Promotion hopes on the line

As the season reaches its climax around much of Europe, uefa.com takes a look at the promotion races in a selection of second divisions to see which clubs are making the running and are most likely to feature in their respecctive top flights next season.

Hannover on verge
In Germany, Hannover 96 have all but crossed the line and victory on Saturday over lowly 1. FC Saarbrücken would give them promotion to the 1. Bundesliga after an absence of 13 years. They put themselves within sight in style in front of 45,000 supporters at the Niedersachsen stadium with a 6-0 victory over Schweinfurt 05 last weekend. With five matches still to play, and three teams going up, Hannover have 13 points more than fourth-placed VfL Bochum.

Mainz have advantage
Second-placed FSV Mainz 05 have just a three-point lead over both DSC Arminia Bielefeld and Bochum, both of whom won games in midweek, and who meet on Saturday. In fifth SpVgg Greuther Fürth are two further points behind, three ahead of the only other likely challengers, 1. FC Union Berlin, who need to beat struggling Karlsruher SC to stay in the hunt.

City close
Already-promoted Manchester City FC would be crowned English first division champions with a win over Barnsley FC on Saturday. A goal in each half from Shaun Wright-Phillips on Monday gave City victory at second-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, virtually guaranteeing title glory for the team led by former England manager Kevin Keegan.

Rivals in tight struggle
Wolves, meanwhile, are anxiously looking over their shoulder at West Bromwich Albion FC, who are challenging them for the second automatic promotion spot. Albion are level on points with Wolves after a Bob Taylor goal gave them a 1-0 win against play-off chasing rivals Coventry City FC. Albion have arguably the easier run-in of the two Midlands clubs, facing Rotherham United FC on Saturday and Wolves' poor recent run may leave them battling it out in the play-offs, especially after losing 1-0 against fifth-placed Millwall FC tonight.

Teams in hunt
The other clubs in the hunt for the play-offs which, after two semi-finals and a final produce one other club to join the two automatically-promoted teams, include Burnley FC, Birmingham City FC, Millwall and Norwich City FC, though first-ever English league winners Preston North End FC and homeless Wimbledon FC are not to be ruled out. Preston face a key test on Saturday against another of the promotion candidates, Coventry City FC, who were relegated last season after a long spell in the top flight.

Ajaccio on top
Three teams gain promotion from France's second division and AC Ajaccio, who have gone eleven games unbeaten, lead the league with 63 points from 34 games and are five points clear of Le Havre AC. Ajaccio's position of dominance was strengthened with a crucial 1-0 away win at Le Havre last Tuesday courtesy of Fabrice Levrat's first-minute goal.

Nice under pressure
OGC Nice are sitting in third with 56 points but have RC Strasbourg hot on their heels. Strasbourg, who have the eccentric goalkeeper José Chilavert who will be leading Paraguay to this summer's FIFA World Cup, are one point behind with a game in hand, level with AS Beauvais, who have played that extra match.

Key fixture
Saturday's key fixture is Nice's visit to Le Havre, and victory would go a long way to promoting the home team. The right results elsewhere could see Ajaccio secure top-flight status if they beat Chamois Niortais FC, while Strasbourg go to Amiens SC and Beauvais travel to US Creteil.

Atlético stumble
Spain's second division is another with three promotion slots and leaders Club Atlético de Madrid have stumbled of late in their bid to gain one of them, and will hope to get back on track with a home win over Real Murcia. Their advantage was cut to four points with eight matches left as they suffered a 5-1 defeat at Elche CF last weekend, meaning they have gained just two points in four games. Bernd Schuster's Xerez CD remain hot on their heels in second place after their goalless draw away to Murcia and host CD Leganes on Sunday, as they prepare for next week's likely title decider against Atlético in Madrid.

Close for third
RC Recreativo Huelva, who have a Sunday visit to Real Jaen CF are third despite a 1-0 defeat at home by Burgos CF last weekend, leaving them a point ahead of Racing de Santander, who in turn are one ahead of Real Oviedo. Racing host CD Badajoz, whilst Oviedo face sixth-placed Albacete Balompié, one of a host of teams still on the fringes of the promotion race, including Elche, Real Sporting de Gijon and Racing de Ferrol.

Empoli well-placed
In Italy's Serie B, Empoli FC are heading up a leading pack of four who will all gain automatic promotion bar any last-leg stumbles. Fifth-placed Salernitana Sport are eleven points behind Empoli and seven points Modena, Reggiana AC and Como.

Prolific scorers
Thirteen goals from Antonio Natale and ten from Massimo Maccarone, who became only the second Serie B player to appear for the Italian national side in the match against England last week, have earned Empoli their four-point cushion at the top. Sampdoria UC, AS Bari and Vicenza Calcio are among the bigger clubs who look like being resigned to another season in Serie B.