And welcome back to On the Continent. We’ve tried something a little different today by delivering a newsletter for you to enjoy over your morning coffee or during your commute. Exciting, right? Anyway, here’s what you need to know about the biggest leagues across Europe as you start your Thursday:

ii. If you’re looking for another good read today, be sure to check out our friend Rory Smith’s new piece on Spurs’ logic-defying season and how it proves something has shifted in football. Get that here. 📖

iii. Feast your eyes on this incredible overhead shot of Lens fans storming the field as their club reached its first Coupe de France final in almost three decades recently. 🤩

iv. This week’s most 👀-inducing kit drop goes to F.C. Copenhagen and their 150th anniversary shirt. What a beauuuty. 🇩🇰

v. Finally, shout-out to Lazio’s 21-year-old goalkeeper Edoardo Motta, who made four consecutive saves in a penalty shootout yesterday against Atalanta to send his side through to the Coppa Italia final. 🧤

Cheers,
Tommy Stewart, Jacob Schneider & Max Bonem

P.S. Take Kubo, you have officially reached Real Sociedad legend status for this. Venga, venga, indeed. 💯

Real Betis vs. Real Madrid (Friday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

A coach cannot stay at Real Madrid without winning, and by that metric it looks like Álvaro Arbeloa’s days are numbered after his side lost to Bayern Munich in an epic Champions League semifinal last week. The former Los Blancos fullback has a close relationship with president Florentino Perez, but having replaced Xabi Alonso in January, his side are nine points adrift of Barcelona, making silverware less likely than an Uber arriving on time. Managed by Sam Eagle clone Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis are poised to reach the UCL for only the second time in their history and the first time in 20 years, if they can hold on to their fifth-placed spot.

Getafe vs. Barcelona (Saturday, 10:15 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

Although Hansi Flick is still hurting from another glorious but fruitless Champions League exit, domestically, Barcelona have been a juggernaut since he took the reins in 2024. Their 1-0 win against Celta Vigo yesterday was bittersweet after Lamine Yamal pulled up with a potential hamstring tear after scoring a penalty, which ended up being the game’s decisive goal. The good news is Barça are out of Real Madrid’s sight, and a win on Saturday at Getafe means they can effectively seal a second consecutive La Liga title in a Spotify Camp Nou El Clásico in a few weeks. Stick that on your playlist.

Atlético Madrid vs. Athletic Club (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Atlético Madrid will be devastated by their Copa del Rey final loss to Real Sociedad, but like Emperor Palpatine, Diego Simeone will tell his players: “Your hate has made you powerful." Ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semifinal with Arsenal next week, as he did before their last UCL match, the Argentine may name a funky starting XI against Ernesto Valverde’s ninth-placed Athletic Club, who are in touching distance of returning to European football having beaten Osasuna 1-0 on Tuesday.

Torino vs. Inter Milan (Sunday, 12 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

Nothing is guaranteed in this life, but a 21st Serie A title for Inter Milan is now more certain than an emotional montage set to indie music on a Bill Lawrence sitcom. Cristian Chivu has turned the Nerazzurri into an Italian steamroller, acknowledging Simone Inzaghi’s handover while evolving the side in his own stylish image. Midtable Torino have won two of their last three matches, but with a domestic double on the cards after beating Como 3-2 to reach the Coppa Italia final yesterday, Chivu’s inaugural season as Inter’s manager has been a romantic reunification. 

AC Milan vs. Juventus (Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

Italian football has regressed since the halcyon days of the ‘90s and 2000s when AC Milan and Juventus were regularly battling each other for UCL and Serie A titles, but that’s irrelevant to current managers Luciano Spalletti and Max Allegri, whose immediate missions are to secure elite European football. The latter won five Scudettos, five Coppa Italia titles and reached two UCL finals with Juve, so he might be “the one who got away,” but Allegri will have no time for nostalgia against his ex as he continues a sensible rebuild of the Rossoneri. Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic could also lock horns in this Italian civil war with an American twist.

Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Bayern Munich

Who else but Harry Kane? Like a bottle of electrolytes and a bodega BEC the morning after a night out, he’s consistently Mr. Reliable in front of the net. Bayern Munich are off to the DFB-Pokal final after defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in yesterday’s semifinal. England’s No. 1 scoring ace made it 57 goals for club and country this season early in the first half, while a stoppage-time dagger from Luis Díaz put the match to bed late. Kane has the chance to be the first footballer since Michael Owen to bring the Ballon d’Or back to his country, and now, the Bundesliga’s 2026 champions and kings of Bavaria will be fighting for their 21st Pokal title and first since 2020 – an accolade that would only further the England captain’s candidacy.

Stuttgart vs. SC Freiburg (TODAY, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß and Freiburg’s Julian Schuster are two of Germany’s most lauded young coaches, both on a mission to secure a place in Europe for their respective clubs, while also competing with Vincent Kompany for the Bundesliga’s best cap game. The tangible opportunity to reach a DFB-Pokal final where Bayern await the winner must feel like nearly completing an appropriately challenging video game before facing an impossible final boss. Hoeneß’s side are defending their 2025 Pokal title, so their winning-knowhow and possession of the Bundesliga’s second top goalscorer, Deniz Undav, makes them favorites.

Having caused an existential malaise in the Premier League by nonchalantly dissecting Chelsea and then Liverpool in the Champions League, PSG went and spoiled it all by doing something stupid, aka losing 2-1 to Lyon. John D. Rockefeller said, “Just because I happen to possess vast wealth, don't assume I'm any happier than you are!” which is pertinent when witnessing Luis Enrique’s tantrum about his side’s fixture congestion, despite the French Football Federation postponing their domestic matches to benefit them in Europe.

The champions’ loss gave Lens a look back into the title race after they beat Toulouse in injury time last weekend to go just a point behind their Parisian overlords. PSG walloped Nantes 3-0 yesterday to pull four points ahead, but with the top two set to do one last dance together on May 13, just when we thought we were out, they pulled us back in.

It’s appropriate that Rangers’ 18-year-old Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore has a MCU-adjacent name, because he’s become a superhero in Glasgow this season. The confidence he projects is Tony Stark-esque and diametrically opposed to the current vibes of his parent club, who could have done with his talents this season. When he said in a recent interview “It’s my dream to be one of the best in the world, why be scared to say it?” he meant it.

The fearless English left winger has nine goal contributions for Rangers, who are in the throes of Europe’s tightest title race with Hearts and Celtic. Spurs fans have compared him to Wayne Rooney, Ange Postecoglou picked him out for special praise, and with every match-winning performance, the decision to let him go looks Spursier by the game. Wherever the north London club ends up next season, they’ll be in for a fierce custody battle with Rangers for his signature.

Congratulations to last week’s winner Jim Feehan, who was the first to correctly answer that of Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Celtic and Real Madrid, incredibly Los Blancos are the only club to have never won the continental treble. Jim, send us your address and we’ll get you a patch!

👋 We’ll see you again tomorrow. In the meantime, you can send us your stories, questions or theories about where Bayern would finish in the Premier League to [email protected].

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