BETFINAL’S LOOK AT THE WEEKEND – PART ONE 

As we enter the final stages of the footie calendar, it’s make–or–break time for the teams in the English Football League’s. Things are hotting up on the field and we’re here to bring you the passion! After months of predictions, we take a look at our serious contenders for promotion, relegation, and the play offs as another season draws to a close. Been hibernating all winter? No worries! You’re about to become an expert thanks to our end–of–season review. This week, we’re bringing you a two–part special! 

EFL: Premier League, Championship, League 1, League 2, National League Review (Part One).

After nine enthralling months, we enter the final stages of the English domestic football calendar this weekend with plenty left to play for! Our 5–tier review of the English football league will guide you through everything you need to know heading into the final few weeks of fixtures.  It’s time to figure out where everyone will finish in this year’s Premier League and Football League. 

With no more than five games remaining, some have already been crowned champions (A joint record), some have been relegated; but for many, there’s still hope! The season is far from over and for those with places to fight for, it’s cup–final time! As we approach another action–packed weekend, here’s how we expect things to pan out in the following weeks.

Premier League

Champions: Manchester City

Champions League Qf: Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham. 

Relegated:West Brom, Stoke, Swansea.

 As many predicted, the Premier League title is coming back to Manchester. Not many knew exactly which club would be crowned Champions back in May but Pep Guardiola’s excellence saw Manchester City win the league in joint record–breaking time (5 games to spare, United 2000/01). Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are safely on track to secure a place in next year’s UCL.

Keep an eye on Burnley! That’s a phrase that hasn’t been uttered in decades! Burnley still has a chance to sneak into European contention for the first time in 51 years. 

 Time is running out for the trio at the bottom. West Brom, Stoke, and Southampton are slowly drifting further from safety. West Brom have appeared to be on their way to the Championship for a while now. Despite their surprise victory over Manchester United last weekend, their inferior goal difference all but confirms their departure from the Premier League. Stoke and the Southampton fight on and with good reason! But without three wins from the next three games, it’s not looking likely.

Swansea are by no means safe. They must face both Southampton and Stoke in a relegation dog fight before the close of the season. Worringly for the Swans, before those crucial matches, fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea are to come. That’s why they are heavily tipped for the drop down to the Championship. 

Championship
Promoted: Wolves, Fulham

Playoffs: Cardiff, Aston Villa, Millwall, Preston (W)

Relegated: Sunderland, Burton Albion, Birmingham

The Championship is one of the most contested leagues in the world. Without a doubt, England’s most closely competitive division. The Wolves, this year’s champions, ran away with the league title and have already been crowned champion with 4 games to spare. Nuno Gomez’s men stormed the division and will return to the top flight next season for the first time since 2012. One automatic place and one playoff place still remain so, on to the rest of the pack!

Aston Villa, Cardiff, and Fulham have already secured a playoff place but the war isn’t over yet. The three must battle it out on the pitch for a chance to join Wolves in the automatic promotion positions for a spot in the Premier League. Whoever misses out on automatic, the lottery of the playoffs awaits. 

The team who finishes third and fourth are destined to each play one of the following in the play–offs: Middlesborough, Milwall, Derby, Preston North End or Sheffield United. Even Bristol City down in 11th are still in with a chance of the playoffs. However, we’re tipping small–spending minnows, Millwall and Preston, to finish on a high and join the big guns in the playoffs. 

The EFL Championship playoff final is often dubbed, “the richest game in football.” With mouth-watering prize money at stake, £290million to be precise, the playoff final is the most valuable one-off sporting event in the entire world. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to join the richest league in the world: The Premier League. Even finishing at the bottom of the Premier League would snag the not-so unfortunate team a cool £99.9m in parachute payments. 

So, will your club reach the green grass of the Premier League? Will it be relegation for our feathered friends or our sacred squad? If you disagree with our predictions, comment below!

Part two will feature League 1, League 2, and the National League. Stayed tuned!