With just two games to go until the curtains come down on a thrilling season here’s the penultimate run down on those likely to be getting a standing ovation and those rapidly exiting stage left.
Division 1
Thursdays victory in the “clash of the titans’ saw Barca come out on top in their game with Bayern, taking all 3pts and with it the title for the 2nd season in a row.
In the race for the SMFA Cup places a defeat for Dortmund (61pts) would see Real (64pts) book their spot with a draw and Juve (63pts) do likewise with a victory, both would also qualify if the Germans draw and they both win.
Liverpools hopes are now slim and would vanish if they fail to win their game against Juve.
Dortmund are assured of at least SMFA Shield football next season, as too are Liverpool (57pts), Lazio (53pts) need only a draw on Sunday whilst PSG (51pts) need a win to confirm their place, wins too for Arsenal (50pts) and Napoli (50pts) could be enough if Valencia (47pts)lose.
The final qualifications for these two competitions won’t however be finalised until the outcomes of this season comps are known with additional places likely to be allocated.
The battle to avoid joining Fiorentina and Leverkusen in the drop intensified with Man Utd picking up a valuable win and leap frogging Fenerbahce courtesy of goal difference.
With a goal difference of 3 being all that separates Fenerbahce, Man Utd and Schalke who all have 35pts none can be confirmed as relegated on Sunday.
Atletico sit above these three with 36pts then come Man City on 37pts who finally escaped the bottom four after their win on Thursday.
Victories for these two combined with defeat for any two of that trio of clubs on 35pts will see them safe.
The key games at the top look to be Liverpool-Juventus and Dortmund-Napoli, whilst every game involving the bottom 7 are critical.
Week 37 Fixtures
Real v Lazio
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
Liverpool v Juventus
Dortmund v Napoli
Man Utd v Arsenal
Fiorentina v Schalke
Man City v Leverkusen
Bayern v Porto
PSG v Barcelona
Atletico v Valencia
Division 2
Both Milan and Spurs confirmed promotion back to Div 1 on Thursday, each have 70pts and are separated by 2 goals difference so neither will be crowned Champions this Sunday.
Monchengladbach (67pts) are still in the frame for the title but need a defeat for from both Milan and Spurs in the final 2 games whilst they need two victories.
Roma (61pts) hopes of automatic all but died with that draw with Milan on Thursday, they are however guaranteed a play-off spot.
A win for Ajax (58pts) or defeat for Sevilla will see the Dutch side book their place too, Zenit (56pts) could also join them if they beat Sevilla and Spartak fail to win.
Shaktar (55pts) need a win and for Sevilla and Spartak to lose for them to join the play-off party. For Sevilla (54pts) and Shakthar (55pts), Newcastle (51pts) wins are essential for them to stay in the hunt come the final day.
With Basel and Sporting already gone the two other clubs joining them could be decided this Sunday.
Loko (34pts) in truth are already there due to goal difference whilst Boca (35pts) have a very slim chance of avoiding the drop.
Lyon (40pts) need a win from their remaining games to assure their survival whilst a point would see Loko confirmed as relegated and all but send down Boca on goal difference.
Boca (41pts) need 1pt to confirm their Div 2 status for next season.
Key games at the top which effect both teams involved are those at Monchengladbach, Zenit and Roma whilst down at the bottom every game involving the relegation candidates is now crucial.
Week 37 Fixtures
Lyon v Milan
Shakhtar v Boca
Sporting v Spartak
Benfica v Ajax
Everton v CSKA
Loko v Basel
Wolfsburg v Inter
M’gladbach v Newcastle
Zenit v Sevilla
Roma v Spurs
Division 3
Villa (68pts) missed out confirming their promotion on Thursday with a defeat to form side Monaco, a draw on Sunday against Palace will see them over the line, the title could be theirs too with that result if both Genoa and Internacional who are both on 63pts fail to win.
A win for Genoa at home to Leicester will see them promoted if PSV lose at home to Monaco, that would also be good enough to see Internacional go up too if they beat Swansea at home.
Leicester (62pts) would go above Genoa with victory in their clash as would PSV (62pts) if they also win. Wins or draws for these two would ensure the promotion race is taken all the way to wire.
Southampton (55pts) head a posse of clubs trying to take the last two available play-off places, Marseille (54pts), Besiktas (54pts), Cruseiro (53pts), Athletic Club (51pts) and Sunderland (49pts).
The Saints could book their place with a win over Sunderland if other results go their way but it is likely that the play-off spots won’t be finalised until the last game of the season.
At the foot of the table the battle to avoid joining Bordeaux and St Etienne in Div 4 next season is still raging.
