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Real Madrid needs fortress Bernabeu to live up to its reputation.
Paris Saint-Germain could do with some magic from the departing Kylian Mbappe.
Otherwise we could be set for a repeat of the 2013 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who both showed in the first legs of the semifinals that they could yet block a Madrid vs. Mbappe showdown at Wembley Stadium.
That has felt like an ideal finale with Mbappe widely expected to move to the Spanish giant when he leaves PSG as a free agent at the end of the season.
But based on the first legs, Bayern and Dortmund haven’t read that script.
Bayern dominated Madrid for long periods at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday before Vinicius Junior’s late penalty secured a 2-2 draw for the record 14-time European Cup winner.
A day later, Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug struck the only goal of the game at the Westfalenstadion to give Dortmund a 1-0 advantage over PSG.
With such fine margins, there is all to play for in the second legs when Madrid and PSG will both have home advantage.
Madrid is unbeaten at home all season and targeting a record-extending 18th European Cup final – and a ninth in the Champions League era, which is also a record.
While six-time winner Bayern showed its credentials in the first leg, it has endured a troubled season in which its 11-year reign as German champion was ended by Bayer Leverkusen.
PSG’s dominance in France shows no sign of stopping after winning a record-extending 12th league title. But it has not been able to transfer that form to the Champions League despite signing some of the world’s greatest players — including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappe.
Messi and Neymar have departed and Mbappe is set to leave. Which is why it would be the perfect send-off for the forward to finally end the Qatar-backed club’s search for European club soccer’s elite trophy.
Defeat at Dortmund has cast doubt over that, but PSG already produced a comeback to beat Barcelona in the second leg of the quarterfinals and Mbappe will be desperate to avoid an anticlimactic end to the season.
PSG vs. Dortmund (Tuesday)
PSG coach Luis Enrique has to rethink his plans in defense with Lucas Hernandez facing a long spell out after rupturing his left knee ACL in the first leg. He successfully underwent an operation on Saturday.
Hernandez was in good form and had also formed a solid central defensive partnership with Marquinhos, helping the Brazilian recapture his best form recently.
Enrique must decide who to select between Lucas Beraldo, utility player Danilo or Milan Skriniar.
The 20-year-old is Beraldo is inexperienced at the highest level, Danilo is reliable and good in the air but lacks pace and mobility, while Skriniar has only recently returned from a three-month injury layoff following ankle surgery.
Skriniar has played only one full game since then and Enrique may not risk him against a physical striker like Fullkrug, who poses a threat with his strong running and direct style of play.
Losing a player of Hernandez’s quality is a headache Enrique really didn’t need, especially with his side having to score and more likely exposed to counter-attacks.
Enrique will also look for an improved performance from Kylian Mbappe, who failed to impress last week.
Dortmund counterpart Edin Terzic was able to rest his entire team with the exception of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as his B-side ran out 5-1 winners over Augsburg on Saturday.
Madrid vs. Bayern (Wednesday)
Madrid will face Bayern as the newly crowned Spanish league champions after clinching the title on Saturday. With the domestic title all but assured, Carlo Ancelotti rotated his lineup. Defender Nacho Fernandez was the only player to start both at Bayern and in its 3-0 win over Cadiz on Saturday.
The club is delaying the traditional celebration of its 36th league title with players and fans in downtown Madrid until Saturday to keep its focus on the Bayern game.
Madrid arrives to the second leg without any critical injuries and with all its scorers clicking. Jude Bellingham scored his 22nd goal overall in the win over Cadiz, while backups Brahim Diaz and Joselu Mato also found the net. Thibaut Courtois is expected to be in the squad, while Ancelotti has said that Andriy Lunin will again be in goal.
Bayern’s preparations were far from ideal with a 3-1 loss at Stuttgart and injury to Raphael Guerreiro, who had made a good impact after coming on at half time in the first leg against Madrid. Bayern confirmed Sunday he will miss Wednesday’s match.
Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt missed the first leg with injury but rejoined team training on Sunday.
___
AP Sports Writers Jerome Pugmire in Paris, Joseph Wilson in Barcelona and Ciaran Fahey in Berlin contributed.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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Four of Europe’s top leagues have already crowned their champions with plenty of time to spare, but there’s still much to play for as we head into the final weeks of the domestic seasons. With the continent’s top tiers all barreling toward a conclusion this month, here’s what’s left to be decided across the biggest leagues.
