The final rounds of games will be played in England, Italy, Germany, and France with Nigerian players at the centre of it all for their clubs with some in the battle for league survival while a few are on the verge of sealing places in European clubs’ competitions showpiece writes www dasportstainment247.com:
ENGLAND
In England, Semi Ajayi’s West Brom will bid the English Premier League bye for at least a season after their away game with Leeds United tomorrow at Elland Road. The Super Eagles midfielder saw action in the Baggies’ Wednesday’s home loss to West Ham United. They could finish the season with a flourish with a win against the Whites.
At Craven Cottage Stadium, Fulham will trade tackles with Newcastle United to seal the three points at stake after the close shave draw with Manchester United on Tuesday night. Ola Aina and Josh Maja were unused substitutes at the Old Trafford and it is not yet ascertained if Scott Parker will give them a look-in, in the final game of the season.
‘Senior man Kelz’ Kelechi Iheanacho continued his goalscoring spree with his 12th league goal from 24 games on Tuesday for Leicester City against Chelsea but it didn’t prevent a 2-1 loss in the bad tempered game. Wilfried Ndidi was available too for Brendan Rodgers’ side. With the race for the remaining two slots in the Champions League far from over, the Foxes will host Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium tomorrow with the three points the only option for them to sneak back to the top four. They will also pray that either Chelsea or Liverpool slip up in their games with Aston Villa (away) and Crystal Palace (home) respectively also tomorrow. It was another late collapse lat season that got the Foxes settling for a Europa League ticket after they had worked very hard all season for a place in the lucrative Champions League.
Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti has reduced Alex Iwobi to bench warmer in the last sets of games. Can the Nigerian have a chance to prove himself in the final game at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City? The Super Eagles winger has played 29 games for the Toffees who boosted their Europa League qualification chances with a slim 1-0 victory over Wolves on Wednesday night.
In the ITALIAN SERIE A, the race for the remaining three slots to the Champions League is yet to be determined with four clubs in contention with only league champions, Inter Milan assured of that before the final fixture. Victor Osimhen’s SS Napoli is one of the teams and the Partenopei will return to the flagship clubs competition next season with a home win against Verona today. Osimhen will be relied upon for goals having scored 10 goals from 23 games.
Crotone will face Fiorentina at home today in their last game of the season with nothing at stake. The Rossoblu confirmed their demotion to the lower league recently but Simy Nwankwo with 20 league goals from 37 matches will be hoping to add a few more goals against Fiorentina.
.
The GERMAN BUNDESLIGA will also end today with some fascinating games involving Nigerian players. All eyes will be on the final slot to the Europa Conference League ticket with Taiwo Awoniyi’s Union Berlin in firm control to take it. Berlin will pick the slot if they manage to beat second-placed RB Leipzig as the win will improve their points haul to 50. Borussia Monchengladbach (46 points), Stuttgart (46 points) , and Freiburg (45 points) are circling to pounce in case Union Berlin slips up.
Emmanuel Dennis and Toluwase Arokodare are in dire need of positive result today at home to Schalke 04 that may likely help keep their topflight status. There are still two more places up for grabs to the abyss of the lower league to be contested for by FC Cologne (30 points), Werder Bremen (31 points), and Arminia Bielefeld (32 points). The Billy Goats have an easier task on paper with a home tie against already demoted Schalke but Arminia Bielefeld and Werder Bremen have tougher tasks with ties with Stuttgart (away), and Monchengladbach (home) to negotiate in that order also today. Cologne will pray they secure the three points at stake while hoping that other results go their way.
While Kevin Akpoguma’s Hoffenheim with no European competition experience next season will hope to consolidate on their 11th spot (40 points) with a home tie with Hertha Berlin. The Super Eagles willl be in line to grab his 17th league game of the season.
The FRENCH LEAGUE goes down to the wire for the title and demotion placements. PSG are locked with Lille for the Championnat while Nigerian trio of Terem Moffi, Moses Simon, and Samuel Kalu are in danger of playing next season in the lower league except if results go their ways tomorrow in the grand finale of the season.
From the 13th spot (Reims with 42 points) to the 18th positions (Nantes with 40 points), none is sure of anything yet. Moses Simon’s Nantes are the most in-form of the teams in the relegation zone with four straight victories on the bounce but they need another maximum point at home to Montpellier to be certain of topflight football next season. Simon has weighed in six goals from 32 games plus five assists.
Samuel Kalu’s Bordeaux is in the 14th spot with 42 points but they need to avoid defeat at Reims to be certain of top-flight stay at least. Kalu’s season has been blighted by injuries but has featured in 20 league games with four goals.
Terem Moffi’s exceptional season in France with 14 goals from 31 league games may turn out to be a ruse with Lorient who are 17th on the log with 41 points not anyway safe from the drop zone. They need a win to be certain of top-flight retention at Strasbourg. Their opponents are also in danger too even though they are 15th on the log with 41 points also. It will be a grand climax to the season.
