Top 15 Football Matches of May 2026

May – the most challenging month for football betting. Right now, everything is decided: championships, European cups, and relegation, but at the same time, matches become less predictable. Some teams play at their maximum, others are just finishing the season, and the odds don't always keep up with this.

The focus is on the decisive stages of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, finals of national cups, and direct matches of competitors in the leagues. It is in May that the final tables are formed, and the market often underestimates the influence of tournament motivation, rotation, and a tight schedule.

We have collected 15 main football matches of May 2026 – games with maximum intrigue, the strongest teams, and high betting potential. It is important not only to watch but also to correctly read the context and follow football trends: form, tasks, and line movement come to the fore.

Main football matches of May 2026

Manchester United vs Liverpool

📅 May 3rd

🏆 English Premier League, 35th round

Match preview

The upcoming game of irreconcilable rivals loses some intrigue if you look at the tournament table. Manchester United is already 99% in the Champions League, Liverpool is also almost certainly going to the main European cup next season.

If you invent intrigue for a bright signboard, here it is: MU has been below Liverpool for two years in a row at the end of the season, and now there is a good chance to correct the situation – a victory will almost certainly secure them the third position in the EPL.

Match prediction

In addition to the head-to-head fight for a place in the top 3, the teams are also ready to join the battle for the status of the most productive team of the season. And according to statistics, the chances of scoring in the upcoming game will be higher for the guests – Liverpool has scored at least one goal in each of the last eight head-to-head matches on the opponent's field, andmore than one - in 6 out of the last 7 head-to-head away matches in Manchester. A great trend to choose Liverpool's individual total over 1 goal for 1.45*.

*Here and further: the odds are approximate at the time of publication and may vary in different betting lines

Arsenal vs Atletico

📅 May 5

🏆 Champions League, semi-finals, second leg

Match Preview

The first meeting of the teams ended in a draw – with two penalty goals and controversial refereeing decisions. The rivals move to London in a slightly different status – the "Gunners" at the "Emirates" are already more obvious favorites. The Madrid team, one could say, has forgotten how to win – Diego Simeone's team has only two victories in the last ten games.

Match Prediction

The option with both teams to score, which our editorial team predicted in the detailed forecast for the first semi-final match, has been rare in recent Arsenal matches. But our author took a risk – and he didn't miss. At the "Emirates", Mikel Arteta's team has even finished 4 out of the last 5 meetings without conceding a goal. We will not risk the individual total of Atletico, but we will consider a more pragmatic option with the bet Both Teams To Score (No). Bookmakers offer an excellent coefficient of 1.88 for this option.

Bayern Munich vs PSG

📅 May 6

🏆 Champions League, ½ finals, second leg

Match Preview

What we saw in the first game in Paris can be described with any enthusiastic epithet. Viewers love this, bettors and experts – less so. But should we expect a similar outcome in the second leg?

It would be interesting to watch the second leg in Munich in the era of the away goal rule. Here, one could confidently expect attempts by Bayern Munich to "dry out" the game, defeating PSG 1:0 or 2:1, and advance to the final. Now any victory by the hosts by one goal will only take the game into extra time.

Match Prediction

Bayern Munich is used to coming back after the first game in the Champions League playoffs. Over the last five seasons, the Germans have lost in the first knockout game five times – and only once have they turned the game around in the second leg. And not once in these five games have the teams scored more than four goals combined. Bookmakers are craving another bright game and overestimate the potential productivity of the game in Munich, and we are ready to use this to choose total less than 4.5 goals in the match at 1.57.

Liverpool vs Chelsea

📅 May 9

🏆 English Premier League, 36th round

Match Preview

Chelsea's trips to "Anfield" in recent years have been increasingly disappointing for the Londoners. In the current situation, an away game with Liverpool, which will approach the 36th round in the Champions League zone and with ambitions for a place in the top three, does not bode well for the "Blues".

The team, left without head coach Liam Rosenior in April, is also almost certain to miss out on the Champions League next year. However, the London club may still qualify for the Europa League through the FA Cup. But we will talk about this game below.

