Europe’s top five leagues are rapidly reaching the conclusion of their campaigns, as we head towards the final fixtures of the 2022/23 season.
There’s much to settle as we reach the run-in, with title winners, European qualifiers and relegation all to be determined in the season’s final weeks. While some divisions appear one-horse races in terms of the title, others could be set for a tense finish.
It’s been another fascinating season of action across Europe and we’ve decided to check in on the state of play across the continent.
Here is how the title picture stands in each of Europe’s top five leagues.
Premier League
For much of the season, Arsenal have appeared to be the frontrunners to claim the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta’s side having exceeded all expectations to challenge for the crown.
Arsenal have not finished inside the Premier League’s top four since 2015/16, but a season of remarkable progression has seen the north Londoners challenge Manchester City‘s dominance of the division.
However, a recent wobble has allowed City to take control of the title race with Pep Guardiola’s side a formidable team during the run-in. It’s nine consecutive Premier League wins for the Citizens, a run which included a 4-1 thrashing of their title rivals at the Etihad on April 26.
A further twist in the #PL title race ???? pic.twitter.com/ib8DD8zMIs
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2023
City are a point ahead of Arsenal at the top of the division as things stand, but boast a crucial game-in-hand on the Gunners. Guardiola’s side are red-hot favourites to win a fifth title in six seasons, as City chase history and a potential treble.
Arsenal did return to form after thrashing Chelsea in midweek, but face a tough trip to Newcastle this weekend and require City to drop points. On current form, another title party is expected at the Etihad.
Newcastle and Manchester United are the favourites to join Manchester City and Arsenal in next season’s Champions League, with United four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, and having played two games less.
Serie A
There is one almighty party being prepared in Naples this evening, with Napoli on the brink of a first league title in 33 years.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have been far and away the best team in Italian football this season and require just a point to be confirmed as champions, ahead of the club’s trip to face Udinese on Thursday evening.
Napoli opened the season with 13 wins and two draws from their opening 15 games, a run of results which opened up what has proven to be an unassailable lead. Spalletti’s side are 15 points clear of nearest challengers Lazio and have SIX games to earn the single point needed to win the Scudetto.
12,058 days since they last won Serie A, today could be the day for Napoli ???? pic.twitter.com/rjepCikzXo
— GOAL (@goal) May 4, 2023
Napoli’s last league title came in 1990 as Diego Maradona inspired the side to success, with Gli Azzurri having finished as runners-up on four occasions across the past decade. Their success has been inspired by the performances of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, who have earned cult status in Naples this season.
The real race in Serie A comes for Champions League qualification, with just six points separating Lazio in second from Roma in seventh. Juventus have seen their 15-point deduction for alleged financial breaches suspended, lifting the Turin side from eighth to third.
La Liga
Barcelona are closing in on the La Liga title and can be crowned champions for the first time since 2018/19 in the club’s next fixture.
Xavi’s side have been imperious for much of the season domestically and have conceded just 11 goals from their 33 league fixtures to date. The Catalans are 13 points clear of Atletico Madrid with five games remaining and can claim La Liga with a win in The Derbi Barceloní against city rivals Espanyol on Sunday.
Image: Updated La Liga table. Barça will have the chance to win the title next match. pic.twitter.com/qZVdQhLsnM
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) May 4, 2023
The title will end a wait for La Liga success for Barcelona, who have seen Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid share the title across the previous three campaigns.
Defending champions Real have endured a disappointing domestic campaign, but remain in contention for consecutive Champions League titles and will face Manchester City in the semi-finals later this month.
Real Sociedad – who beat Real Madrid 4-2 on Tuesday – are seven points clear of Villarreal in the race for the fourth Champions League place.
Bundesliga
The best title race across Europe’s top five leagues can be found in the Bundesliga, with just a point separating the top two heading into the final four fixtures.
Bayern Munich lead the division as the defending champions chase an 11th consecutive title, having capitalised on Borussia Dortmund’s draw at Bochum on Friday to move above Edin Terzić’s side.
Dortmund were the last team other than Bayern to win the title after the second of back-to-back triumphs under Jurgen Klopp in 2011/12 and have ended the season as runners-up in six of the last 10 campaigns.
Luvelay ✨ pic.twitter.com/DuiDIWApJz
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) April 25, 2023
Dortmund have the tougher run-in with three of their remaining four fixtures against teams in the top half, while Bayern face just one, RB Leipzig, in addition to fixtures with Werder Bremen, Schalke and Cologne.
Thomas Tuchel’s underwhelming start at Bayern Munich will offer encouragement however, with the former Chelsea boss having won just three of his eight games in charge. Named as Julian Nagelsmann’s replacement last month, he has since exited the DFB-Pokal and Champions League and lost to former side Mainz in the Bundesliga.
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain remain strong favourites to win a record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 crown this season, but a recent dip in form has offered the chasing pack encouragement.
Christophe Galtier’s side have lost six times since the turn of the new year and three of their last six Ligue 1 games, a run of results that has allowed Marseille to close the gap to five points. Lens are third and a further point back, ahead of a huge clash with Marseille this weekend that represents a must-win for either side’s outside chances of the title.
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— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 4, 2023
Marseille have lost just once since early February and will hope PSG’s recent wobble continues, but a straightforward-looking run-in means the leaders will be difficult to overhaul. Regardless of the title outcome, change is expected at PSG this summer following an early exit in the Champions League.
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