Match Day 37 Preview

With 2 games still to go it is a credit to the quality of the managers we have here and a measure of how competitive T100 is as a league that so much in the way of ups and downs are still to be decided.

Continuing the recent running commentary on the possible movers, shakers and heart breakers here’s another potted update after Match Day 36.

  

Division 1

Barca finally sealed the title with a win over Juve, after a few hiccups in recent weeks, it’s testament to the quality of the T100 league that despite their amazing unbeaten run they were still pushed all the way to 2 games from the end of the season by Bayern and Real.

Barca, Bayern and Real still wait to see who will join them in the Champions Cup next season, Man U fell out of the chase going down 0-1 to Chelsea whilst Juve’s 0-3 loss to Barca saw Porto marginally gain ground after drawing 1-1 with Lazio. With 2 to play Juve have a 3pt advantage and a better goal difference by 5.

With Man U and Chelsea assured of being in the Champions Shield next season with either Juve or Porto the final 2 places are still up for grabs.

Whilst Arsenal realistically only need a point due to their superior goal difference any from Arsenal, Atletico Fenerbahce, Fiorentina or Man C could join them.

At the foot of the table there are still 3 places undecided as to who will join Sevilla in Div 2 next season. Lazio, Leverkusen, Liverpool need just 3 pts to secure their futures in the top flight, Valencia need a point though their goal difference sees them all but safe as is.

Inter, AC and Lyon must now win their remaining games and hope results above them go their way.

A critical game this weekend being Lazio v Inter, a win for the home club would assure their safety whilst relegating both Inter and Lyon

Division 2

With Dortmund, Napoli and Schalke already promoted the title is still to be decided with all 3 clubs still in with a shout though this could be resolved this Sunday if Dortmund manage to beat Napoli at home.

The play-off spots are still wide open. A win for Wolfsburg would book their place with PSG, Roma, Everton, Newcastle and Spartak all having a realistic chance of qualifying.

Both Tottenham and Monchengladbach still have an outside chance but will need to win both their remaining games and rely on slip ups above them.

At the bottom Galatasaray slipped through the trap door after defeat to Wolfsburg on Thursday and join Athletic in Div 3 next season.

Sunderland will join them if they fail to win their remaining 2 games or both Sporting and Boca get a point from their last 2 fixtures.

St-Etienne must also win their outstanding games but even that won’t be enough if Boca and Sporting register a win a piece in theirs.

Division 3

Promotion issues are still undecided with Basel, CSKA, Ajax, Villa, Marseille and Leicester all capable of getting one of the automatic places.

Basel and CSKA could both secure promotion if they win and Ajax and Villa fail to secure 3 points. Additionally if CSKA lose and Basel win that would also promote the Swiss club.

A crunch fixture this Sunday being CSKA v Leicester, a win for the Russians would realistically end Leicester’s hopes of an automatic promotion spot.

Basel, CSKA, Ajax and Villa are all assured of at least a play-off place with Marseille, Leicester, PSV, Shakhtar, Bordeaux and Stoke all in the hunt. Cruzeiro and Besiktas both have a mathematical, if somewhat improbable, chance.

Sampdorias draw with Cruzeiro last Thursday saw them relegated and Sassuolo will join them on Sunday if they fail to win or Hamburg bag 3 points and Hoffenheim get at least a draw.

A draw for Hoffenheim would also relegate Lille ion Sunday f they lose, a Hoffenheim win would relegate the French club if they fail to win.

Monaco are still in trouble and their French derby at home to Lille will be a crucial one in determining both clubs fates.

Palace eased their position with a win over Besiktas last Thursday, a win away to Sassuolo on Sunday would all but guarantee survival whilst condemning the Italian club to a return to Div 4.

Division 4

Very similar to the situation at the top to Div 3 with Southampton, Genoa, Internacional and Malaga all in the mix for automatic promotion with Torino and Atalanta still with an outside chance.

Southampton are promoted if they win and from Genoa Internacional or Malaga lose.

A key fixture at the top this Sunday being Atalanta v Internacional, the home clubs slim chance of an automatic spot would end if they fail to record a victory.

Southampton, Genoa, Internacional and Malaga are all assured of at least a play-off berth. Torino and Atalanta both need one more win to book their places with Udinese, AZ, Dynamo, Dnipro and Cologne all having a realistic chance of still of joining them, whilst West Ham and River Plate both have a slim mathematical chance of joining the party.

Levante’s draw with Dnipro on Thursday saw them condemned to Div 5 and a loss on Sunday for Celta Vigo will see them relegated too.

West Brom are down if they lose and Espanyol get at least a point, a draw for the English club wouldn’t be enough if Espanyol win and Chievo gain a point.

Hellas could also be relegated if they lose and Espanyol, Chievo and Montpellier all win.

The crunch game at the bottom this Sunday being West Brom v Hellas, a must win for both clubs.

Division 5

Most issues are resolved with Villareal confirmed as Champions after their victory over Augsberg on Thursday, Stuttgart made sure they would join the Spaniards and Feyenoord in Div 4 next season gaining a point against Sao Paulo.

Hertha, Santos, Celtic and Sao Paulo have all booked their places in the play-offs with only their final positions to be determined to decide the play-off fixtures.

At the bottom defeat for Augsberg will assure them of finishing bottom whilst Twente and Bremen are still neck and neck to avoid finishing second bottom with Partizan still not mathematically safe of avoiding being overhauled.