Euro Lower League Week – Monaco back where they belong
France
After being linked with world class players like Radamel Falcao, Monaco finally made it across the Ligue 2 finish line thanks to an injury time Ibrahima Toure goal at Nimes which gave them a 1-0 win and secured promotion for Claudio Ranieri’s men. Nantes also enjoyed an equally impressive 1-0 away win at fellow promotion rivals Caen, thanks to a spectacular Filipe Djordjevic finish and can officially join Monaco back in Ligue 1 with a win on Friday at home to already relegated Sedan in front of a fervent La Beaujoire crowd. The third and final automatic spot could (and probably should) also be sealed this weekend following Guingamp’s 7-0 demolition of a sad Lens side which leaves them just a win at rock bottom GFCO Ajaccio away from Ligue 1 for the first time since 2004.
Should Nantes or Guingamp fail against the bottom two sides then that gives Angers, Caen and Dijon a chance going into the last week should they win. Angers struck late again to earn a 2-2 draw at Auxerre and are four points behind Guingamp and five behind Nantes. Caen’s defeat in front of a season’s best crowd of almost 20000 to Nantes leaves them five points behind Guingamp and looking at another season in Ligue 2, barring some strange results. The same applies for Dijon, who were relegated alongside Caen last summer and like Caen have 59 points. They won 3-2 at Istres but look to have missed the Ligue 1 boat.
Two of the three relegation places are now confirmed as a 2-0 home defeat to Niort means Sedan will join Gazelec Ajaccio in the National next season whilst three teams are looking to avoid the third drop spot. Laval slipped into 18th place after a disappointing home defeat to Gazelec Ajaccio thanks to an injury time Yohan Bocognano goal and are one point behind Le Mans, who were hammered 4-0 at home to Le Havre and cannot wait to close the door on a disastrous season on and off the pitch. Niort’s win at Sedan lifts them two points above the drop zone and a win at home to Nimes this weekend could see them secure their Ligue 2 status.
Germany
Hertha Berlin were crowned Bundesliga 2 champions following a 2-1 success at Koln, ending any lingering playoff hopes for the hosts in the process. Eintracht Braunschweig had already secured second place and their foot was clearly off the gas as St Pauli beat them 5-1, ensuring second tier football at the Millentor next season. Kaiserslautern struck twice in the opening 20 minutes at relegated Jahn to calm any nerves and secure third place and a playoff place with a 3-1 win.
With the relegation places already settled, all eyes were on the third bottom place and a playoff against third in 3.Liga. St Pauli’s win ensured their safety and Bochum are safe thanks to other results after they lost 2-1 at FSV Frankfurt after a run of four successive wins. Dresden remain third bottom after another woeful performance on the road saw them lose 3-0 at Aalen . Aue had a great chance to put distance between themselves and third bottom but were beaten 1-0 at home to Ingolstadt which leaves them and Dresden locked on 34 points with one game remaining.
Italy
Ahead of what will be an unbelievably tense weekend in Serie B with no fewer than 14 teams still sweating on the outcome of the final weekend, Sassuolo blew the chance to secure a dream promotion to Serie A following a 2-2 draw at Virtus Lanciano. Hellas Verona remain second after a 3-0 win at Juve Stabia and Livorno beat Brescia by the same scoreline. Sassuolo meet Livorno this weekend and with second placed Hellas hosting fourth Empoli, the hopes and aspirations of the top six will be decided here. Should Empoli finish less than ten points behind third place, then the playoffs will take place. Novara and Empoli have qualified and the last place will be between Varese and Brescia, Varese conceded late at home to Crotone to draw 1-1 but have a one point advantage going into the last day.
At the bottom, Grosseto and Pro Vercelli have been relegated and will be joined by one of Ascoli or Vicenza, the latter recorded a fine 1-0 win at Modena to lift themselves out of the bottom three, replaced by Ascoli who drew 1-1 at home to Ternana. Whoever survives automatic relegation will take part in the relegation playoff and will face one of seven sides who could still end up in 18th place. Cittadella hold the place after a 1-0 loss at high flying Empoli.
Spain
A crowd of over 33000 turned up to celebrate promotion for Elche and a return to La Liga after an absence of a quarter of a century, but the party has been put on hold for at least another week after Barcelona B silenced the home crowd with an Espinosa bullet ten minutes from time to escape with a draw. Girona stay second despite being on the back of the result of the weekend, when bottom side and already relegated Xerez ended a run of 25 games without a win with a stunning 4-2 victory. Girona have 67 points and are two points ahead of third placed Villarreal, fourth placed Alcorcon and Almeria in fifth as the second automatic spot looks like going to the wire. Villarreal were the big winners with a 3-1 success at Alcorcon which lifted them above their opponents in the table, whilst Almeria won an amazing game in Lugo which ended 5-3 to the visitors. Las Palmas hold the last playoff spot with 62 points, two ahead of Ponferradina after both sides were held to draws by teams battling to stay in the league.
Racing Santander are still in deep relegation trouble but a 1-0 win over Real Madrid Castilla lifted them above Huesca who drew 0-0 with Las Palmas. Neither team can afford many more dropped points in the remaining four games. Murcia are in the fourth drop spot on 41 points after a 1-1 draw with mid table Sabadell and are two points behind Mirandes but five behind Guadalajara whom they visit on Monday in a must win game.