Ehe relegation drama has already hit several teams across the major European leagues. Watford y Norwich (Premier League) y Greuther Furth (Bundesliga) They already know that next season they will play in the Second Division. A ‘well’ from which six top clubs in Europe have emerged. The competitions are being renewed like every year. Spring things.
Premier League (Fulham y Bournemouth)
After 46 very long days, the regular season in the Championship came to an end with the Fulham and Bournemouth as dominators. The London team returns to the Premier a year later after ruling the English Second Division thanks to Mitrovic’s record 43 goals. And the ‘cherries’ return after two courses in ‘hell’. Solanke’s 29 goals have propelled them to First Division. Now, the Huddersfield of the Spanish Corberán, the historic Nottingham Forest, the Sheffield United of the eternal Sharp and the surprising Luton will seek to climb in a playoff that will have a two-leg semi-final and a single-game final at Wembley.
Playoff for promotion to the Premier
- Semi-final 1: Huddersfield vs Luton (first leg May 13, second leg May 16)
- Semi-final 2: Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United (first leg May 14, second leg May 17)
- End: May 29
Serie A (Lecce y Cremonese)
In a heart-stopping end to Serie B, with several teams with the option of achieving direct promotion, Lecce and Cremonese hit the jackpot. After two years in the Second Division, the ‘Giallorossi’ returned to the elite as champions. Second has been a Cremonese who was not in the First Division… since 1996! They have gone through Serie C and C2 to get back to the top. With those two teams with their place assured, the last one will come out of a very tough playoff. Pisa and Monza, third and fourth, await Brescia, Ascoli, Benevento and Perugia in the semifinals, who will ‘glue’ in a single match in the quarterfinals. Then, the ‘semis’ and the final will be round trip.
Playoff for promotion to Serie A
- Quarter 1: Ascoli-Benevento (May 13, single match)
- Rooms 2: Brescia-Perugia (May 14, single party
- Semifinal 1: Winner of Brescia-Perugia vs Monza (first leg May 18, second leg May 22)
- Semifinal 2: Winner of Ascoli-Benevento vs Pisa (first leg May 17, second leg May 21)
- Final: First leg May 26 and return May 29
Bundesliga (Schalke 04)
The second German is full of history. Giants of ‘fussball’ who have fallen into an abyss from which it is difficult for them to get out. The first that has put out the head is the Schalke 04. The ‘miners’, whose ‘post-confinement’ results crisis sent them to Second last year, have only taken one to return. They achieved it a day before the end in a campaign full of ups and downs. Behind, as second, comes a Werder Bremen that is one point away from sealing its promotion. Third is Hamburg, which will be played with Darmstadt, with whom they are tied for the playoff position with the third from last in the Bundesliga. A tie that will be round trip. The ‘Dinosaur’, who fell in 2018 after always having been in the First Division, wants to return at the fourth attempt.
This is the 2. Bundesliga
- Schalke 04: 62 points (PROMOTED)
- Werder Bremen: 60 points (POST OF PROMOTION)
- Hamburg: 57 points (PLAYOFF PLACE FOR PROMOTION)
- Darmstadt: 57 points
- St Pauli: 54 points
Ligue 1 (Toulouse)
Ligue 2 already has a champion. Toulouse, with Healey and Van den Boomen as key players, sealed their promotion ahead of time. After going down in 2020, they have returned to Ligue 1 in 2022. Second is Ajaccio who take a point from Auxerre before the last day. He has it in hand to go straight up and avoid the playoff. A round for which the two aforementioned, Paris FC and Sochaux, already have a guaranteed place. The team that faces the third from last in Ligue 1 in the last playoff will come out of them.