Match Prediction

When we wrote about the unpleasant trend of Chelsea's trips to "Anfield", we primarily relied on statistics. In the last 10 Premier League games, the Londoners have only won there once. Another five games ended in a draw. The optimal choice for the upcoming match based on the trend is a double chance (1X), where Liverpool will not lose at 1.30. If you want a higher coefficient, but without high risk, you can consider Liverpool's victory with a handicap (0) at 1.42.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

📅 May 10

🏆 La Liga, 35th round

Match Preview

The Catalan club may approach El Clasico as the champion of Spain if it scores more points than Madrid in the previous round. In the Spanish capital, rumors suggest that there will be no champion's corridor in such a scenario. This once again underscores the importance of, perhaps, the main derby in Europe.

But even the absence of tournament prospects for both teams is not a reason to miss exciting football. And it will definitely be exciting - since 2022, there has been no dominance in the Spanish championship, and the number of victories is balanced (4-4). The teams have forgotten how to play a draw - already 12 head-to-head games in La Liga in a row have ended with the victory of one of the clubs.

Match Prediction

In terms of the players' attitude, El Clasico can only be compared to games between fierce rivals in Turkey, Greece, South America. And the statistics confirm the players' readiness to fight for every ball - in each of the last six matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid the referee has shown at least five warnings. The choice for the game is total yellow cards over 4.5.

Al-Nassr vs Al-Hilal

📅 May 12

🏆 Saudi Pro League, 32nd round

Match Preview

If you suddenly start missing football in the middle of the week, pay attention to Saudi Arabia – the main match of the season is looming there. Unless something extraordinary happens, the first and second teams of the Pro League will approach the head-to-head game with their chances for the championship still intact.

The advantage will be on the side of the hosts – at the end of April, Cristiano Ronaldo's team has +5 points over the rival. But a victory for Al-Hilal in the head-to-head match guarantees us a heated finale.

Match Prediction

A draw potentially suits only Al-Nasr – and it's interesting that in the last four head-to-head matches, it was Ronaldo and Co who scored first. But Karim Benzema's team definitely needs to win. And with such a scenario, we can expect open football. The bet on Both Team To Score (Yes) has been successful in the last seven head-to-head meetings between Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal.

Lazio vs Inter

📅 May 13

🏆 Coppa Italia, final

Match Preview

Mid-May in Europe will be under the aegis of final cup games. The decisive series of matches will be opened by the Coppa Italia match between Lazio and Inter – at the home arena of the Romans. From a perspective, the game is much more important for the capital club – Maurizio Sarri's team will get a bonus of European cups for the next season in case of victory.

Inter's motivation is of a different nature – to finish the season with two trophies. Agree – the Romans obviously need the victory more, so we will not consider the trend with eight consecutive head-to-head matches of the Milan club without defeat.

Match Prediction

Traditionally, the final matches of the Coppa Italia are not the most productive – in 6 out of the last 7 games for the trophy, spectators saw no more than three goals scored. Lazio and Inter in knockout matches (Cup and Super Cup Italy) also play cautiously - no more than three goals in 9 out of 10 head-to-head games outside the Serie A. The editorial choice is under 3 goals at 1.55.

Lens vs PSG

📅 May 13

🏆 Ligue 1, postponed match of the 29th round

Match preview

In April, the French Ligue 1 accommodated PSG and postponed their meeting with Lens to ensure the Parisians' stable performance in the Champions League. Lens, of course, were not happy - at the time the match was supposed to take place, they were only four points behind the capital club. Now it's six.

But under certain circumstances, even a month later, the match could be decisive - a PSG victory one round before the end of the championship guarantees Luis Enrique's team another trophy. A Lens victory could keep the championship intrigue alive until the last round - something that hasn't happened in France for four years.

Match prediction

PSG, of course, will be the obvious favorite. But the Parisians could secure the championship even before the game with Lens. However, even in such a scenario, in the final matches of the season (and before a possible Champions League final), Enrique's team will not take risks, play rough, or get emotional. The choice for the game is PSG yellow cards total under 2.5. This bet has been profitable in each of the last seven head-to-head games between the teams.

