The final match day of the Premier League 2024-25 season promises to be an enthralling one for some of the teams looking to secure a UEFA Champions League (UCL) spot for the next season. It is in itself a rare thing to say that there are still 5 teams in with a shout to qualify for the next season’s UCL going into the last match day.
Moreover, the Premier League table for this season could still change noticeably from the third to the seventh position, depending on the results of the final match day. The teams that are in the race for the Champions League qualifications leading into the final day are Man City (with 68 points), Newcastle United (66 points), Chelsea (66 points), Aston Villa (66 points), and Nottingham Forest (65 points).
Three of these five teams will qualify for next season’s Champions League. Meanwhile, we will look at some of the top fixtures holding significance in the race for the UCL place.
Man United vs Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s side visit Old-Trafford in a valuable Premier League clash
A trip to Old Trafford presents Aston Villa with an opportunity to seal a back-to-back UEFA Champions League qualification. Unai Emery‘s side finished in the top four in the 2023-24 season, surprising many with their performances. Well, the Villains can round off another stunning season by getting a win over United on the final match day of the 2024-25 season.
A win will give Villa 69 points in total, which still might not be enough if Chelsea, Man City, and Newcastle United all win their matches. It’s because of these teams’ superior goal difference (GD) from Aston Villa. However, a win is what Villa can do best on their part, giving themselves a fair shot at sealing a UCL spot.
It’s perplexing to say, but a draw against Man United could also prove to be enough for Villa’s UCL hopes, if Chelsea and Newcastle United both lose their matches, respectively.
Fulham vs Man City: Pep Guardiola’s side eyes a top-three finish
A draw against Fulham is likely to prove enough for Man City to qualify for the Champions League next season. Even if Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa all win their matches, they would still be on level with points at City (in the scenario of City playing out a draw against Fulham). This lands things in Pep Guardiola‘s side’s favour as their GD is likely to still be better than the above-mentioned other three teams.
A win against Fulham will definitely prove enough to grant a top-three finish for Man City. However, a loss could bring a shock for Pep Guardiola’s side and could potentially knock them out of the UCL race, considering Newcastle, Chelsea, and Villa all win their respective games on the final match day.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: A Premier League clash with UCL ramifications
A win for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest is likely to grant them a UCL spot for next season, considering their much larger goal difference than Aston Villa at this point in time. This will most likely stand, even if Newcastle and Man City win their respective games. However, a loss against Forest jeopardises their UCL hopes, as then it could come down to goal difference between them and Newcastle for the final UCL place (considering the Toons and Villa also lose their games).
If Chelsea loses against Forest, with either Newcastle or Villa winning, or both of them winning, it would still be curtains for the Blues’ UCL qualification hopes. A draw against Nottingham Forest will make Enzo Maresca‘s side’s UCL hopes depend on the results of Newcastle and Villa’s matches. However, a draw might still be favourable for Chelsea if Villa loses or draws their match against Man United, considering the Blues’ better goal difference than Unai Emery’s team at this stage.
Nottingham Forest will have to win against Chelsea and hope for favourable results in Aston Villa’s and Newcastle United’s matches. A win against Chelsea will take them to 68 points, which might prove to be enough to seal a UCL spot for next season if Newcastle and Villa lose or draw their respective games. In that scenario, Forest is likely to finish fourth on the table.
A loss against Chelsea will paint Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side out of the UCL qualification picture. A draw is also most likely not to be enough for Nottingham Forest, considering Chelsea’s and Newcastle’s significantly larger goal difference than theirs.
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