This season, as Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester United all attempt to earn berths in Europe’s top league, there may be a fifth Champions League spot available through the Premier League.
Aston Villa increased their lead in fourth place to five points this weekend, making the most of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side’s absence from a Premier League match. After benefiting from the Lilywhites’ 2-1 home loss to Wolves one week prior, when they triumphed by the same score at Fulham, Unai Emery’s team triumphed 4-2 over Nottingham Forest.
Even though Spurs still have a game in hand over the Midlands club and have a five-point advantage over them with twelve Premier League games remaining, their postponed Chelsea meeting is yet to be scheduled. The fact that Manchester United lost their chance to tie Tottenham on points after their last-minute loss to Fulham at Old Trafford did, however, work in the team’s favor on Saturday.
The remainder of the season will undoubtedly bring more twists and turns as Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester United aim to reach fourth and qualify for the Champions League. Of fact, fifth place could be sufficient to guarantee a spot in Europe’s top tournament for the upcoming campaign.
Four more spots are available since the Champions League group stage will include four more clubs starting in the 2024–2025 campaign. The leagues that have done the best in the European Performance Spots this season across all three of UEFA’s club tournaments will receive two of the spots.
Currently occupying the top two spots in the 2023–2024 rankings are Italy and Germany, followed by England, France, and Spain. While Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Manchester United absolutely need the Premier League teams still playing in Europe to go far in their various competitions for fifth place in the final table to equal Champions League football, a lot might still change in the second half of the season.
Midweek saw Union Saint-Gilloise eliminate German team Eintracht Frankfurt from the Europa Conference League, providing a boost to the English teams. At the end of the season, that could have an effect on Germany’s position in the European Performance Spots, potentially providing England a chance to qualify for the Champions League on a fifth occasion.
Midweek saw Union Saint-Gilloise eliminate German team Eintracht Frankfurt from the Europa Conference League, providing a boost to the English teams. At the end of the season, that could have an effect on Germany’s position in the European Performance Spots, potentially providing England a chance to qualify for the Champions League on a fifth occasion.
