Five exciting title races in Europe, from Denmark to Bulgaria،
When we return to club football after the international break, we head towards the end of the commercial season and some classic title races across Europe are heading towards an engaging crescendo. While we're all familiar with the English Premier League three-way battle between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, there are other tantalizing battles taking place across the continent.
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Here are some titanic fights that may have slipped under the radar.
The situation: Three teams (Midtjylland, Brøndby, Copenhagen) separated by three points with 10 matches remaining in the championship round
The Danish Superliga was delicately balanced during the regular season and the championship round promises to be too close to call.
Jutland side Midtjylland, renowned for their youth development, finished first, but they face stiff competition from two bitter rivals, Brøndby IF and FC Copenhagen. FC Copenhagen showed the world what they were made of with their remarkable Champions League campaign and their 4-3 victory over Manchester United will long be remembered, but they will need to step up a gear if they are to secure glory national.
The Copenhagen Derby between Brøndby and Copenhagen is one of the fiercest in Europe, but it is also relatively new: Copenhagen was only technically founded in 1992 following a merger. Both clubs will be determined to ensure this is not a fight for second place.
Parva League (Bulgaria)
The title race: Three teams (Ludogorets Razgrad, Cherno More Varna, PFC CSKA-Sofia) separated by three points with five regular season matches remaining
Ludogorets Razgrad has dominated Bulgarian football for over a decade. Although they only achieved promotion to the top flight in 2011, they quickly developed a stranglehold and boast the longest winning streak – 12 consecutive titles – in European football. But this year they face a real challenge. The old guard, CSKA Sofia, are a familiar face – they hold the record for Bulgarian titles, with 31 – but they are joined in their pursuit by Cherno More Varna, who have not triumphed since 1938.
Ludogorets still have the advantage and have endured a period of poor form with five consecutive wins in all competitions, but they still have tough games ahead against Levski Sofia and CSKA 1948.
This one could really go all the way.
Ekstraklasa (Poland)
The title race: four teams (Jagiellonia Białystok, Śląsk Wrocław, Raków Częstochowa, Lech Poznań) separated by four points with nine rounds remaining
Here we have a four-horse race, made all the more exciting with the presence of less expected favorites with eight games remaining.
Jagiellonia Bialystok, from Poland's 10th largest city, are in the lead with nine matches remaining, but the pressure is mounting as they have never won the championship before. Although they have a favorable run, memories of their second-place finishes in 2016-17 and 2017-18 will play on the minds of the main group of supporters known as the Children of Bialystok.
Śląsk Wroclaw are the closest opponents, but Lech Poznan, eight-time European champions and regulars among European clubs, are only four points in the standings, neck and neck with last year's first champion , Rakow Czestochowa. Śląsk and Rakow Czestochowa will face off on the final day in what could be a crucial match if Jagiellonia Bialystok loses its way.
Super League (Greece)
The title race: four teams (PAOK, AEK Athens, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos) separated by five points with nine play-off matches remaining
Greek football has been through a difficult time of late, with fan violence and refereeing controversies dominating the headlines, but on the pitch it has been a fascinating season. Just five points separate fourth-placed Olympiacos from leaders AEK Athens, with PAOK and Panathinaikos two and three points behind respectively.
With the league split in two for the final stage of the season, there are big games galore and everything remains to be played for. The derby of eternal rivals between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos could still be crucial.
PRVA Liga of North Macedonia (North Macedonia)
The title race: Three teams (Struga, Shkupi, Shkëndija) separated by six points with six days remaining
North Macedonia may not be on your to-do list when planning your football weekend, but an intriguing title race is unfolding in southeastern Europe.
League leader FC Struga Trim-Lum is the newcomer. The club was only founded in 2015 and rose through the ranks from fourth tier to win its first ever title last year – a remarkable feat for a club whose stadium can only accommodate 800 people.
The chasing pack is led by Shkupi and Shkëndija, two teams who stepped into the void left when traditional North Macedonian football powers FK Vardar experienced decline and a stint in the second-tier wilderness.
The final day of the season will see Struga face Shkupi and the title could well be on the line.
Although these races were very lively, a few title races proved short-lived.
In Wales, New Saints won the JD Cymru Premier title with six games remaining and have a 26-point lead over second-placed Connah's Quay. They are now looking for a quadruple after winning the Welsh League Cup and booking places in the Welsh Cup semi-finals and Scottish Challenge Cup final.
Qarabag turned heads by taking Bayer Levekusen to the brink of elimination in the Europa League; It is therefore not surprising that the Azerbaijan Premier League is a procession. Qarabag are 26 points clear of Sabah and can afford to focus on their Azerbaijan Cup semi-final, as they look to complete the double they missed out on last season when they were unexpectedly eliminated in the quarter-finals.
