Africans in Europe’s major leagues: What’s still at stake?

What do the continent’s top stars still have to play for in Europe’s biggest leagues?

1. Premier League

   The relegation battle has all been wrapped up, and Victor Wanyama’s Tottenham Hotspur will join Chelsea in the Champions League barring defeat for Spurs at home against Everton, a win for Arsenal against Burnley, and an eight-goal-difference swing.

   The primary focus on the final day will be on the title race, where Riyad Mahrez and Manchester City need to beat Brighton & Hove Albion away to consolidate top spot.

   Liverpool, in second, must beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield and hope that City drop points to overtake them into top spot.

   Naby Keita is out, although Mohamed Salah may return following the head injury he sustained against Newcastle United. Joel Matip and Sadio Mane are available.

2. La Liga

   In Spain, as in England, the title race has already been decided.

   At the top of the table, Thomas Partey’s Atletico Madrid—who host Sevilla in the next gameweek—need a point to take second, while their visitors will be seeking a win in order to remain in the hunt for the Champions League.

   Djene Dakonam’s Getafe, away at Barcelona, need four points to secure an unlikely berth in the UCL, and they’ll be hoping Geoffrey Kondogbia’s Valenciaare fatigued after their Europa League semi-final with Arsenal when they host Deportivo Alaves.

   At the other end, Sofiane Boufal and Celta Vigo are away at Europa League-hunting Athletic Bilbao in need of a win to secure their status in the division.

   Real Valladolid, Girona (Yassine Bounou), Levante (Moses Simon, Raphael Dwamena, Cheick Doukoure) and Villarreal (Samuel Chukwueze) are all still battling against the drop.

   1. Bundesliga

      There are still two matchdays to play in the Bundesliga, although Bayern Munich could wrap up the title at the expense of Achraf Hakimi’s Borussia Dortmund when they are away at third-placed RasenBallsport Leipzig this weekend.

      Leipzig, comfortably in third, will return to the Champions League, and they’ll be joined by one of Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Wolfsburg or Hoffenheim, with three points separating all five teams.

      There’s particular African interest at Hoffenheim, who can call on Kasim Adams and in-form Ishak Belfodil, while Wolfsburg are welcoming back Marcel Tisserand, who’s endured an injury-hit campaign.

      Hannover 96 and Nuernberg will be relegated if Stuttgart beat Wolfsburg, with the former looking to move out of the relegation play-off spot.

      Freiburg, Augsburg and Schalke 04, who count Benjamin Stambouli, Nabil Bentaleb, Salif Sane and Amine Harit in their ranks, can still be dragged into 16th place.

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      Serie A

      Juventus are champions, with Kalidou Koulibaly’s Napoli joining them in the Champions League next season after snaring second place in the league.

      Beneath them, Keita Balde’s Internazionale and Atalanta currently occupy the two other UCL spots, but they could be overhauled by AC Milan (Franck Kessie), Roma or Torino.

      The last of these three, in seventh, have given themselves hope of an unlikely UCL berth and will have defensive stalwarts Nicolas Nkoulou and Ola Aina to thank if they qualify for Europe.

      At the other end, Frosinone and Chievo are gone, with Ismael Bennacer’s Empoli currently occupying 18th place.

      Most of the bottom half are still in danger, with Gervinho (Parma), Christian Kouame (Genoa) and Soko Fofana (Udinese) some of the African players who will be keen to secure their Serie A status.
      
      
      
      

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      Ligue 1

      Nicolas Pepe and LOSC Lille weren’t able to catch Paris Saint-Germain in the title race, but they’re in pole position to secure second and reach the Champions League group stage. Les Dogues currently sit in second, six points ahead of third-placed Olympique Lyonnais, with three to play.

      OL (63 points) and their plethora of African talents must see off the challenge of fourth-placed Saint-Etienne (62) in the race for the top three, although the in-form Wahbi Khazri has the quality to ensure ASSE extend their four-game winning streak.

      Someway behind them, Montpellier (Andy Delort) and Marseille could yet secure European qualification.

      At the bottom, fallen giants AS Monaco aren’t yet out of the woods, while all of the bottom three – Caen (Faycal Fajr), Dijon (Naim Sliti) and Guingamp(Lebogang Phiri) – are up against it if they’re to escape.

      Bordeaux (Samuel Kalu), Toulouse (Max-Alain Gradel) and Amiens (Moussa Konate) are not yet guaranteed safety, but all could seal their Ligue 1 status this weekend.

       

   Source:Goal.com