Football
Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC 289d

Europe's top soccer leagues: What was decided this weekend?

The 2022-23 season is over, save for the finals of the Champions League (UCL) and the Europa Conference League (UECL). 

Here's a quick roundup of exactly what has been decided in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

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LaLiga

Title: Barcelona (88) were formally anointed LaLiga champions for the first time in four years when they beat neighbours Espanyol 4-2 in the local derby last month.

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Champions League: Real Madrid (78), Atletico Madrid (77) and Real Sociedad (71) had already sewn up the other places in the top four.

Sevilla won the Europa League (UEL), so Spain will have five teams in Europe's top competition next season, and eight teams overall. Sevilla create a +1 as titleholders who did not qualify domestically. 

Europa League: Villarreal (64) took the place for the league and, as Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey, Real Betis (60) also qualified for the UEL. 

Europa Conference League: Osasuna (53) won at home to Girona on the final day, which was enough to secure UECL football ahead of Athletic Club (51), Girona (49) and Rayo Vallecano (49).

Relegation: Elche (25) and Espanyol (37) were relegated last month. Amazingly, six teams could have gone down on the final day, but it was Real Valladolid (40) who went down after they could only draw at home to relegation rivals Getafe on Sunday. 

Serie A

Title: Napoli (90) cantered to their first Scudetto in 33 years when wrapping things up with a 1-1 draw against Udinese on May 4.

Champions League: Lazio (74), Inter Milan (72) and AC Milan (70) had already secured their places.

Europa League: Atalanta (64) took the place for the league in fifth. As Inter won the Coppa Italia, sixth-placed AS Roma (63) will also play in the UEL.

Fiorentina will be an eighth Italian team in Europe if they beat West Ham United in the Europa Conference League final on June 7, as that earns a place in next season's Europa League.

Europa Conference League: Juventus (62) finished seventh and go into the UECL. 

Relegation: Sampdoria (19) and Cremonese (27) had already had their fate sealed. Spezia (31) and Hellas Verona (31) both lost on the final day to finish level on points; relegation isn't decided on goal difference, instead a single playoff game will be held at a neutral venue to decide who goes down. 

Ligue 1

Title: Paris Saint-Germain (85) fended off Lens and clinched the Ligue 1 title with a game to spare last weekend.

Champions League: Lens (84) take the second automatic group-stage spot. Marseille (73) will enter the UCL in the third qualifying round.

Europa League: Toulouse, who finished 13th, took the first place winning the Coupe de France. Stade Rennais (68) sealed the second place with a 2-1 win at Brest on the final day, overtaking Lille who drew at Troyes.

Europa Conference League:  Lille (67) were consigned to Europe's third-tier competition.

Relegation: Ligue 1 is to be reduced from 20 clubs down to 18 from the 2023-24 season, meaning that four will be relegated this season in order to facilitate the change. Angers (18), Troyes (24) and AC Ajaccio (26) were doomed before the final day. AJ Auxerre (35) were relegated on the final day after they lost at home to Lens, and Nantes (36) won at home to Angers. 

Premier League

Title: Manchester City (89 points) were crowned champions on May 20 when Arsenal lost at Nottingham Forest.

Champions League: Arsenal (84) return to the Champions League for the first time in 2016-17, while Newcastle United (71) will be in Europe's premier club competition for the first time in 21 years. Manchester United (75) finished third to take a UCL berth.

Europa League: Liverpool (67) take the place allocated to the league. Man City beat Man United 2-1 in the final of the FA Cup (stream a replay on ESPN+, US Only), so the UEL place goes to Brighton & Hove Albion (62) -- with the Seagulls securing a first-ever European campaign. 

West Ham will also qualify for the UEL if they beat Fiorentina in the final of the UECL.

Europa Conference League: Aston Villa (61) claimed it with a win at home to Brighton last weekend.

Relegation: Southampton (25), Leeds United (31) and Leicester City (34) will be playing in the Championship next season.

Bundesliga

Title: Bayern Munich (71, +54) pipped Borussia Dortmund (71, +39) on goal difference on the final day. 

Champions League: RB Leipzig (66) and Union Berlin (62) join Bayern and Dortmund at Europe's top table.

Europa League: SC Freiburg (59) took the Europa League spot allocated to the league. As RB Leipzig won the DFB Pokal final (stream a replay on ESPN+, US Only), Bayer Leverkusen (50) will also go into the UEL after finishing sixth.    

Europa Conference League: Although they lost the cup final, Eintracht Frankfurt still get the consolation of the UECL in seventh place.

Relegation: Hertha Berlin (29, -27) and Schalke 04 (31, -36) have gone down. VfB Stuttgart (33 -12) drop into the relegation playoff against Hamburg from the 2.Bundesliga. Stuttgart won the first leg 3-0, with the second leg on Monday. The winners play in the top division next season.

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