It’s the finale in the Premier League and La Liga BBVA this weekend. Although, the title race is over in Spain, the race has gone down the wire in England.
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Manchester City (1) vs. Queens Park Rangers (17)
The home side only needs to make sure their result here is not bettered by their rivals, Manchester United, to claim their first league title in aeons. Only a fool will bet against them claiming all three points here even though QPR will be desperate and Mark Hughes might want to prove a point.
For Mark Hughes side, they need to win to be certain of staying up. If they lose, and Bolton win at Stoke, they go down. If they draw, and Bolton win by a hatful at Stoke, they’ll go down, depending on how many goals are involved (GD: QPR: -22, Bolton:-31). So clearly, there’s a lot riding on this game.
Home win…
Sunderland (11) vs. Manchester United (2)
Sunderland might not have much to play for (except for a few millions from playing higher) but that didn’t stop Norwich from pissing on Arsenal’s chips or West Ham United from stopping Manchester United in THAT race against Blackburn Rovers.
United know what to do: win, score a lot of goals (double figures) and hope that if City win, they don’t win by more than the odd goal (GD: City 63, United 55). The more likely scenario that will play out if United are to win the league is that the better City’s result.
Unlikely.
Away win…
Tottenham Hotspurs (4) vs. Fulham (9)
A victory here for Spurs win guarantee progress into the qualifying stages of the Champions League. Harry Redknapp might do all his best to talk up fourth place but considering they were in control of third place for almost eternity, surely fourth will be disappointing. It could be worse, they could drop points here and allow the Toon army sneak in with a win at in-form Everton.
Fulham’s away record is not the stuff of legends and worse still, their record at White Hart Lane isn’t the best, but Spurs are pretty inconsistent. Hard to call, this…
Home win…
West Bromwich Albion (10) vs. Arsenal (3)
Roy Hodgson’s last game as West Brom manager and it’s a home. He’ll want to end it on a high. The fans will want to give him a decent farewell too. They can’t finish above tenth but they can drop as low as 14th depending on if ridiculous amounts of goals are scored/ conceded on Sunday. Realistically, though, they’ll finish between twelfth and tenth. He’s made a yoyo team into a mid-table team. That’s decent work from him.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have to win to be certain of third place.
Draw…
La Liga BBVA Preview
Real Sociedad (14) vs. Valencia (3)
Valencia finish the season in third place. This is their manager’s last game in charge. They might want to give him a rousing send off, or maybe they won’t. They are probably bored of him.
Away win…
Real Betis (12) vs. Barcelona (2)
Pep’s last league game with Barcelona: what are the odds on him returning?
Away win…
Real Madrid (1) vs. Mallorca (6)
Nothing-to-play Madrid against Europa-chasing Mallorca?
Home win…
Malaga (4) vs. Sporting (19)
With Malaga needing a win to get into the Champions League qualifying stages,
…that’s what they’ll get.
