THE finish line is almost in sight for Europe’s top four football leagues. With this unique World Cup-interrupted 2022/23 season drawing to a close in a matter of weeks, we will soon find out the identities of the champions in England, Spain, Italy and Germany. BT Weekend checks out the current state of the title races and what to expect this weekend.

Citizens in cruise control

Arsenal, the leaders of the English Premier League (EPL) for most of the season, are still perched atop the standings but barely hanging on by a thread. The Gunners were 11 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City at one stage, but the Citizens – the serial champions and winners in four of the last five seasons – have slowly chipped away at that advantage.

On Thursday (Apr 27), Manchester City regained control of the EPL title race after dismantling a hapless Arsenal 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Yes, Arsenal remain two points in front but they’ve also played two games more than City, and it’s difficult to see Pep Guardiola’s men losing their momentum.

City have many world-class stars in their ranks but they owe much of their success to their unstoppable striker Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian’s 33 league goals putting him on course for the EPL’s Golden Boot. City travel to mid-table Fulham on Sunday, and they will go top with a win as Arsenal don’t play until next Wednesday when they host North London rivals Chelsea.

Too close to call in Germany

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The most exciting and unpredictable Bundesliga title race in many years could well go down to the final game of the season. A solitary point separates the leaders Borussia Dortmund from the 10-time defending champions Bayern Munich, and it’s anyone’s guess who will blink first.

Bayern are so used to being the frontrunners every year, but a poor run of only two wins in their last eight matches in all competitions has seen them slip off the pace. Bayern did beat Dortmund 4-2 earlier this month, but that remains the highlight of an otherwise poor April for Thomas Tuchel’s players.

By the time this article sees print, Dortmund would have already played their next match – a local derby away to relegation-threatened Bochum on Saturday morning. Next up for Bayern is a home game against the bottom club Hertha Berlin on Sunday, and it would be a major surprise if the Bavarians don’t claim all three points with ease.

Party time in Naples

Napoli have been light years ahead of the chasing pack in Italy’s Serie A this season, and it’s a matter of when, not if, the late Diego Maradona’s former club are officially crowned champions.

That coronation could happen as soon as this weekend, if Napoli defeat Salernitana at home on Sunday and Lazio fail to win away to Inter-Milan the same day.

The Partenopei (Napoli’s nickname) have been irresistible in the league, and they rammed home a fierce statement of intent last week when they beat Juventus with an injury-time goal to extend their lead at the top of the table to a whopping 17 points.

With Napoli surely not surrendering such a hefty advantage, attention has already turned to the teams that will finish just below them, with just seven points separating second-placed Lazio and sixth-ranked Inter.

Barcelona reigns in Spain

With an 11-point lead and only seven fixtures left, even the bookmakers have conceded that Barcelona will be this season’s La Liga champions. Second-placed Real Madrid have excelled in this year’s Champions League as they usually do, but they have been strangely subdued in their domestic league with recent losses to Villarreal and Girona.

That said, Barcelona have stumbled lately too. Manager Xavi’s side have just one win in their last four league games – a 1-0 success over Atletico Madrid last weekend – as they hobble their way to a first league trophy since 2019.

They wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead further when they lost to Rayo Vallecano in midweek, but they have a chance to make amends when they welcome an out-of-form Real Betis to the Nou Camp on Sunday.

By the time that match begins, Barcelona would have known the result of Real Madrid’s game against 15th-placed Almeria that kicks off just a couple of hours earlier.