The Beautiful Game

It’s crunch time again, in European Football, as most leagues play their final game this weekend.  Chelsea, Liverpool, and Leicester City (currently 3, 4, and 5, in the Premier League) are vying for the final two Champions League slots.  If Chelsea and Liverpool win, Leicester City, after another strong season, goes to the Europa League.  If Chelsea loses (or ties), and Liverpool and Leicester City win, Chelsea goes to the Europa League, unless it beats Man City in the Champions League final in Istanbul later this month.  Needless to say, given the current points standings and goals differentials, other permutations are possible. A much-improved West Ham squad, another one of my favorite EPL clubs, has secured at worst seventh place in the Premier League and a play-in spot for the Europa League.  AFC Sunderland (Sunderland ‘Til I Die) looks to spend another year in League One, unless it can beat Lincoln City by at least two goals. 

Always one of the top clubs in La Liga, Athletico Madrid has a chance to win its first La Liga title since 2014.  Elche and Eibar are vying to avoid relegation.  RCD Espanyol has won the Segunda Division, securing its return to La Liga, after an unusual (and abysmal) 2019-20 campaign. It looks like I now have a reason to visit Cornelia El-Prat (pictured above) again. 

Inter Milan has earned the Scudetto, with Napoli and Juventus vying for the final (fourth) Champions League slot.  AS Roma, my favorite Serie A club, is locked in seventh, out of Europa league play. 

Bayern Munich has (surprise, surprise) yet again won the Bundesliga title.  Surprisingly, to some, Wolfsburg has earned a spot in Champions League play next year. 

Last, but not least, there is a pile up at the top of the Ligue 1 table, with PSG in second, one point behind Lille, and Monaco and Lyon two and three points, respectively, behind PSG. 

Closer to home, the San Jose Earthquakes (Major League Soccer) are cooling off, after winning three out of their first four games.  Conmebol Libertadores is in full flight, with Gremio thrashing Aragua (6-2) last night in Caracas.  For those interested, Sling’s Best of Spanish TV ($10/month), featuring La Liga, Ligue 1, Turkish Super Lig, and various competitions (including Conmebol Libertadores) is a jewel of a resource for serious soccer fans.  In short, despite the pandemic, there is no shortage of soccer. 

Of course, soccer, for me, is not only a spectator sport.  Wednesday night was cool and blustery, with the wind as the twelfth player on the pitch.  Despite these sub-optimal conditions, and owing perhaps to the wind being behind my back, my passes were on point, and a good time was had by most.  Most importantly, perhaps, my spouse generally approves of this activity, in no small part due to my new-found interest in doing laundry (to wash my soccer gear). 

Suffice it to say, soccer, one of the better distractions during the pandemic, will be the main event this weekend.  

Comments welcome.