The final decisions in three top football nations will be made at the weekend. Germany chooses its cup winner, England and Italy expect a heart-stopping final for the championship title. Who has the strongest nerves?
Today, 8 p.m.: DFB Cup final in Berlin: Freiburg vs. Leipzig (Servus TV)
An Austrian will lift the trophy at the showdown. At Freiburg, Philipp Lienhart defends, at Leipzig Konrad Laimer is the “pressing machine” (quote from Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann) in midfield. Both clubs have never won the second most important title in German football, Freiburg is in a DFB Cup final for the first time, Leipzig for the third time after 2019 (0: 3 against Bayern) and 2021 (1: 4 against Dortmund).
For Laimer it could be the farewell performance in the jersey of the “Red Bulls”. “I’m a guy who is very ambitious, who wants to play for everything at some point,” said the 24-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer of 2023. FC Bayern has an interest and aspiration to win every title if possible. That would fit. “It’s important to concentrate on the here and now. At the moment, only the final counts – and we want to win that,” emphasized Laimer.
Sunday, 5 p.m.: English title duel between Manchester City and Liverpool
Will Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard lead his heart club to Premier League title? He hadn’t managed that as a player, but as a manager at Aston Villa he can become a champions maker by preventing leaders Manchester City from winning at home, while at the same time the Reds, a point behind, have to win against Wolverhampton. Sky broadcasts live. “It’s possible, not likely, but possible,” said Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp. Manchester City have more pressure. “If I were in their place, I wouldn’t feel like a champion yet.” City coach Pep Guardiola recently complained that the media and fans were on the side of the opponent because they had “an incredible history” in the European Cup. “But not in the Premier League, they’ve only won one in 30 years.”
For his team it is about the fourth championship title in the past five seasons and the eighth overall. Klopp countered with a dig at City’s elimination from the Champions League against Real Madrid, his team’s opponents in the final next Saturday: “It’s hard to get kicked out of the Champions League and then Liverpool reached the final too.”
The relegation battle also promises to be very exciting: Everton secured relegation with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace (after being 2-0 down). In addition to Watford and Norwich, either Burnley (home game against Newcastle) or Leeds United (away against Brentford) has to go into the second-class championship. The two threatened clubs are level on points, Leeds, the team of Jesse Marsch and Franz Schiemer, but have a goal difference that is 20 goals worse. That’s what matters.
Sunday, 6 p.m.: Italian title duel between AC Milan and Inter Milan
A draw at Sassuolo Calcio is enough for AC Milan to win their first Scudetto since 2010/11. Defending champions Inter Milan are two points behind with the home game against Sampdoria in front of them. In the event of a tie, the direct duel decides, which speaks for Milan. The spectacle can be seen on DAZN. (like/alex)
UEFA: Established champions
32 champions have been determined in the 55 UEFA nations. In northern Europe, the year-round championships are only in the first third, Liechtenstein’s clubs play in the Swiss league system. Champions ranked by UEFA five-year ranking:
Spain Real Madrid (35 titles | perm. 2020)
Germany Bayern Munich (32 | 2021)
France Paris St-Germain (10 | 2020)
Portugal FC Porto (30 | 2020)
Netherlands Ajax Amsterdam (36 | 2021)
Russia Zenit St. Petersburg (8 | 2021)
Belgium Club Brugge (18 | 2021)
Austria FC Salzburg (16 | 2021)
Scotland Celtic Glasgow (52 | 2020)
Turkey Trabzonspor (7 | 1984)
Cyprus Apollon Limassol (4 | 2006)
Czech Republic Viktoria Pilsen (6 | 2018)
Croatia Dinamo Zagreb (23 | 2021)
Switzerland FC Zurich (13 | 2009)
Greece Olympiacos Piraeus (47 | 2021)
Israel Maccabi Haifa (14 | 2021)
Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad (11 | 2021)
Romania CFR Cluj (8 | 2021)
Azerbaijan Qarabag Agdam (11 | 2020)
Hungary Ferencvaros (33 | 2021)
Poland Lech Poznan (8 | 2015)
Slovakia Slovan Bratislava (16 | 2021)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar (7 | 2018)
North Macedonia KF Shkupi (1)
Albania KF Tirana (26 | 2020)
Northern Ireland FC Linfield (56 | 2021)
Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol (21 | 2021)
Malta Hibernians Paola (13 | 2017)
Kosovo KF Ballkani (1)
Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps (26 | 2021)
Montenegro Sutjeska Niksic (5 | 2019)
Wales The New Saints (14 | 2019)
Source: Nachrichten
