D3 Promotion Push

The top half of D3 with five games to go:

With 60 points needed to be sure of a playoff place, the current top four look sure to have that covered.

Zagreb looked to be running away with it at the halfway stage, but have taken just 20 points form 14 games since. They seem to have recovered their form in time to get them over the finishing line and a return to D2. (Zagreb were relegated from D2 in the unluckiest fashion possible – equal on points, goal difference and goals scored with River Plate.)

Swansea have managed 26 points from 14 games since half-time in the season, and they are currently the team in form. If they can win all five remaining games they might just beat Zagreb to the title….

71 points would usually guarantee promotion, so it’s likely to be between “D1 team” Inter and my Hamburger. The two teams meet at the Volksparkstadion in the penultimate game of the season. Both were on 33 points after 19 games, so Inter may just have the slight edge. They certainly have more quality, and more first team depth.

Palace are on a terrible run of form at the moment. If they can turn it around and win promotion, it would be the first time in the club’s history that they have reached D2.

West Ham are also seeking promotion to D2 for the first time.

Flamengo suffered back-to-back relegations from D2 to D4, and are now trying to win back-to-back promotions to return to D2 under new boss Carl Martin.

Of the chasing pack, Malaga are behind Flamengo only on goal difference. This is their first ever season in D3.

Spurs and Sunderland might have a chance of the playoffs if Palace can’t recover their form. Of the two, the Black Cats seem to be in the best form in the second half of the season to take advantage.