This year, too, some well-known clubs can be found among the relegated teams from Europe's top leagues, such as Leicester City.
The dramaturgy of each season culminates in the final matchdays, in which the tears of joy of the champions and the tears of grief of the relegated teams are shown at the same time. Even after this season, some traditional teams throughout Europe as well as teams that have actually been in the fast lane in recent years and have been able to celebrate some successes will once again go to the second division of the respective country. While Hertha BSC and FC Schalke are in the 2nd Bundesliga in Germany, VfB Stuttgart still have the relegation matches against Hamburger SV ahead of them. Meanwhile, Europe's most prominent relegated team comes from the Premier League.
| Relegated 2022/2023 | |
|---|---|
| England: | Southampton, Leeds United, Leicester City |
| Italy: | Sampdoria Genoa, Cremonese, Hellas Verona or Spezia Calcio |
| Spain: | Elche, Espanyol Barcelona |
Former sensational champions Leicester City are no longer playing first-class
England: It's been just seven years since Leicester City made football history. As an absolute underdog and in only the second year in the Premier League after promotion, the team led by then coach Claudio Ranieri sensationally won the championship in the English top flight in 2015/2016 - a football fairy tale in the midst of the world's financially strongest football league thanks to countless investors. Stars such as 2018 World Cup winner N'Golo Kanté and Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez laid the foundation for their international careers during the championship season.
From the squad at that time, only Jamie Vardy is still under contract with Leicester and will now also go into the Championship with his heart club. 34 points from 38 games were only enough for 18th place out of 20. Despite the 2-1 victory on the last matchday against West Ham United, relegation could not be prevented. At the same time, the direct competitor FC Everton also won. Nine years after promotion and seven years after the historic championship, Leicester will continue one floor below in the future. Southampton and Leeds United will also have to compete in the Championship again.
In 2016, Leicester City won the English championship for the first time. Now it's back to the second division. © imago/Assembly
Despite goal-scoring attack, Espanyol Barcelona is relegated
Italy: After eleven years in Serie A, Genoa's Sampdoria return to Serie B, where they last competed in the 2011/2012 season. Even though the club has repeatedly fought against relegation during this period, the way in which Genoa will now finish the season in last place is particularly worrying. One round before the end of the season, Samp has only three wins, but a total of 24 defeats. In addition, the big rival FC Genoa is promoted to the top flight in Italy at the same time – another blow to the neck. In addition, newly promoted Cremonese is relegated after only one season. The third relegation spot is between Hellas Verona and Spezia Calcio on the last matchday (both 31 points)
Spain: After 91 years in LaLiga, Espanyol Barcelona were relegated to the second division for the first time in 2020. After two years, it is now the second time in the Spanish lower house - despite the Stuttgart-born former Bundesliga striker (Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96) Joselu, who is the top scorer in the league with 16 goals this season after the world stars Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski. With 49 goals, Espanyol even has the fifth-best attack in Spain. Because of the defensive work that is not suitable for the first division (66 goals conceded, poor defense in the league), it will continue one class lower in the next season despite the invigorating football of Barcelona. Elche are also relegated as the bottom of the table. On the last matchday, six teams, including the former top club FC Valencia, are still fighting for relegation. (jsk)