Matches to look out for

With Germany and Portugal concluding, Playmaker’s weekly look at the ‘matches to look out for’ ahead of each weekend is down to just four of Europe’s six major leagues.

This is the final round of fixtures for England, France, Italy and Spain so choosing just one game is a tough ask but let’s give it a go…

All kick-off times are GMT.

LA LIGA

Alaves vs Cadiz | 19:00 on Sunday

This is a one of three massive games involving the Spanish top-flight relegation battle on Sunday evening and, arguably the most important.

Alaves’ five-year spell in La Liga will come to an end this weekend after their 3-1 defeat against Levante, who have also been relegated, confirmed their own relegation. The Basque club have churned through two coaches and several players this season with their conservative approach leaving way too much work to do.

©Getty Images

Cadiz, under the management of Sergi, have begun to break free from their previously conservative shells and the Andalusians have given themselves a chance of survival. However, a frustrating 1-1 draw against the much-changed champions, Real Madrid, leaves them in the bottom three ahead of this final matchday. Defeat will see them join Alaves in the second-tier. 

LIGUE 1

Nantes vs Saint-Etienne | 20:00 on Sunday

Ligue 1 has been emphatically dominated by Paris Saint-Germain in the last decade but several clubs remain famous and historic… this could be the end of one in the top-flight. 

Nantes have already confirmed their European qualification for next season after defeating Nice in the final of the Coupe de France in early May. In Ligue 1, they have enjoyed a strong season and begin the final round of fixtures looking to finish inside the top ten. The home team have a huge part to play in this season’s Ligue 1 relegation battle.

Claude Puel and Pascal Dupraz have been the men to lead Saint-Etienne this season. They have failed to inspire an underwhelming squad and Les Verts look doomed. However, if they were to avoid defeat and Metz lost away at champions PSG then St Etienne would squeeze themselves into a relegation playoff against one of Auxerre or Sochaux. 

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City vs Aston Villa | 16:00 on Sunday

The ‘narrative’ dictates that Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Danny Ings get mentioned immediately for this Premier League title decider.

Jack Grealish signed for Manchester City last summer for £100 million. He left his boyhood club, of whom he was captain, to win trophies… well, a Community Shield defeat to Leicester in August turned out to be a possible sign. If City drop points against Villa then they leave the door open for Liverpool to take another step towards a historic quadruple.

Steven Gerrard’s first two-thirds-of-a-season with Villa has been fairly average. The second-city club sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table with some good and bad runs as they await a fairly exciting summer. The visitors will be looking to finish their own season with a flourish and their fans might be quite keen to see the aforementioned Grealish go trophyless in his first campaign. 

SERIE A 

Sassuolo vs Milan | 17:00 on Sunday

Massimiliano Allegri led AC Milan to the Serie A title in the 2010/11 campaign… that was the last time the Rossoneri managed to win it.

Under the management of Alessio Dionisi, Sassuolo have been relatively impressive this season. They lost manager Roberto De Zerbi as well as key man Manuel Locatelli last summer, before Jeremie Boga departed in January, but The Green and Black look set to finish firmly in the middle-of-the-table in Italy.

©Getty / Nicolò Campo

Stefano Pioli has cultivated a varied Milan side, capable of playing some entertaining and fairly free-flowing football – as well as grinding out tough wins. In fact, the 18-time Italian champions have kept eight clean sheets in their last ten matches with a defensive partnership of Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu, in front of Mark Maignan, proving key. The avoidance of defeat will deliver their 19th title.