Note: This story will be updated weekly until the end of the season.
Premier League ?gbeng
Title race
This is the only actual race remaining in Europe’s top five leagues. What was once a three-team battle has effectively been whittled down to two, as Liverpool’s untimely slump has left Arsenal and Manchester City in a straight scrap. The Reds are still mathematically alive but will almost certainly finish third. The Gunners are seeking their first league title in 20 years, while Pep Guardiola’s side is chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League crown.
Club
GP
GD
Points
1. Arsenal
36
+60
83
2. Man City
35
+54
82
3. Liverpool
36
+43
78
European qualification
The Premier League was unable to net an additional Champions League place for next season, so only the top four will qualify. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool are already in.
Aston Villa are on the verge of securing fourth place. Tottenham Hotspur were in a very strong position just a couple of weeks ago, but they’ve cratered at the worst time, losing four consecutive matches. Even with a game in hand on Unai Emery’s men, Tottenham’s top-four hopes are hanging by a thread.
Club
GP
GD
Points
4. Aston Villa
36
+20
67
5. Tottenham
35
+11
60
Villa are assured of at least fifth place and a spot in the Europa League should they miss out on the top four. Spurs, despite their rotten run, are still the favorites to finish fifth. Their margin for error is shrinking, though, with Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Manchester United in the hunt.
The remaining European places are dependent on the outcome of the FA Cup final. If Manchester United win the trophy, they automatically go to the Europa League. If Manchester City beat their rivals in a second consecutive final and retain the silverware, that Europa League spot transfers to the sixth-placed finisher in the league, which could end up being … Manchester United.
Club
GP
GD
Points
6. Newcastle
35
+22
56
7. Chelsea
35
+11
54
8. Manchester United
34
+1
54
The aforementioned FA Cup outcome will also play a role in deciding the Europa Conference League (UECL) representative. If Man City are victorious, the UECL berth will go to the team that finishes seventh in the table; the same is true if Man United win the FA Cup and also finish sixth.
Relegation and promotion
Sheffield United, with just three wins from 36 games so far this season – and a whopping 100 goals conceded – have already been relegated. That leaves Burnley, Luton Town, and Nottingham Forest in a dogfight to avoid the drop. Only one from that trio will survive, with Burnley needing a minor miracle. Forest are still awaiting the result of an appeal over their four-point deduction for breaching the league’s profit and sustainability rules, which could have an enormous impact on the final table.
Club
GP
GD
Points
17. Nottingham Forest
36
-18
29
18. Luton
36
-29
26
19. Burnley
36
-35
24
20. Sheffield United
36
-65
16
Leicester City and Ipswich Town grabbed the two automatic promotion places from the Championship; the Foxes are making an immediate return, while the Tractor Boys are going back to the top flight after a 22-year absence. The always thrilling promotion playoffs will decide the last team to make the jump, with Leeds United, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion, and Norwich City taking part. The playoff final is slated for May 26.
La Liga ??
Title race
Real Madrid were crowned Spanish champions for a record-extending 36th time this past weekend.
European qualification
Real Madrid and Barcelona are assured of Champions League spots. They’ll be joined, incredibly, by Girona, whose Cinderella season will yield a first-ever berth in the competition. Michel’s team clinched the spot by defeating Barca. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are in pole position to finish fourth.
Club
GP
GD
Points
4. Atletico Madrid
34
+24
67
5. Athletic Club
34
+22
61
6. Real Sociedad
34
+13
54
7. Real Betis
34
+4
52
8. Valencia
34
-2
47
Athletic’s Copa del Rey triumph, combined with the fact that they’re likely to finish in the top six, means La Liga’s Europa League places should go to the fifth- and sixth-placed finishers in the table. The team that finishes seventh will head to the Conference League.
Relegation and promotion
Almeria picked up just their second win of the season this past weekend. They’ve already been relegated. Granada will almost certainly join them, especially with games against Real Madrid and Girona still on their calendar. Several other teams are still in danger of going down, too, with Cadiz in the most precarious spot of that bunch.
