The Premier League title fight and relegation race may be largely settled, but the battle for European spots is creating unprecedented drama as the season enters its final months.
In England, the middle of the table has become a high-stakes battleground where eight teams remain in contention for lucrative Champions League positions. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has launched another confrontation with LaLiga over scheduling concerns, and the Bundesliga features unexpected clubs challenging for European competition next season.
Premier League: Champions League Race in Chaos
As Liverpool and Arsenal battle for the Premier League title, the real drama lies in the crowded field below them. Third-place Nottingham Forest, now with 54 points, inches closer to a historic Champions League berth – something they achieved twice during Brian Clough's reign but never in the modern era. Under Nuno Espirito Santo, the "Tricky Trees" continue creating magic weekly.
Below Forest, chaos reigns. Just eight points separate fourth-place Chelsea, who lost 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday, and 11th-place Brentford, who defeated AFC Bournemouth 2-1 on Saturday. With 27 points still available and fifth place also qualifying for next season's Champions League due to UEFA's expanded format, the competition remains fierce.
The weekend's best match saw Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion share points in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Ecuador international Pervis Estupiñán delivered the standout goal – a magnificently curved free kick that deceived City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Brighton earned their first point at City since 1982.
Nottingham Forest's Nikola Milenkovic emerged as the weekend's MVP, scoring and assisting in their 4-2 victory over Ipswich Town. The Serbian defender dominated from the back and initiated almost every buildup, embodying the resilience and collective fight that has defined Forest's surprising success this season.
LaLiga: Madrid Picks Another Fight
Real Madrid overcame Villarreal 2-1 thanks to Kylian Mbappé's six-minute brace, but post-match discussion centered on the club's latest conflict with LaLiga concerning player rest.
Madrid's players had fewer than 72 hours – 66 hours and 45 minutes, to be precise – to recover between Wednesday's exhausting Champions League match against Atlético Madrid and Saturday's league fixture. The club's TV channel voiced displeasure before kickoff, and manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed afterward: "I think today is the last time. We won't do it again."
When asked if his team would refuse to play if the situation repeated, Ancelotti stated: "Of course."
LaLiga president Javier Tebas quickly noted on social media that Madrid's stance will soon be tested. They're scheduled to play Leganés on March 29 and then face Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg less than 72 hours later.
While Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, and Real Betis also played with insufficient rest this weekend following European commitments, Madrid's confrontation represents their latest battle with the league over issues ranging from TV rights management to the Super League.
The weekend's best LaLiga match saw Real Betis complete a thrilling 3-2 comeback against Leganés, while Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García earned MVP honors despite his team's 2-1 defeat to Real Mallorca. García made two outstanding penalty saves, though the second was eventually retaken after VAR intervention.
Bundesliga: Unfamiliar Faces Challenge for European Spots
Germany's Bundesliga features surprising contenders for Champions League qualification this season. Mainz and SC Freiburg delivered one of the weekend's most exciting matches, a 2-2 draw that saw Mainz overcome a red card to Dominik Kohr in the 43rd minute to twice take the lead.
Mainz have particularly impressed under Danish manager Bo Henriksen, who has assembled a competitive team from homegrown players and outcasts capable of challenging Germany's traditional powers.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich dropped points for the second consecutive match in a draw with Union Berlin, while Bayer Leverkusen scored twice late to secure a comeback win over VfB Stuttgart. Borussia Dortmund continued their inconsistent form with a 2-0 defeat to RB Leipzig.
Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach produced the weekend's most entertaining match, a 4-2 Gladbach victory featuring reckless defending and a hat trick from Alassane Pléa – who became only the second player in Bundesliga history to score multiple hat tricks away against the same opponent.
Around Europe
In the English Championship, Sheffield United's 1-0 derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday helped them reach 80 points, level with leaders Leeds United. Burnley extended their unbeaten run to 25 matches with a 2-0 win against Swansea City, securing their 27th clean sheet of the season – a record in England's second tier.
The Old Firm derby provided customary drama despite Celtic's commanding league position, with Rangers securing a surprising 3-2 victory at Celtic Park – the hosts' first Scottish Premiership home defeat since December 2023.
In Italy, Dele Alli's long-awaited return to football ended disappointingly when the former Tottenham and England midfielder was sent off just ten minutes after making his Como debut against AC Milan. "2 years! Not necessarily how I planned it, but we keep moving," Alli later posted on Instagram, after waiting more than two years to return to action amid injury problems and mental health challenges.
