes of automatic promotion for one if not both clubs, though both appear assured of a play-off place.

Ajax (55pts) currently sit in 6^th and look comfortable play-off candidates after their win at home to Lyon and sit ahead of Shakthar (51pts) who drew at CSKA in the Thursday games. These two go head to head on Sunday and whilst the Dutch club would not lose their current position with a defeat the Ukranians would likely slip out of the play-off spots if they fail to take all 3 points.

Sevilla (51pts) will be looking to follow up their victory against Loko and capitalise on any slip up by Shakthar with a result away to Wolfsburg. Spartak (49pts) visit Lyon and will look to continue the form that saw off Boca in their Thursday fixture.

Internazionale (48pts) went ahead of Newcastle on goal difference courtesy of home win against Benfica whilst the Toon went down at home to Everton, this Sunday it is the turn of the Brazilians to face Everton at home whilst the Geordies travel to Loko.

Everton and Wolfsburg both on 45pts have an outside chance of making the play-offs but will need to win all their remaining games and hope for a collapse from the group of clubs above them.

At the foot of the table Sporting (29pts) gave their faint survival hopes a boost with victory against fellow relegation strugglers Basel (31pts), the Portuguese side will hope for more of the same at home to CSKA on Sunday whilst their Swiss counterparts will need to reverse their fortunes at Benfica.

Boca (33pts) sit below Loko in the bottom four slots by a margin of -1 goal difference after their defeats on Thursday and both have tough home fixtures previously covered to look forward to on Sunday.

Benfica (38pts) slipped to 16^th below CSKA and Lyon both on 39pts after their results and all need a result on Thursday to ease the relegation threat.

The Monchengladbach-Spurs clash is the stand out fixture at the top whilst Zenit-Roma and Shakhtar-Ajax will also have a big impact for the clubs chasing the play-offs, meanwhile Milans visit to Boca will influence the picture at both ends of the table. 

At the bottom all eyes will be on Benfica v Basel, victory for Benfica will relegate their opponents and all but condemn Sporting regardless of their result due to their inferior goal difference.

Boca                v          Milan

Lyon               v          Spartak

Shakhtar        v          Ajax

Sporting         v          CSKA

Benfica           v          Basel

Everton          v          Internazionale

Loko               v          Newcastle

Wolfsburg      v          Sevilla

M’gladbach    v          Spurs

Zenit               v          Roma

Villas (67pts) victory at Stoke on Thursday sees them within touching distance of promotion, victory at home to Sunderland on Sunday and Leicester failing to win at Internacional would confirm it.

Whilst Villa appear to be Champions elect a victory would also confirm them as title winners if Genoa (60pts) suffer a home defeat to Palace and Internacional (60pts) lose in the previously mentioned fixture with Leicester. Wins however assure the pair of at least a play-off spot.

Leicester (58pts) will take over the third automatic promotion spot with a win in that game at Internacional and would assure them of a play-off spot if Cruzeiro fail to win.

PSV (56pts) host Stoke and will be looking to gain ground should any of those above them slip up with Besiktas and Athletic Club both on 51pts looking to do likewise with fixtures away to Udinese and Southampton respectively.

Cruzeiro (50pts) who travel to Galatasaray could rise into the play-off places with a win if either Athletic Club or Besiktas fail to gain all 3pts. Wins for Southampton (49pts) at home to Athletic Club, Marseille (48pts) at St Etienne and Sunderland (48pts) at Villa are all vital to keep their respective challnges for the play-offs.

Galatasary (46pts) still aren’t out of the frame but will see their game with Cruzeiro as a must win to maintain any hopes.

After defeat to Udinese on Thursday Palace (44pts) realistically are now out of the picture.

At the bottom Bordeaux (23pts) may be down but they are still fighting with victory away at Sunderland on Thursday. Fellow French strugglers St Etienne (29pts) also recorded a vital win away to Hoffenheim which maintains their slim hopes of survival, this Sunday they host countrymen Marseille in a game they cannot afford to lose or the result at Swansea will send them down.

Above them are three clubs on 37pts, Swansea, Udinese and Hoffenheim, whilst Udinese host Besiktas, Swansea welcome Hoffenheim to the Liberty Stadium where as previously mentioned any result here will condemn St Etienne if they fail to win by virtue of the massively inferior goal difference.

Monaco (39pts) will be looking to keep their excellent run of form going away to relegated Bordeaux whilst Stoke (41pts) will be hoping to get something from their trip to PSV to ease the chances of them being dragged closer to the drop zone.

The top pick of games in the promotion battle looks to be Leicesters trip to Internacional whith the key battle at the bottom being Swansea-Hoffenheim.

