Champions, contenders, and relegation candidates in Europe's top five leagues

With the 2024/25 season about to kick-off in Europe's top footballing nations, we take a a look at those likely to be lifting the trophy come the season's end, celebrating continental football qualification and the ones likely to be crying into their beer mugs in the English Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and Bundesliga.

1 English Premier League

1.1 Likely champions

After masterminding a shock triumph without major transfer moves last season, Arne Slot and Liverpool have enjoyed a bumper transfer window so far, and are not done yet.

This, coupled with a dominant display last season, has made them favourites to defend their title.

The only question for Slot may be the time it will take for the new arrivals to bed in with the rest of the established stars.

Runners-up Arsenal have also strengthened, though, and are likely to once again be the Reds’ strongest challengers. The wily Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will also be determined to return to their glory days and can’t be written off.

1.2 Europe bound

Those likely to join Liverpool, Arsenal and City in qualifying for the Champions League include Fifa Club World Cup winners Chelsea.

The only thing potentially ruling them out of title contention is the question of squad depth.

Manchester United are long shots for Europe, should Ruben Amorim’s revival finally bear fruit. Europa is more likely for Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham, though.

1.3 Relegation candidates

Considering the struggles newly promoted sides have faced staying up in the Premier League, recently promoted Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland are widely tipped to go straight back down to the Championship.

Yet with Brentford in seeming disarray amid a worrying exodus of key players to rival teams, the race to avoid the axe may not be that straightforward this season. 

2 LaLiga (Spain) 

2.1 Likely champions

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are defending champs and enter the season as favourites once again, though Real Madrid might have something to say about that.

Barca were an irrepressible attacking force last season – banging in 102 goals with rising star Lamine Yemal justifiably hogging the headlines.

They were vulnerable defensively at times, though, and that could be their undoing. Runners-up Real will look to exploit any weakness, but talisman Vinicius Junior cannot afford another off-key season if Xabi Alonso’s side are to depose the Catalans.

2.2 Europe bound

Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal are the other sides tipped to qualify for the Champions League. Real Betis and Real Sociedad are considered among the favourites for the Europa League places.

2.3 Relegation candidates

Promoted sides Real Oviedo, Elche, and Levante are expected to struggle this season, though stability may prove a saving grace.

The same cannot be said of Sevilla, whose financial troubles have made them part of the conversation. Levante, who topped the second tier last season, could benefit should Sevilla fail to arrest their slide. 

3 Ligue 1 (France) 

3.1 Likely champions

League and European champions Paris Saint-Germain are expected to continue where they left off last season under Luis Enrique.

The side boasts a perfect blend of youth and experience and is tipped to rule the roost for a number of years to come.

The fact that they have held onto most of their stars, and strengthened in key areas, does not bode well for any potential title challengers. It’s likely to be another landslide victory for the side from the capital that only lost twice last season.

3.2 Europe bound

Marseille and Monaco are the leading challengers for runners-up and Champions League qualification spots.

Marseille benefited from an ambitious summer spending spree, while Monaco brought in experience. Nice, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Lens could contend for the remaining European places. Lyon would have to sort out their finances, though.

3.3 Relegation candidates

While there are no clear favourites to be relegated from Ligue 1, Lorient, Paris and Metz are all expected to be dragged into the survival scrap. 

4 Serie A (Italy) 

4.1 Likely champions

After winning Italy’s top football league in two of the past three seasons, Napoli are tipped to make it three in four.

The continued decline of Juventus has added unpredictability and excitement to the Italian top flight, with Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Atalanta all being crowned champions since ‘The Old Lady’ last lifted the Scudetto.

Inter finished second last season and will be in with a shout of going one better this season, having lifted the title in the 2023/24 campaign.  

4.2 Europe bound

When it comes to the European places, it’s hard to look beyond these former and current champions. 

4.3 Relegation candidates

Promoted teams have more of a fighting chance of staying up in Italy’s top flight than in other European leagues.

This will be music to the ears of fans of Cremonese, Pisa and Sassuolo. Of the trio, Pisa are given the strongest chance of survival by pundits. Hellas Verona are tipped as the likeliest of Serie A’s existing teams to get the axe, but Lecce and Parma are also not safe.

5 Bundesliga (Germany) 

5.1 Likely champions

Bayern Munich’s star-studded squad and history of dominance makes them the team to beat after wrestling back control of the Bundesliga from Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Harry Kane is scoring goals for fun – and will be buoyed by a first career title – as Vincent Kompany continues his overhaul, solidifying their position as favourites.

Like Barca, they’ve shown a soft underbelly at times with Kompany’s possession-based, high-pressing style of play. But the acquisition of Germany international defender Jonathon Tah should help remedy that.  

5.2 Europe bound

The fight for Champions League qualification is expected to be typically fierce. Bayern, Leverkusen, and Dortmund are expected to take three of the spots, leaving the fourth place hotly contested.

Clubs such as RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart have the quality to go deep, and a late-season push could prove decisive. Freiburg could also be a dark horse. 

5.3 Relegation candidates

The odds are stacked against promoted sides Hamburg and Cologne, while Heidenheim also face a fierce survival battle as one of the smallest teams in the Bundesliga with a budget to match. They are not short of fight, though.