This weekend's permutations: Which titles, relegations could be decided around Europe?

The 2022-23 campaign has been a unique one, split more or less in half by a winter World Cup which saw club football put on the back-burner at a time when it is often busiest.

All of the efforts expended over the past 10 months or so come down to the final stages of the campaign, and some clubs are on the verge of achieving their goals - or suffering unwanted fates - already.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of the permutations for this weekend's action from Europe's top divisions.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND?

Southampton could be relegated from the Premier League

Barcelona could win the La Liga title

Ajaccio and Troyes could be relegated from Ligue 1

Feyenoord could win the Eredivisie title

Benfica could win the Primeira Liga title

Pacos de Ferreira and Santa Clara could be relegated from the Primeira Liga

SV Darmstadt 98 and Heidenheim could be promoted to the Bundesliga

Le Havre could be promoted to Ligue 1

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Saturday could be judgement day for Southampton, whose thrilling 4-3 defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest last time out left them on the brink of relegation with eight points now separating them from safety and only nine points left to fight for.

As such, Ruben Selles's side know that only a win will do against Fulham at St Mary's, with a draw or defeat consigning them to Championship football next season with two games to spare.

Indeed, even a win might not be enough depending on results elsewhere, although should they beat the Cottagers then their 11-year Premier League stay could not officially be over until Sunday at the earliest.

In Ligue 1, Ajaccio find themselves in similarly dire straits, knowing that any dropped points away to champions and leaders Paris Saint-Germain would see them suffer an immediate return to the second tier.

With PSG still having work to do to secure another title this season, it would take a monumental upset on Saturday to prevent Ajaccio joining Angers in being relegated from Ligue 1.

Another relegation could also be confirmed in Portugal, where Pacos de Ferreira could be demoted to the second tier for the first time since 2017-18.

Pacos are in a slightly stronger position than Southampton and Ajaccio in that they are only three points adrift of the relegation playoff place, but they would still be relegated on Saturday if they lose against Chaves and Maritimo then win away to Sporting Lisbon later that day.

In that scenario, Pacos would be six points adrift of Maritimo with six points left to play for, but they have an inferior head-to-head record against their relegation rivals, and that is used as the tiebreaker instead of goal difference in Portugal.

SUNDAY, MAY 14

If Southampton beat Fulham on Saturday then they would have staved off the threat of relegation for one more day at least, but it still may not be enough to save them if other results go their way.

It would take an unlikely sequence of scorelines, but Southampton would still be relegated on Sunday if they win on Saturday, Nottingham Forest avoid defeat away to Chelsea on Saturday, and then Everton win at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

For Barcelona, Sunday could be the day that their first La Liga title since 2018-19 is confirmed, and it could even happen before they kick another ball.

Should Real Madrid fail to win at home to Getafe on Saturday and then Atletico Madrid drop points against Elche on Sunday, then Xavi's men will be confirmed as champions even before they kick off against local rivals Espanyol - a draw for Atletico being enough due to Barca's superior head-to-head record.

However, even if those two results do not occur, matters are still firmly in Barcelona's hands as victory in their derby against Espanyol would secure the title regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Feyenoord are in a similarly strong position in Eredivisie, with victory over Go Ahead Eagles being enough for them to be crowned Dutch champions for the first time since 2016-17.

Even if they fail to win, the title could still be secured later that day if closest challengers PSV Eindhoven also drop points at home to Fortuna Sittard.

A third major European league crown could also be confirmed this weekend in Portugal, where Benfica are on the brink of a record-extending 38th Primeira Liga title, and a first since 2018-19.

Roger Schmidt's side can do their part on Saturday by beating Portimonense away from home, but then they would still need Porto to lose at home to Casa Pia on Sunday in order for the title to be decided with three games to spare.

At the other end of the Primeira Liga table, Santa Clara would be relegated on Sunday if Maritimo win at Sporting Lisbon on Saturday and Santa Clara then fail to beat high-flying Sporting Braga away from home.

Troyes could also face relegation from Ligue 1 this weekend, with any failure to win against European hopefuls Rennes consigning them to the drop.

Even victory may not be enough for the French outfit should Auxerre avoid defeat away to Brest or Nantes beat Toulouse on the road.

In Germany, meanwhile, two teams could secure automatic promotion to the Bundesliga, with Darmstadt needing to match or better Hamburg's result, and Heidenheim needing to win and for Hamburg to lose.

All three teams kick off at the same time on Sunday afternoon, with Darmstadt visiting Hannover, Heidenheim away to Paderborn and Hamburg travelling to Jahn Regensburg.

MONDAY, MAY 15

There could also be a promotion to Ligue 1 in France on Monday, with Le Havre sitting nine points clear of third-placed Metz with 12 points left to fight for.

Victory for Metz at home to Grenoble on Saturday would ensure that Le Havre's promotion party is delayed for at least another week, but if Metz drop points then the door will be open for the Ligue 2 leaders, who would clinch automatic promotion if they better Metz's result.