The state of the leagues: Final month of football action across top-flight competitions

It is now just weeks away from the conclusion of the 2024/25 football season in all of the top leagues, but while some contests have been settled, there is still a lot to be determined in what is going to be an exciting month of football. SuperSport.com takes stock of the current state of the Betway Premiership, Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A as teams look to secure titles, qualify for continental competition and escape relegation.

Betway Premiership (South Africa)

Almost over the line: Mamelodi Sundowns moved to within one point of yet another league title with their 3-0 victory over fourth-placed Stellenbosch at Atteridgeville. Indeed, it would take a major calamity for them not to be crowned champions, as they would have to lose their last two games, while second-placed Orlando Pirates would have to win their five remaining matches, and then there would need to be a swing of around 25 goals.

 Mathematically possible but, in reality, a long shot. Sundowns could be 100 per cent sure of their eighth successive title on Tuesday without kicking a ball if Pirates are still suffering a cup final defeat hangover and fail to beat Lamontville Golden Arrows in a catch-up Betway Premiership fixture at the Orlando Stadium. If Pirates do win, however, then Sundowns would have to wait until Wednesday, when they have the opportunity to make sure of the title away against Chippa United.

Race for third place: A spot in the African Confederation Cup is guaranteed for the third-placed side on the log, and Sekhukhune United are in pole position in a race with Stellenbosch that will be settled over the league season’s final two match days this coming Saturday (May 17) and then on Saturday, May 24.

Sekhukhune have a one-point advantage over Stellenbosch, who reached the last four of this season’s Confederation Cup in their debut appearance in continental club competition. Sekhukhune are looking for a third successive appearance in the Confederation Cup and have it in their own hands, needing to win over Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane on Saturday and then beat Golden Arrows away on May 24. Stellenbosch have relegation-threatened SuperSport United at home this Saturday and end their campaign away with a derby game at Cape Town City, who will also be desperately looking for points.

Relegation: Cape Town City look set to end in 15th place and will be forced to compete in the post-season promotion-relegation playoffs. They are three points adrift of 13th-placed SuperSport and 14th-placed Golden Arrows and must effectively win their last two matches away at Polokwane City and then finish the campaign with a match against bogey team Stellenbosch.

 Arrows and SuperSport both have two games in hand over City, who have not won in their past 14 outings. Also not out of danger are Magesi and Richards Bay, but both need one point to ensure safety. Royal AM’s expulsion means they drop out of the league and are automatically relegated.

Premier League (England)

Liverpool celebrations: Liverpool’s second game since being crowned champions proved a disappointment for the home crowd at Anfield as Arsenal fought back to hold them to a 2-2 draw. Arne Slot’s side were ruthless in the first half but let it slip after the break as the Gunners fought back. The new champions’ victory lap is not going to plan after having lost to Chelsea in their match before Arsenal. They will have two more guards of honour when they go to Brighton next Monday and then get to lift the trophy at home after their last match against Crystal Palace.

European competition race: Only champions Liverpool are guaranteed a top-five finish, while the race to secure the other four remaining places is wide open, with six teams vying to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. Second-placed Arsenal had looked to be in the strongest position, but a run of one win in six matches means they are now looking over their shoulder, needing another two points to guarantee a top-five finish.

Similarly, Manchester City were on a good run of four straight wins before a surprise 0-0 draw at bottom club Southampton on Saturday left them vulnerable to the chasing teams below them. That allowed Newcastle to move above Man City into third when they beat 10-man Chelsea 1-0 on Sunday.

That result gave Nottingham Forest the chance to go fifth above Chelsea if they could beat Leicester City. But Forest’s dip in form continued as they conceded a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Leicester and now have only one win in six matches as they sit seventh. The Forest draw means Aston Villa stay sixth, level on 63 points with Chelsea, after winning six of their last seven matches. Villa will hope to continue that form in their final two matches against Europa League finalists Man Utd and Spurs and profit from the teams above them dropping points.

More places in Europe: English football receives two Europa League places with one traditionally awarded to the fifth-placed finisher in the Premier League, but this season it will go to the sixth-placed team because England has received an additional fifth Champions League spot. The other Europa League place goes to the winners of the FA Cup. Crystal Palace face Man City in the final at Wembley on Saturday.

The winners of the League Cup qualify for the Conference League. This season, Newcastle secured a European spot when they triumphed over Liverpool at Wembley, ending their 56-year wait for a trophy in the process. But if Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and Man City win the FA Cup, the two European places given to the domestic trophy-winners will be passed down the league table. The prospect of the eighth-placed team qualifying for Europe means Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham all have European football as an incentive as they head into their remaining Premier League matches.

LaLiga (Spain)

Almost done now: Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 home win over nearest rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico on Sunday means the Catalans can secure the title on Thursday when they meet neighbours Espanyol. Barcelona advanced to 82 points with their come-from-behind win in the spring sunshine, with Real remaining on 75.

With three fixtures left for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, the most they can garner is 84 points. But if they do not win on Wednesday against Mallorca, then Barcelona will be champions ahead of their own match on Thursday. It will come as some consolation for last week’s elimination at the semifinal stage of the Champions League, where they lost to Inter Milan, in another match for the ages.

Places in European competition: Spain have four Champions League slots next season, with two filled already by Barca and Real. Atlético Madrid need one more point to make sure of their spot, although effectively given their far superior goal difference, they are also in the field. Athletic Bilbao, who made it to the semifinal of this season’s Europa League before Manchester United eliminated them, are best placed for the last berth as they have a three-point lead over fifth-placed Villarreal. But Bilbao’s next two games are away, and their last of the season at home is against Barcelona. Villarreal must also play Barcelona away on Sunday.

Going down: Seven clubs are still in danger of joining already relegated Real Valladolid in being demoted from LaLiga, but if Sevilla beat second-from-bottom Las Palmas on Tuesday, then Espanyol, Getafe, and Sevilla will be safe. Girona are three points from safety, but Getafe have lost five games in a row in a drastic slump, while Espanyol’s next outing is the derby against Barcelona. Girona can also secure LaLiga status for next season with a result at Valladolid on Tuesday. Looming is a battle between Leganés and Deportivo Alavés to avoid the third relegation slot.

Serie A (Italy)

Scudetto in sight: Napoli surprisingly dropped points at home to Genoa on Sunday and now have only a one-point lead over Inter Milan. There are two more matchdays on Sunday and then again on Sunday, May 25, with Napoli away at Parma first but then home to Cagliari. Two wins and they take the Scudetto for the second time in three years and a fourth time overall in the club’s 99-year history. Inter have an arguably tougher programme with fifth-place Lazio at home next and then away to Como. Plus, they must deal with the distraction of the Champions League final at the end of the month against Paris St Germain.

Champions League: Napoli and Inter have sealed their places, with Atalanta looking set to finish third and also qualify for next season’s Champions League. That means there will be plenty of jostling for the fourth slot with Juventus, Lazio, AS Roma, AC Milan and Bologna all in the mix. Roma host Milan on Sunday while Lazio are at Inter.

Going down: Monza are heading back to Serie B after three top-flight campaigns, but the other two relegation spots are still to be determined. Second from bottom, Venezia are two points behind Empoli and Lecce but have a game in hand on Monday at home to Fiorentina, where they will be hoping for all-important points. It is also not yet officially safe for Cagliari, Verona and Parma.