Chelsea and Aston Villa secured crucial Premier League wins on Friday, as the race for Champions League qualification heats up. Marc Cucurella's 71st-minute header gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, keeping them in fourth place. Aston Villa, who would have taken fifth with a Cucurella goal, beat Tottenham 2-0, moving into the top five.
Manchester City, currently sixth, have a game in hand against Bournemouth on Tuesday. A win for City would put them back into the top five. Chelsea know a win against Nottingham Forest on the final day would secure a Champions League spot, but Forest are also in the hunt.
Cucurella expressed his excitement about Chelsea's prospects, saying, "Step by step we are creating something special and now only two games left to achieve something special." Aston Villa boss Unai Emery also hinted at their ambitions, saying, "We are wishing to continue in the season we are doing. We are now in a good moment."
England will have six teams in next season's Champions League, with the top five from the Premier League and the Europa League final winners between Manchester United and Tottenham. The bonus fifth spot through the league came as a result of English teams' good performances in Europe this season.
Arsenal host Newcastle on Sunday in a game that could decide their Champions League fate. A win for Arsenal would secure their spot, while a draw would make it safe due to superior goal difference. Newcastle, on the other hand, could go up to second with a win and take them close to sealing a Champions League place.
If Arsenal lose to Newcastle, they could finish outside the Champions League places, despite having seemingly had second place sewn up for months. However, they do play Southampton on the final day.
FA Cup finalists Manchester City have to get at least a point on Tuesday against Bournemouth to go back into the top five. While six sides wrestle over the remaining up-for-grabs spots, Liverpool have long been guaranteed Champions League football and have already won the Premier League.
Forest's chances are now quite slim and they visit West Ham this Sunday knowing a defeat would end their hopes. They sit four points off the top five. The prize of a place in the Champions League has added spice to Wednesday's Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham in Bilbao. Both teams have endured wretched Premier League seasons and sit 16th and 17th respectively, but a highly lucrative crack at Europe's elite is nonetheless within touching distance.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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