Relegation battles around Europe top leagues

Spain

Racing Santander are already relegated from La Liga with 27 points. Sporting Gijon are on 34 points and trail Real Zaragoza by three points with two matches remaining. Rayo Vallecano are three points clear of the relegation zone on 40 points with Villareal on 41 and Granada on 42. Villareal have two tough games left whilst Granada must host the champions Real Madrid before meeting fellow relegation strugglers Rayo Vallecano on the final day. Sporting Gijon look in deep trouble but the third relegation spot could be very hard to choose. It looks almost certain to go to the last day of the season.

Remaining fixtures:

May 5^th – Sporting Gijon v Real Betis, Real Zaragoza v Racing Santander, Valencia v Villareal, Granada v Real Madrid, Sevilla v Rayo Vallecano

May 13^th – Malaga v Sporting Gijon, Rayo Vallecano v Granada, Villareal v Atletico Madrid, Getafe v Real Zaragoza

Italy

Genoa secured a vital win in their battle against relegation by beating Cagliari 2-1 at Brescia’s Stadio Rigamonti. Rodrigo Palacio put Genoa in front in the 11th minute before Lorenzo Ariaudo equalised just two minutes later. Bosko Jankovic grabbed the winner in the 76^th minute to put Genoa three points clear of the relegation zone with two games of the season remaining. Despite losing, results elsewhere meant that Cagliari are now mathematically safe. It was enough to seal all three points for the Rossoblu, giving them a three-point advantage over Lecce, while Cagliari can already celebrate survival. With six points separating them from Lecce, a better head-to-head record means that the Sardinians cannot be relegated.

Cesena and Novara are already relegated with 22 points and 29 points respectively. Lecce are looking the team most likely to join them with 36 points, three points adrift of Genoa with two matches remaining.

 Remaining fixtures:

May 5^th – Lecce v Fiorentina

May 6^th – Udinese v Genoa

May 13^th – Genoa v Palermo, Chievo v Lecce

Germany

The German Bundesliga has slightly different rules regarding relegation. The bottom two clubs are relegated automatically. FC Kaiserslautern are already doomed on 23 points with Hertha Berlin on 28 points still in with a chance of making the playoff if they can move above Cologne (30 points) on the final day of the season. The team finishing third from bottom faces a two-leg playoff with the team finishing third in the second division. Cologne are currently in that position but face the mighty Bayern Munich. Cologne will be pinning their hopes in Bayern having one eye on their Champions League final with Chelsea.

Remaining fixtures:

 May 5^th – Hertha Berlin v Hoffenheim, Cologne v Bayern Munich