Chelsea vs Manchester City

📅 May 16

🏆 FA Cup, final

Match preview

Manchester City is fighting on two fronts, but thoughts are probably more focused on the Premier League trophy than the FA Cup. And this is Chelsea's chance. The Londoners, as we have already written, will miss out on the Champions League, but they can make it to the Europa League in two ways - through sixth place in the Premier League and through winning the Cup.

In the Premier League, there are games against Liverpool and a struggling Tottenham. Seven teams are vying for two positions in the European cups - with four rounds to go, only four points separate them. Chelsea may opt out of the scramble and choose a different path - endure 90 minutes at Wembley against Pep Guardiola's team.

Match prediction

The statistics of the FA Cup final matches are impressive - 9 out of the last 10 matches ended either outside of regular time, or with one of the teams winning by a difference inOne goal. The exception over the last ten years was the rout of Watford (6:0), which was carried out by Manchester City. This won't work against Chelsea, so our choice is Chelsea to win with a handicap (+1) at 1.60.

Europa League Final

📅 May 20

🏆 Europa League, final

Match Preview

The second half of May is the time for decisive matches in European tournaments. The program will start on May 20 with a match for the second most important trophy. It will be contested by the winners of the semi-final games - one of the two English teams (Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest), as well as the best club in the pair Freiburg – Braga. We will only find out the final list of participants in the final match on May 7.

Match Prediction

Let's focus on two trends of the Europa League final matches. The first one is related to the active play at the start of decisive matches - in 5 out of the last 6 final games of the tournament, at least one goal was scored in the first half. The odds that a goal will be scored in the first 45 minutes of the final will likely be around 1.40-1.50, for a total of more than 1 goal - approximately 1.90. The above odds are very approximate and will depend on the finalists and the form of the teams.

The second trend is geographical. There will definitely be an English club in the final. And therefore, an interesting pattern - in 8 out of 9 cases when the English played in the Europa League final, they scored at least one goal. The only miss - zero from Manchester United last year against Tottenham. We suggest considering the option with a total of more than 1 goal from Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest for an approximate 1.60.

Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart

📅 May 23

🏆 German Cup, final

Match Preview

As of the beginning of May, Bayern Munich still has a chance for a quadruple - victories in the Bundesliga and German Super Cup have already been achieved, leaving the Champions League and the German Cup. Regardless of their performance in the European cup, the Munich teamwill surely approach the final game of the national tournament fully prepared, as the matches in the championship are already of a formal nature.

It's been a long time since there was such a clear favorite in the German Cup final - bookmakers offer odds of 1.35 for a win by the Munich club in regular time, and even 1.18 for a win in the match. It should be understood - Bayern has won 7 out of the last 8 matches against Stuttgart, including all three games this season.

Match prediction

That's why we will consider the option with Bayern winning with a handicap (-1). This option was not unprofitable in 7 out of the last 8 head-to-head games between the teams and in six consecutive games against opponents outside the Bundesliga.

Last round of the English Premier League

📅 May 24

🏆 Premier League, 38th round

Match previews

We simply can't name the most important match of the 38th round in England. But we are in anticipation - the EPL will take us back to 2012, when we could watch what was happening in Manchester with bated breath. This season, there will be even more intrigue.

The first one is the championship. If there are no point losses, then on May 24 we are waiting for a championship duel between Arsenal and Manchester City. The Londoners will play away against Crystal Palace, "citizens" will host Aston Villa. The intrigue is added not only by the interest of the outcomes themselves, but also by the opportunity to follow the goal difference and the number of goals.

The second intrigue is the possible relegation of Tottenham. In the last round, the Londoners will host Everton. A lot can change by the 38th round, but one way or another, the chances of moving up to a safe 17th position a round before the end of the season are very low for "Spurs", so the final game will be of great importance. We have prepared a separate text about the scenarios of Spurs relegation from the EPL here.

