Liverpool on the Brink
After being held to a 0-0 draw by Merseyside Derby rivals Everton over the weekend, Liverpool is now on the brink of their first English soccer title in 30 years after a 4-0 walloping of Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday. Their next contest is July 2 at second-place Manchester City, and they will lift the trophy with a win or draw, or if City loses before July 2.
Meanwhile, the race for the top five is on as Manchester City and Wolverhampton have separated themselves from Sheffield United and Tottenham to both sit just behind Chelsea. Raul Jimenez has scored in both of the Wolves’ wins since his return, while Anthony Martial recorded his first hat trick in United’s 3-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.
Bundesliga Closes Play
The German Bundesliga was the first to return and are now the first to finish as Bayern Munich win the title for the eighth year running. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have already wrapped up Champions League spots, leaving one spot left for either Borussia Monchengladbach or Bayer Leverkusen. Whoever misses out will join VFL Wolfsburg and 1899 Hoffenheim in Europa League with one of those teams having to go through qualifying.
Paderborn has already been relegated, and either Werder Bremen or Fortuna Dusseldorf will go down, as well, with the other heading to a relegation playoff. German soccer doesn’t completely end this weekend, though, as Bayern Munich will face Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal Final on July 4 in Berlin.
Here We Go Again, El Clasico
While they won’t play again head-to-head, the La Liga title race comes down to rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barca had a two-point lead when play resumed, but they drew 0-0 against Sevilla in the second game back, and Real Madrid has not lost since the COVID-19 break to pull even. Both teams have 68 points through 31 games, 13 more than third-place Atletico Madrid and Barca have a better goal differential by two goals.
Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Getafe. Real Sociedad and Valencia lead the race for the other Champions League and Europa League spots. At the bottom of the table, Mallorca, Leganes, and Espanyol are trying to chase down Eibar and Celta Vigo to avoid relegation.
Juventus Moves Forward
Juventus took a big step toward a ninth-straight Serie A title this week as they knocked off Bologna 2-0 behind goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala. That win put Juve four points up on Lazio, who blew a 2-0 lead and lost at fourth-place Atalanta 3-2 on Wednesday. Internazionale is in third place after being held 3-3 by Sassuolo, and Atalanta sits four points behind Inter.
AS Roma rallied for a 2-1 Wednesday win, and they head to AC Milan this weekend in fifth place, six points ahead of Coppa Italia champion Napoli. AC Milan and Parma are battling for the final Europa League spot, and they sit tied in seventh, one point ahead of Hellas Verona.
