Six teams, three games, one prize: The fierce final sprint for Champions League qualification | OneFootball

The race to qualify for next season’s Champions League has come down to the final three games of the season, and there are still six teams in the mix.

Arsenal looked odds-on to finish as Premier League runners-up for the third consecutive season, but their recent wobble could pave the way for Manchester City to overtake them.

Further down the log, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa are set to slug it out for the final two Champions League places.

It’s anyone’s guess how this pulsating race to feature in Europe’s elite tournament will play out, but let’s take a look at each team’s final three games and assess their chances.

Arsenal

Arsenal are still well placed to qualify for the Champions League, but their recent form leaves plenty to be desired as their Premier League campaign threatens to fizzle out.

Arteta’s side have won just one of their last five league games, and with three straight defeats across all competitions, momentum has slipped at a crucial point in the season.

Arsenal have three league games remaining to try and stop the rot, secure Champions League qualification and, ideally, confirm second place for a third season running.

Three points from their final three fixtures would be enough to qualify, but finishing below City, who had a disastrous first half of the season, would be a huge psychological blow.

Arsenal begin their final push with a trip to Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool have already secured the title and lost their only match since, but Arsenal’s poor record at Anfield might be a huge stumbling block.

Next up is a home clash with fellow top-five hopefuls Newcastle before the Gunners wrap up the season away to relegated Southampton.

That trip to Saint Mary’s Stadium should provide a safety net, considering Arsenal are unlikely to win both games against Liverpool and Newcastle.

Predicted finish – 3rd

Manchester City

City’s traditional end-of-season run has left them within touching distance of a top-five finish after clinically dispatching Everton, Villa, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With relegated Southampton up next, Saturday’s clash offers City the perfect opportunity to tighten their grip on European qualification.

Arsenal are all over the place at the moment and a tricky run of games have boosted City’s hopes.

The Gunners may be boasting a three-point lead, but it’s City that has all the momentum in the race for second place.

Meanwhile, Newcastle and Chelsea – two teams also fighting for a place in the Champions League – face off this weekend, meaning more points will be dropped among rivals.

Given their current momentum and the manageable challenge Southampton presents, City could all but secure a top-five place with a win, though a couple of other results may still need to swing their way in the next round.

What’s more intriguing is how expectations have shifted. Just weeks ago, securing any European spot felt like a stretch. Now, with Arsenal wobbling, City have a real chance of finishing second.

After facing Southampton, City host Bournemouth before wrapping up the season away to Fulham. They may have fallen short of a fifth straight title, but they’re finishing the season on a high.

Predicted finish – 2nd

Newcastle United

Newcastle host Chelsea on Sunday in what many are calling their most important game of the season.

With both sides level on points and separated only by goals scored, a win for either team could be decisive in the race for next season’s Champions League.

While the fixture carries weight for both, the pressure arguably leans heavier on Chelsea.

Despite a potential Europa Conference League final on the horizon, their season will be judged by whether they return to Europe’s elite competition.

For a club accustomed to silverware, settling for second or third-tier football would be a disappointment.

Meanwhile, Newcastle will be hoping to cap off a title-winning campaign with a top-five finish. They ended their 70-year wait for a title with an EFL Cup triumph back in March.

While a Champions League return would boost revenue and help keep their top talent, some would argue that Newcastle have already achieved their goal regardless of how the top-five race pans out.

Nevertheless, last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion didn’t help their cause, but it did enough to keep them in the mix.

Now set to host Chelsea, the Magpies will be determined to preserve their unbeaten home record against ‘Big Six’ teams this season.

With games against Arsenal and Everton still to come, Newcastle’s Champions League fate rests in their own hands, but they should have enough to pull through.

Predicted finish: 5th

Chelsea

It has been clear for some time that Chelsea’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle would be decisive for both clubs’ hopes of Champions League qualification.

But after a strong run of results, Enzo Maresca’s side will now head to Newcastle brimming with confidence, momentum, and renewed belief.

Back-to-back wins over Fulham and Everton kept Chelsea’s top-five ambitions alive, but it was last weekend’s impressive victory against Liverpool that truly sent a message.

Not many tipped Chelsea to come out on top, but their commanding display has bolstered their chances of a top-five finish.

The game against Newcastle is a must-win, but so are subsequent games against Manchester United and fellow top-five hopefuls Forest.

However, after clinically dispatching the champions, Chelsea will fancy their chances in the final three games and have a real shot at finishing fourth if other results go their way.

Predicted finish: 4th

Nottingham Forest

Forest fans will be having mixed feelings as the season draws to a close. For so long, they looked secure in the Champions League places, but these past few months have been gut-wrenching to watch.

The Tricky Trees are facing a real possibility of missing out on Champions League football, although the race is far from over.

Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace offered reasons for encouragement. Forest looked more like their confident, early-season selves, taking the game to tough opposition and showing renewed belief.

Now, with three crucial fixtures ahead, they remain firmly in the race.

An already-relegated Leicester City visits the City Ground on Sunday, and Forest will be expected to take all three points. The following weekend brings a trip to an out-of-form West Ham United side.

Win both, and the final-day clash at home to Chelsea could become the defining moment of their season.

Back in August, Forest fans would have celebrated the mere idea of competing for a European place. Now, they might enter the final day with Champions League qualification within reach.

Predicted finish: 6th

Aston Villa

Villa kept their Champions League hopes alive with a tense 1-0 win over Fulham last weekend. With pressure mounting and the margin for error razor-thin, the victory felt vital rather than impressive.

Still, it marked the start of what must be a near-perfect finish to the season if Villa are to secure back-to-back campaigns in Europe’s top competition.

There’s still plenty of optimism around Villa Park. After a difficult mid-season run, winning just six of 21 league games between September and February, Unai Emery’s side has found form at the right time.

Seven wins in their last nine matches have lifted them to within three points of fifth place, with only three games remaining.

Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth is seen as their toughest remaining fixture, considering Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will be more focused on the Europa League final.

The only blow to Villa’s late surge is Youri Tielemans’ muscle injury. He has been vital to Emery’s side, but they must find a way to rage on without their tempo-controller.