Match predictions

We won't make any predictions for the final round now. First of all, just enjoy this Sunday, turn on the multicast and relax. Secondly, don't forget about our detailed match analyses of the English Premier League in the Predictions section. Check it out closer to the 38th round to find useful trends and patterns. Thirdly, the 38th round is a time for successful live bets, which experienced bettors will certainly turn to.

Conference League Final

📅 May 27

🏆 Conference League, final

Match Preview

The Conference League will definitely have a worthy final for the third most important European cup – at least one team from the top-5 leagues will be playing, which in itself is already interesting. Considering that neither Crystal Palace, nor Rayo Vallecano, nor Strasbourg will qualify for the Europa League through their national championships, the potential final has not only trophy significance but also represents an important step ahead of the next season. From this perspective, Shakhtar should have less ambition, although neutral European teams will surely be rooting for the Ukrainian club, as a Shakhtar trophy would open the way to Europe for one of the clubs. 

Match Prediction

The final game of the young tournament will only take place for the fifth time – it's too early to draw any conclusions from the previous four matches. However, as in any decisive moment, in most cases (3 out of 4), matches ended with a tense finale and a difference of no more than one goal. Depending on the final pair, a detailed prediction will be available in our tournament section. But for now, you can keep in mind the underdog victory with a handicap (1).

Champions League Final

📅 May 30

🏆 Champions League, final

Match Preview

The Champions League final is always – even in a World Cup year – a contender for the title of the best game of the season. Especially since the composition of the decisive game promises to be truly interesting – someone from the Bayern and PSG pair against the best in the Arsenal and Atletico duel.

Match Prediction

Surprisingly, Champions League finals have acquired a strong trend of betting with zero goals for at least one team at the end of regular time. The option with Both Teams To Score (No) has been profitable for the last seven years. Why should we abandon it for the eighth time? For those planning to bet on the Champions League matches, it’s useful to check the bookmakers rating to find the most reliable platforms and the best odds for these high-profile games.

Where most top matches are in May

The main focus in May is traditionally on the European cup matches – the Champions League semi-finals and the final game. In 2026, the match for the "big-eared" trophy will be hosted by Hungary. Also in May, the decisive playoff games of the Europa League and the Conference League will take place.

The Premier League also plays a crucial role, where in mid-to-late May we are expecting an incredible finale with the champion being determined in the last round and a possible relegation of one of the country's most popular teams – Tottenham – to the Championship.

Finally, attention should be paid to the national cups (finals will be held in England, Italy, Germany, France, and other countries) and the distribution of places in national championships – for example, in Ligue 1 and the Russian Premier League. Collectively, these tournaments provide the most top matches in May and form the main interest for analysis and football predictions.

What to pay attention to in May

May is the last and most intense part of the season. When preparing football predictions in May, it is important to consider several key factors.

1. Club motivation. In the last spring month, some teams are fighting for titles and European cups, while others may already be losing any tournament tasks. The difference in motivation often directly affects the outcome of matches.
2. Dense Calendar. Especially for participants in European cups and finalists of national cups. In May, teams play three matches a week, which leads to rotation of the squad and can reduce the stability of results.
3. Team form. In spring, it often comes to the forefront: even top clubs can experience a slump or, conversely, gain optimal conditions for decisive matches.
4. Game status factor. Derbies, finals, and playoff matches take place in a more intense struggle, where productivity decreases and the importance of individual errors increases. By mid-May, there will certainly be games without tournament significance for mid-table teams or clubs that have already been eliminated.

The compiled list of top matches allows you to identify the main events of May in advance, focus on the most interesting confrontations, and prepare more substantiated predictions. Such games often provide the maximum information about the form of teams and their real chances of success.

Follow the opinions of our authors about football matches in the Predictions section, analyze key factors and use the experience of the Scores24 editorial team to not miss the main events of May and make more balanced decisions.

For a more detailed study of long-term football trends, you can read other texts from our Blog:

• Who will win the Premier League in 2026: Manchester City or Arsenal?
• Bayern Munich - German Champion 2026: season results, statistics, and predictions
• Could Tottenham be relegated from the Premier League in 2026?