Manchester United hope for Champions League luck as Madrid wait on Barcelona to slip up

Europe’s top leagues reach the finishing line this weekend with some important issues still to be decided.

Barcelona lead the way by a point from Real Madrid in La Liga, but both face last day games away from home – Barca at Granada, while Real travel to Deportivo La Coruna.

Granada need a point to be certain of avoiding relegation, but with Barca having won eight of their last nine meetings they will be confident of securing their second successive title.

Real, who are are chasing their first La Liga crown since 2012, have dominated against Deportivo in recent times, winning 10 and drawing one of their previous 11 games.

Deportivo have been tricky opponents this season with 18 drawn games, but Real will fancy their chances of victory and then hope Granada can lend them a helping hand against the current league leaders.

In the Premier League, the two Manchester clubs are hunting the lucrative fourth Champions League place.

United’s 3-2 defeat at West Ham United on Tuesday left City two points in front of their rivals and with a far superior goal difference.

City travel to Swansea City knowing a point should be enough to seal fourth place, but the Welsh side are in good form at the moment having scored seven goals in their last two games.

The Swans have won just one of their last meetings with City, leaving Manuel Pelligrini’s side big favorites to fend off United’s challenge.

Despite reaching the FA Cup Final, Louis van Gaal has overseen a frustrating season for United and while they should see off Bournemouth with ease at Old Trafford on Sunday it is likely they will miss out on the Champions League.

Elsewhere, there is a similar scenario in Ligue 1 in France with Monaco currently in the third and final slot just two points ahead of Nice.

With ten games to go Monaco looked certainties to finish in the top three, but a run of three wins in their next nine matches opened the door for Nice.

They head into Saturday’s home game against Montpelier unbeaten in their last 28 meetings, but the visitors are in good form having won four on the spin.

Just two defeats in their last nine games has given Nice a fighting chance of overtaking Monaco, although they face a difficult final day at Guingamp.

The hosts have a reasonable record against Nice in recent times, winning six and drawing four of their previous 17 games.