Saturday twists impact chase for Champions League places | OneFootball

Saturday delivered the latest drama, as five Premier League clubs chase three Champions League places.

First up it was Southampton v Manchester City, a stroll surely for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Up against the team who are joint worst ever in the Premier League era, joining Derby County with an all-time low record of 11 points in a season.

Manchester City had 26 shots on Saturday to only two for Southampton, who didn’t have a single one on target.

Man City with 15 v 1 on corners, 76 v 7 when it came to player touches of the ball in the opposition box, yet for all that, Pep’s team with next to no goal threat. Man City had five efforts on target but carried little real serious goal threat, even though Haaland was back.

The end result, a potentially serious blow to Man City’s Champions League hopes, whilst Southampton now with 12 points and no longer joint worst ever in the Premier League era.

We then moved on to the south coast and the 5.30pm kick-off as Villa were away at Bournemouth.

Bournemouth dominating possession (66% v 34%), corners (10 v 0, touches inside the opposition box (27 v 15) and shots (10 v 6).

However, Villa scoring the only goal of the game just before half-time, one of only three efforts on target for them, Watkins getting the faintest of touches when Rogers played the ball in. Bournemouth should have scored late on but somehow their player failed to force the ball over the line, as a defender cleared the danger.

Ramsey was maybe harshly sent off late on for Villa but Iraola was fuming after Mings early in the first half appeared to deliberately striker Alex Scott in the face with his elbow/arm but not even a booking. Scott played on until half-time but was then subbed and found to have fractured his jaw.

A great result for Villa that they didn’t really deserve but that and the Man City outcome have tightened the Champions League race even further.

This is how the Premier League table now looks on the morning of Sunday 11 May 2025:

Only 11 matches remain that involve the five clubs and Sunday sees two massive matches.

Newcastle v Chelsea of course at High Noon, followed by an East Midlands derby, Forest up against Leicester. Forest having lost four and won only one of their last six matches in all competitions.

Sunday 11 May

Newcastle v Chelsea (12pm)

Forest v Leicester (2.15pm)

Friday 16 May

Villa v Spurs (7.30pm)

Chelsea v Man U (8.15pm)

Sunday 18 May

West Ham v Forest (2.15pm)

Arsenal v Newcastle (4.30pm)

Tuesday 20 May

Man City v Bournemouth (8pm)

Sunday 25 May