The Premier League has taken some knocks this season, and PSG 5-4 Bayern only seemed to confirm that the real entertainment lives elsewhere. But if the Premier League could talk, it might swear a bit and point out: at least we've got a bloody title race. How sweary would the top flight actually be? That's debatable; what's not is this: Germany: Bayern 15 clear, already champions. Spain: Barcelona 11 clear, on the brink. Italy: Inter 10 clear, it's all over. France: PSG six clear. Fin.
Did this really happen? It did, and where did the time go? Ten years! Ben Fisher revisits Leicester's astonishing Premier League title win. That Frenkie de Jong interview leads us nicely - who says this blog is just thrown together? - to La Liga's title race. In truth, it's not much of a race at all as Barcelona can clinch the title this weekend with four games to spare. If Barcelona win at Osasuna today and Real Madrid can't beat Espanyol on Sunday, it's done. Then again, maybe Barca would prefer it to roll on a week as guess who visits the Camp Nou next Sunday? Yep, Real Madrid.
As for League Two, plenty going on there as well. It's a straight fight between MK Dons and Bromley for who goes up as champions while Cambridge, Salford, Notts County, Grimsby, Chesterfield and Swindon jockey for playoff position. At the bottom, Barrow need a win and a goal difference miracle to survive while Harrogate, Crawley, Newport and Tranmere are also in danger of dropping out. All League One and Two games kick off at 3pm BST.
Want the Championship's promotion and playoff permutations? Nick Ames has them in this final day scene setter. Sample: "One thing is certain: Ipswich will be up if they beat 14th-placed QPR, on paper the perfect opponent, at an expectant Portman Road." Plenty of fun - or gut-wrenching drama if you're a fan - awaits in League One. Lincoln and Cardiff finished a mile clear for automatic promotion; Bolton are assured a playoff spot. But beneath them, Stockport, Bradford, Stevenage, Luton and Plymouth battle for three remaining playoff berths. At the bottom, Port Vale, Rotherham and Northampton are already down. Either Exeter or Leyton Orient will join them.
Arsenal don't exactly look like sub-two hour man Sebastian Sawe as the Premier League marathon enters its final miles. The toiling Gunners were caught by Manchester City 10 days ago, but due to Pep's men heading to a drinks station/tying their laces/being interviewed by JJ Chalmers (this analogy is breaking down), Arsenal got a chance to kick clear again. With two games before City next plays, the fixture list gave Arsenal the opportunity to move six points in front. They banked the first three by edging past Newcastle and can double that lead by winning today's home game with Fulham. City can respond by taking three points at Everton on Monday. This is a long-winded way of saying: these are today's Premier League fixtures.
Let's have a proper gander at the Championship table. Relegation spots are already decided: Oxford, Leicester (!) and Sheffield Wednesday all heading to League One. Coventry could potentially win the Championship by 14 points - some effort in such a mad league. Drama awaits, and the good news is we don't have to wait long: all today's final round games kick off at 12.30 BST. Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough can still grab the final automatic promotion spot. A rung below, Wrexham, Hull and Derby try to secure playoff berths - plenty on that Wrexham v Middlesbrough game. Leeds all but confirmed Premier League survival with a 3-1 win over relegated Burnley at Elland Road last night.
A number of leading European countries still expect to lose money at the World Cup despite Fifa increasing the prize and participation fund by $112m (£82m) this week. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says freshness was the key to the PSG v Bayern classic, something Premier League teams just don't have. Under-fire Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admits 'a lot is riding' on today's game with Brighton after meeting with the Magpies' Saudi owners.
Good morning everyone (shuffles papers, looks into camera while staff mill around) and welcome to matchday live! We're at the stage of the season when every day feels significant, make-or-break, do-or-die. That's absolutely the case this Saturday with three teams - Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough - all having a shot at clinching the second automatic promotion spot from the Championship to the Premier League. At the top, Arsenal have the chance to pull six points clear when they host Fulham this evening. So there's that and, quite frankly, an awful lot more. Let's do this.