Hoffenheim (37pts) look favourites to go down and defeat at Galatasaray would confirm it.
Above them Stoke, Swansea and Udinese all on 21pts are separated by goal difference which may be crucial come the last day.
Monaco (43pts) after a massive run of form are still not out of danger whilst Palace (45pts) too are still looking over their shoulder.
Galatasaray (47pts) could theoretically be caught on points but goal difference make them assured of survival.
The game of the day at the top has to be Genoa-Leicester whilst other stand out fixtures effecting both ends of the table include Internacional-Swansea and PSV-Monaco, Stokes trip to St Etienne is the pick of the clashes at the bottom.
Week 37 Fixtures
Galatasaray v Hoffenheim
Internacional v Swansea
Udinese v Cruzeiro
Genoa v Leicester
Bordeaux v Besiktas
Villa v Palace
PSV v Monaco
Southampton v Sunderland
St Etienne v Stoke
Marseille v Athletic Club
Division 4
Villarreal (60pts) continue to stutter towards promotion with four draws on the bounce, however another similar result on Sunday would be enough to see them over the line and victory would see them take the title.
Sao Paulo too have had a run of bad form and are joined on 56pts by Hamburg, both would need to win and see all four clubs in the play-off places lose for them to gain promotion this weekend.
Whilst both are undoubtedly focussed on gaining automatic promotion neither are yet assured a play-off place and however a win this Sunday would at least book their places.
Feyenoord and Stuttgart follow closely on 54pts with Chievo and West Ham completing the current clubs in the play-off places both on 53pts, all are poised to take advantage of any slips by the clubs above them.
All of these clubs could confirm at least a play-off spot with a win and defeats for Sampdoria and Lille.
Sampdoria (52pts), Lille (51pts), Hellas (49pts) and Sassuolo (49pts) all have a chance of making the play-off mix up but will be relying on those above them to falter.
In the basement battle to avoid joining Malaga in Div 5 next season both Torino and Dynamo currently on 40pts could be relegated with defeat on Sunday, AZ too could face the drop if they fail to beat Sampdoria and Koln are victorious at West Ham.
Koln (44pts), Dnipro (45pts) and River Plate (45pts) could all be dragged into the bottom four if they lose and AZ win, however defeat for AZ and a victory for Koln would see them safe whilst Dnipro and River Plate would need just a draw.
Atalanta (46pts) and Montpellier (46pts) need a win on Sunday to confirm their Div 4 status next season or defeat for AZ.
Pick of the games at the top must be Villarreal-Hamburg whilst at the bottom all eyes will be on AZ’s trip to Sampdoria, Chievo’s trip to Dynamo and Feyenoord-Torino too will have a big say at both ends of the table.
Week 37 Fixtures
West Ham v Koln
Malaga v Stuttgart
Villarreal v Hamburg
Feyenoord v Torino
River Plate v Montpellier
Sampdoria v AZ
Atalanta v Sao Paulo
Dnipro v Lille
Sassuolo v Hellas
Dynamo v Chievo
Division 5
Kyiv (72pts) displaced Olympiacos (71pts) at the head of the table and having already guaranteed promotion these two face off this Sunday, victory for Kyiv will see them crowned Champions.
Liege (59pts) currently sit in the final automatic promotion spot, victory against West Brom and defeat for Brugge at home to Santos would see them confirm promotion.
Brugge (57pts) need a win on Sunday to maintain their promotion chances whilst Celtic (55pts) would see their hopes dashed with defeat at home to Twente or a win for Liege, likewise for Flamengo (53pts) who host Celta Vigo and Hertha (53pts) who host Rubin Kazan.
Brugge need a point to assure their play-off place whilst Celtic would book theirs with a win. If both Santos and Zagreb lose a draw for Flamengo would be enough to see them confirm their place whilst Hertha would need to win to join them.
Santos (51pts), Zagreb (51pts) and Celta Vigo (50pts) will be looking to benefit from any slip ups from those above them whilst Rubin Kazan (49pts), Bremen (48pts) and Espanyol (48pts) have an outside chance of still making the play-offs.
At the foot of the table Augsburg are assured the wooden spoon for the second season in a row.
Pick of the games this Sunday has to be Olympiacos-Kyiv whilst the matches at Celtic, Brugge, Hertha, Flamengo and Liege will shape the promotion picture for the final game of the season.
Week 37 Fixtures
Celtic v Twente
Brugge v Santos
Zagreb v Independiente
Augsburg v Anderlecht
Olympiacos v Kyiv
Levante v Bremen
Hertha v Rubin Kazan
Partizan v Espanyol
Flamengo v Celta Vigo
Liege v West Brom
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