Club
GP
GD
Points
15. Celta Vigo
34
-12
34
16. Rayo Vallecano
34
-16
34
17. Mallorca
34
-13
32
18. Cadiz
34
-26
26
19. Granada
34
-28
21
20. Almeria
34
-34
17
Nobody has secured promotion from the second tier as of yet, but Leganes, Valladolid, and Eibar are in pole position with four games left.
Bundesliga ??
Title race
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, still unbeaten in all competitions this season, have already clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title.
European qualification
The Bundesliga earned an extra Champions League spot for next season, meaning five teams will compete in the 2024-25 event. Those places have already been determined; Leverkusen, whose unbeaten run now stands at 48 games, will be joined by Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund. The latter’s win over PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal sealed the additional berth for Germany’s top flight.
There’s still intrigue here, though. If Dortmund finish fifth and win the Champions League this season, the sixth-placed finisher in the Bundesliga will also head to the tournament next year.
The identity of Germany’s two Europa League entrants will be dictated, in part, by the DFB-Pokal final on May 25, where Leverkusen will take on a Kaiserslautern side that’s mired in a relegation battle … in the second tier. Should they pull off the stunning upset, they’ll earn one of Germany’s Europa League berths, while the other will go to the Bundesliga’s sixth-placed finisher. If Leverkusen win, the Europa places go to the sixth- and seventh-placed finishers.
Club
GP
GD
Points
6. Eintracht Frankfurt
32
+1
45
7. Freiburg
32
-12
41
8. Hoffenheim
32
-8
40
9. Augsburg
32
-8
39
10. Heidenheim
32
-8
38
11. Werder Bremen
32
-9
38
12. Wolfsburg
32
-11
37
At present, the seventh-placed team will make the Conference League, but the DFB-Pokal final result could bump that berth down to the eighth-placed squad.
Each of the clubs listed in the table above will be Leverkusen fans on May 25.
Relegation and promotion
The bottom two in the 18-team Bundesliga are relegated automatically, while the squad that finishes 16th enters a playoff against the third-placed finisher from the 2. Bundesliga. Darmstadt have already been sent packing, FC Koln appear likely to join them, and as many as four teams are fighting to avoid finishing in the playoff spot, including Union Berlin, who participated in the Champions League group stage this season. How quickly fortunes change.
Club
GP
GD
Points
13. Monchengladbach
32
-7
33
14. Bochum
32
-24
33
15. Union Berlin
32
-25
30
16. Mainz
32
-17
29
17. Koln
32
-30
24
18. Darmstadt
32
-46
17
Nothing has been decided as of yet in the second tier, where Holstein Kiel and St. Pauli currently occupy the top two spots.
Serie A ??
Title race
Inter Milan, the dominant force in Italy this year, clinched their 20th Scudetto with last month’s win over city rivals AC Milan.
European qualification
Just like Germany, Italy also earned an extra Champions League place for next season, so at least five teams will qualify. Both Milanese clubs have punched their tickets. Despite a horrible run in 2024, Juventus need just one win to qualify. Bologna’s fairytale campaign also looks set to culminate with a Champions League place.
That likely leaves Roma, Atalanta, and Lazio to battle for fifth place. Serie A could yet send six teams to the Champions League if Roma or Atalanta, both currently in the semifinals of the Europa League, win that competition. Atalanta are tied 1-1 going into the second leg of their duel with Marseille, while Roma fell 2-0 to Leverkusen in the first leg of their clash.
In that scenario, it’s possible that finishing sixth in the league could be enough to reach the Champions League.
Club
GP
GD
Points
3. Juventus
35
+21
66
4. Bologna
35
+22
64
5. Roma
35
+20
60
6. Atalanta
33
+24
57
7. Lazio
35
+8
56
8. Fiorentina
34
+12
50
9. Napoli
34
+9
50
Only eight clubs in total from any one country can qualify for Europe in a given season, so if Italy was to have six Champions League participants, it would have to forfeit a European place elsewhere, either one of its two Europa League spots or its Conference League berth. Those are currently slated to go to the teams that finish sixth through eighth in the table, but the Europa League exploits of Roma and Atalanta could alter that.