Swansea         v          Hoffenheim

Galatasaray    v          Cruzeiro

Internacional v          Leicester

Udinese          v          Besiktas

Genoa             v          Palace

Bordeaux       v          Monaco

Villa               v          Sunderland

PSV                v          Stoke

Southampton  v          Athletic Club

St Etienne      v          Marseille

If anything things are getting even tighter in what has to be one of the most closely contested and exciting Divisions there is likely to be for some time.

Villarreal (58pts) continue to stutter at the top with a draw away to AZ that saw their lead cut by West Ham (53pts) whose win at Torino took them to 2^nd above Sao Paulo (52pts) who drew at home to Feyenoord.

The Yellow Submarine could all but confirm promotion due to goal difference with a win at home to Montpellier and if there are losses for both Feyenoord and Sampdoria. The Hammers host Hamburg whilst The Spoon Army travel to River Plate.

Feyenoord (52pts) dropped outside the top three on goal difference after their result on Thursday and will be hoping for a home victory against AZ to get back in automatic spots.

Sampdoria (51pts) gained ground with their win at Hellas Verona and will look to continue that run at home to Lille. Hamburg (50pts) also kept the pressure up with victory over fellow German side Stuttgart and now have tricky trip to the London Stadium on Sunday.

Chievo Verona (49pts) complete the teams currently in the play-off spots and they will be looking to get back to winning ways in their visit to Dnipro.

Stuttgart (48pts) dropped to 8^th after defeat to Hamburg and face yet another German side when Koln come visiting. Lille (47pts) have that trip to Sampdoria whilst Sassuolo (46pts) will look to continue their current good run at home to Dynamo Moscow.

Hellas Verona and River Plate both on 45pts, the former have a trip to draw specialists Atalanta whilst River Plate host Sao Paulo.

Then there are four clubs on 44pts, Montpellier, Atalanta, Koln and Dnipro in 16^th and a mere 5pts off the play-offs.

Looking the other way at the foot of the table Malaga (34pts), Torino (36pts) and Dynamo Moscow (37pts) all failed to gain any points on Thursday and whilst AZ (38pts) did pick up a point at home to Villarreal the bottom four are now adrift of Dnipro in 16^th by 6pts.

Malaga face Torino which will surely condemn one if not both teams to the drop,

Whilst Dynamo have a trip to Sasuolo , AZ face Feyenoord and Dnipro host Chievo.

The tussle that catches the eye at the top is Hamburgs trip to West Ham whilst at the bottom it has to be Malaga-Torino, anything other than victory for the Anchovies sees them relegated.

Stuttgart          v          Koln

West Ham       v          Hamburg

Malaga            v          Torino

Villarreal        v          Montpellier

Feyenoord      v          AZ

River Plate     v          Sao Paulo

Sampdoria      v          Lille

Atalanta          v          Hellas Verona

Dnipro            v          Chievo Verona

Sassuolo         v          Dynamo Moscow

Despite neither side being victorious this Thursday both Kyiv and Olympiacos managed to seal promotion thanks to Flamengo going down at Twente. Both clubs have 68pts as they now battle for the title, this Sunday Kyiv travel to Zagreb whilst The Legend host Rubin Kazan.

In the battle for the final promotion place Liege (56ts) have a 2pt lead over Flamengo (54pts) and face each other this Sunday in what will be a crucial game at the top.

Brugge (54pts) and Celtic (51pts) are the other two realistically challenging for the final automatic spot, the Belgiums host countrymen Anderlecht whilst the Scots host Independiente.

Celta Vigo (49pts) pushed their way into the play-off spots with victory over Levante, this being at the expense of Zagreb (49pts) who could only manage a draw at Bremen and now trail on goal difference.

Santos and Hertha both sit in contention on 47pts with the Brazilians hosting Twente whilst the Germans host Celta Vigo.

Rubin Kazan (46pts) and Espanyol (45pts) are probably the last of the outsiders with a realistic chance of challenging, Kazan must see off Olympiacos whilst the Spaniards have a short trip to Levante

At the bottom it now looks a straight fight between Augsburg (27pts) and West Brom (29pts), Augsburg host Bremen whilst West Brom travel to Partizan.

Flamengo-Liege heads the top of the table clash to watch whilst the games at Augsburg and Partizan may see a change at the bottom.

Santos             v          Twente

Celtic               v          Independiente

Brugge            v          Anderlecht

Zagreb             v          Kyiv

Augsburg       v          Bremen

Olympiacos    v          Rubin Kazan

Levante          v          Espanyol

Hertha            v          Celta Vigo

Partizan          v          West Brom

Flamengo       v          Liege