In terms of capacity, 42 rounds have already been played in the England „Championship“ division, and there are four matches left for teams until the end of the championship. After the 46 rounds, two teams will compete for a direct ticket to the „Premier“ league, while teams occupying the 3-6 positions will compete against each other in playoffs for the last ticket to the highest division in England. Eurofootball.com presents you with a review of the „Championship“ championship. Who is aiming for direct promotions? There are three teams - „Middlesbrough“ (85 points), „Burnley“ (83 points), and „Brighton“ (81 points) - competing for the first two places, which guarantee a spot in the „Premier“ league next year. Other teams are at least ten points behind the second place, so it is clear that they could only reach the top two spots with incredible luck and favorable results. Let's take a look at what awaits these three teams this season and what has led to their success in this season. „Middlesbrough“ - „Burnley“ (2nd place, away), „Ipswich“ (8th place, home), „Birmingham“ (9th place, away), „Brighton“ (3rd place, home). „Middlesbrough“, the team with the best defense in the season (27 goals conceded), found success through disciplined and team play. No player scored more than 8 goals in league matches, but a total of 16 players from the team scored goals in the season. In the autumn of 2013, the team was taken over by former assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid - Aitonas Karanka, who improved the team's results each season. In the first year, they finished 12th, last year they finished fourth and only lost in the decisive playoff match against "Norwich", and this year with stable play, they lead the second division in England. Although they are currently in first place and lead the third-placed „Brighton“ team by four points, their schedule is very unfavorable as they face matches against both direct competitors. In order to keep everything in their hands, they cannot lose to either of these teams. „Burnley“ - „Middlesbrough“ (1st place, home), „Preston“ (10th place, away), QPR (11th place, home), „Charlton“ (23rd place, away). „Burnley“ is the most scoring team in the championship this season (66 goals scored), and they climbed to second place due to excellent play in 2016. Last November, they fell into a pit where they did not win three matches in a row, and in eight rounds they only won 7 points. Nevertheless, they ended this unsuccessful streak at the end of last year, and this year "Burnley“ has not lost a single match. Leading this team forward is the player who joined from another „Championship“ club – „Brentford“, the striker Andre Gray, who was bought for 12.4 million euros before this season, scored 24 goals and made 9 assists in total in the championship matches. The 24-year-old forward is the most scoring player in the league. Compared to their main competitors, „Burnley“ has the most favorable schedule. They will play at home against „Middlesbrough“, and in the last match they will face „Charlton“ team that is being relegated from the league. If they do not lose to „Middlesbrough“ today, they will not have to focus on competitors, and three wins would guarantee them a return to the „Premier“ league. The team that has not lost in 19 consecutive matches is considered the main favorite in betting companies to win a ticket to the highest division. „Brighton“ - QPR (11th place, home), „Charlton“ (23rd place, away), „Derby“ (5th place, home), „Middlesbrough“ (1st place, away). „Brighton“ started the season so well that it was thought that at this stage of the season they were already guaranteed a place in the „Premier“ league. They suffered their first defeat only in the 22nd round against „Middlesbrough“. However, this defeat somewhat knocked „Brighton“ players out of rhythm, and during the next five rounds, they did not score any goals and only won one point. The poor streak dropped them to sixth place, but now they have found their game again and have not experienced a defeat in ten games in a row. Such results from „Brighton“ were unexpected to many football experts. The team, which finished only 20th last season, was at best considered a mid-level team in the championship, but they defied all predictions, led by Israeli national team striker Tomer Hemed. The player who scored eight goals in the "La Liga" championship last season for 1.4 million euros joined the „Brighton“ team before the season, and now he has 16 goals in the championship. „Brighton“ not only has the fewest points among leading teams, but also will have two difficult and crucial matches at the end of the season. Initially, in round 45, they will face „Derby“ at home, who will try to improve their position before the playoffs. Meanwhile, the last game will be even more difficult - away against „Middlesbrough“, where even after winning three matches in a row, they still need to seek only victory. Although they are still in the hands of their fate and four wins would allow them to directly reach the „Premier“ league, their situation is the most difficult of all three leading teams. Who will enter the playoffs for the last ticket? Certainly, one of the three aforementioned teams will play in the playoffs. The other two places should be taken by „Hull City“ and „Derby“, who just need to win one more match in the remaining four rounds or wait for „Cardiff“ to fail. The last place is realistically contested by „Sheffield Wednesday“, who lead „Cardiff“ by five points. Lithuanian One Lithuanian ran onto the field in this „Championship“ season - Deimantas Petravičius, representing „Nottingham Forest“. The country's defender was registered for the first time in the 35th round of matches and immediately got his chance - he stepped onto the field in the 78th minute, making his debut for the club. In the following round, the Lithuanian was also among the players listed in the squad, but was not brought onto the field. He did not play in any matches for the team among the 18 registered players in the remaining season. He played two more matches (46 minutes) in the „League Two“ division when he was loaned to „Stevenage“ team in January. Playing for the youth team of „Nottingham Forest“, he played 17 matches and scored three goals. The most interesting remaining „Championship“ matches Round 43 (April 19, 21:45) „Burnley“ (2nd place) - „Middlesbrough“ (1st place) Round 44 (April 23, 14:30) „Derby“ (5th place) - „Sheffield Wednesday“ (6th place) Round 45 (April 30, 17:00) „Sheffield Wednesday“ (6th place) - „Cardiff“ (7th place) Round 45 (May 2, 16:30) „Brighton“ (3rd place) - „Derby“ (5th place) Round 46 (May 7, 14:30) „Middlesbrough“ (1st place) - „Brighton“ (3rd place) Standings:
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
