It's May. For most leagues in Europe, it's the final month of competitive football and with lots at stake, the drama mostly heightens.
These are what lies ahead for two of the most monitored European leagues.
England:
Title: Manchester United has officially been crowned as the Premier League winners, in what turned out to be Sir Alex Ferguson's final season as their manager.
Confirmed for European Play: Manchester United and Manchester City (Champions League); Swansea City and Wigan Athletic (Europa League); Chelsea and Arsenal (Champions League or Europa League)
Edin Dzeko locked up Champions League football with the lone goal of the match during the week, which means that relegation-threatened Wigan got themselves access to continental football via participating in the FA Cup Final.
Tottenham needs just one point from its remaining two matches (at Stoke and Sunderland) to assure themselves of European football next season, or for Everton to slip up either at home against West Ham or on the road against Chelsea to assure themselves of European football.
Of course, Spurs would want to play Champions League football. After all, they were denied that privilege with Chelsea's title run last year. They trail the crew of Rafa Benitez by three points and Arsenal by a point. The Blues finish on the road against Aston Villa and at home against Everton, while the Gunners host Wigan Athletic and visit Newcastle.
The difference between finishing third and fourth in the Premiership lies with the latter having to play in the Champions League qualifiers instead of the group stage that the former is secured with.
Confirmed for Relegation: Queens Park Rangers and Reading
Currently holding the distinction of the third team to be relegated is Wigan, who trail Sunderland, Norwich and Newcastle by three points. The Latics of Roberto Martinez will travel to Arsenal before hosting Aston Villa to end the season. 11th-place Stoke can officially escape relegation with a point either at home vs Tottenham or at Southampton. Fulham (Liverpool, at Swansea City), Aston Villa (Chelsea, at Wigan) and Southampton (at Sunderland, Stoke) will secure retention with one more win this season.
Spain:
Title: None official yet.
Barcelona can win La Liga if they can win one of their final four matches (at Atletico Madrid, Valladolid, at Espanyol, and Malaga) or if Real Madrid is unable to secure a win in any of their remaining matches (at Espanyol, at Real Sociedad, Osasuna)
Confirmed for European Play: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
The last Champions League slot available is up for grabs. Real Sociedad is in the driver's seat with 58 points, followed by Valencia two points back. Malaga is three points behind Valencia, but UEFA has handed the team with a one-year suspension from continental competition due to financial issues. Valencia and Malaga are currently holding the Europa League slots as the 5th and 6th place teams.
With both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid disputing the Copa del Rey, it opened up an additional slot for a Spanish team in the Europa League. Real Betis is currently holding it with 49 points, with Getafe, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano in striking distance with four matches remaining.
Confirmed for Relegation: None official yet.
Six points separate 15th-place Granada from last place Mallorca with four matches remaining (save for Celta Vigo, who have three matches remaining). Real Zaragoza is barely above relegation, just one point ahead of 18th place Deportivo.
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