Relegation and promotion
The bottom three sides go down to Serie B. Salernitana, who have just two wins all season, have been relegated. Two Serie A mainstays could join them. Sassuolo, despite beating Inter twice this season, are in serious danger of seeing their 11-year run in the top flight come to an end. Meanwhile, Udinese, who have been in the top division since 1995 and have made several appearances in Europe in that time, are on their third manager of the campaign as they look to avoid a shocking relegation. With matches against fellow relegation battlers Empoli and Frosinone to close out the year, Udinese, now coached by Fabio Cannavaro, control their fate.
Club
GP
GD
Points
14. Verona
35
-13
34
15. Cagliari
35
-23
33
16. Frosinone
35
-20
32
17. Empoli
35
-24
32
18. Udinese
34
-19
29
19. Sassuolo
35
-29
29
20. Salernitana
34
-47
15
Iconic Italian outfit Parma have already secured promotion back to Serie A. Como, the ambitious club from the picturesque city that counts Thierry Henry among its minority shareholders and employs Cesc Fabregas as an assistant coach, are on the verge of joining them. A playoff will determine the third and final promotion place.
Ligue 1 ??
Title race
Paris Saint-Germain were crowned Ligue 1 champions for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons, claiming a record-extending 12th French title in the process.
European qualification
Ligue 1, unlike its peers on this list, only gets three automatic Champions League places, while the fourth-placed finisher goes into the qualifying stage of the tournament. Four teams are duking it out to grab the final two automatic spots and join PSG at Europe’s top table.
Club
GP
GD
Points
2. Monaco
32
+20
61
3. Brest
32
+16
57
4. Lille
31
+18
55
5. Nice
31
+11
51
6. Lens
32
+8
49
7. Rennes
32
+8
45
8. Marseille
31
+9
44
9. Lyon
31
-9
44
France could have five teams in the Champions League if Marseille, locked in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta heading into the second leg of their Europa League semifinal, go on to win that competition.
Currently, fifth place in Ligue 1 will go to the Europa League, while finishing sixth will be rewarded with a Conference League spot. That could change if PSG win the Coupe de France, though; they’re in the final against Lyon on May 25, and victory for the capital-based outfit will see the league’s sixth-place finisher jump into the Europa League.
That cup final will also have a direct impact on France’s Conference League spot, which could yet go to the seventh-place finisher.
Relegation and promotion
The bottom two finishers in Ligue 1 are relegated automatically, while the team that ends in 16th place heads to a promotion/relegation playoff.
Clermont Foot are still alive, barely, with two games remaining, but the best they can hope for is the playoff place.
Club
GP
GD
Points
14. Nantes
32
-20
33
15. Le Havre
32
-9
32
16. Metz
32
-20
29
17. Lorient
32
-26
26
18. Clermont Foot
32
-28
25
In the second tier, Auxerre, Saint-Etienne, and Angers are all assured of at least a place in the promotion/relegation playoff. Auxerre, though, have all but sealed automatic promotion, as they sit six points clear of their two foes with only two games remaining.
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MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich left back Raphael Guerreiro has been ruled out of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid with an ankle injury.
The Portugal player suffered a ligament and capsule injury in his ankle against Stuttgart on Saturday, Bayern said Sunday.
The club said the player will be out for “the next few matches.”
Guerreiro went off in the 17th minute in the 3-1 loss at Stuttgart and Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said afterward the player was on crutches.
Tuchel had made six changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Madrid in the first leg of their semifinal, with Guerreiro among those starting. Noussair Mazraoui, Konrad Laimer, Leon Goretzka, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala were all rested.
Tuchel took Eric Dier off at halftime as a precaution after the defender clashed heads with Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy in the first half. Dier had continued playing with a bandage on his head.
Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, who missed the first leg with injury, returned to team training on Sunday.
Bayern visits Madrid on Wednesday. The winner of the two-leg semifinal will play either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in London on June 1.
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All it takes is one lapse in concentration to get punished.
Paris Saint-Germain’s backline fell asleep for just a second in Wednesday’s clash with Borussia Dortmund, and Niclas Fullkrug made them pay with the opening goal of the Champions League semifinal tie.
The burly German striker ghosted behind the PSG defense, took down a long ball in stride, and ripped a wicked low shot beyond goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Dortmund a 1-0 lead in the first leg.