Trouble at Juve, tension in Spain, France title thriller
Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Italian Serie A football match Sassuolo vs Juventus on May 12, 2021 at the Mapei-Citta del Tricolore stadium in Reggio Emilia. PHOTO/AFP
What you need to know:
- EPL: Man City were crowned and Man United sealed their Champions League place. Chelsea, Leicester, West Ham and Liverpool in top four battle.
Beating newly-crowned Inter Milan today and Bologna next week might just not be enough for Juventus to sneak into the Champions League next season. Their fate lies in the boots of Atalanta, AC Milan and Napoli, who must drop points in their final two games for the dethroned champions to count their luck.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus approached the season under new coach Andrea Pirlo hoping to win the Champions League as well as a record-extending 10th Scudetto. But Ronaldo’s ‘challenge’ istead went south – turned into a Champions League salvation.
Second-placed Atalanta on 75 points play Genoa and then AC Milan, who also on 75 points and first face Cagliari, while Napoli, on 73 points, will be in Florence before finishing the season at home to Hellas Verona.
Will the gods of Turin look Juve’s way to give them those maximum points and stall the top four rivals?
While Juve fight for Europe, it is the title at stake in Spain and France. Atletico Madrid pulled four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who squandered their chance at Levante on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone’s Atleti can seal the title with wins over Osasuna tomorrow and Valladolid next week regardless of what Real Madrid and Barca can conjure up.
In France, Lille will be crowned tomorrow if they beat St Etienne and PSG fail to pick maximum points at home to Reims.
