The race for Champions League qualification is reaching boiling point after both Nottingham Forest and Chelsea suffered major setbacks over the weekend.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo remains defiant after his side squandered a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 at home against already-relegated Leicester City. A win would have propelled Forest into fifth, but they now sit seventh—trailing behind Chelsea and Aston Villa—with just two games left.
“It’s no longer in our hands, but it’s not finished,” Nuno told Sky Sports. “We have to find solutions for the team. We now have to react.”
Chelsea, meanwhile, fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United. That result puts the Magpies on the verge of securing Champions League football, while Chelsea’s hopes are now hanging by a thread.
With just two rounds remaining, only four points separate third-placed Newcastle and seventh-placed Forest. Arsenal, Manchester City, Villa, and Chelsea are all in the mix for the remaining four Champions League spots, with only champions Liverpool officially qualified so far.
Key Fixtures Remaining
- Liverpool: Arsenal (H), Brighton (A), Crystal Palace (H)
- Arsenal: Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), Southampton (A)
- Manchester City: Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)
- Newcastle: Arsenal (A), Everton (H)
- Chelsea: Manchester United (H), Nottingham Forest (A)
- Aston Villa: Tottenham (H), Manchester United (A)
- Nottingham Forest: West Ham (A), Chelsea (H)
The Forest vs Chelsea clash on the final day is shaping up to be decisive.
European Qualification Explained
Champions League: Six English Teams?
Due to England’s strong performances in Europe this season and the structure of the Europa League final, six Premier League teams could compete in the 2025/26 Champions League.
Manchester United and Tottenham face off in the Europa League final on May 28 in Bilbao. The winner earns an automatic Champions League berth—an added bonus, as neither team is set to qualify through league position.
Europa League: Up to Three English Clubs
- The sixth-placed team and the FA Cup winner are set for Europa League qualification.
- If the FA Cup winner has already qualified via the league, the next-highest unqualified team gets the spot.
- A third spot could become available if Chelsea win the Conference League and fail to reach the Champions League.
Conference League: Multiple Scenarios
- Typically, one Premier League team enters the Conference League.
- Currently, Carabao Cup winners Newcastle are in line for that spot.
- If Newcastle qualify for the Champions League or Europa League, the Conference League place could fall to seventh.
- If Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, they could also claim the Conference League slot.
- However, if Chelsea win the Conference League but do not finish in the top five, no English club will enter the 2025/26 Conference League.
Mid-Table Battle: Who Can Grab Eighth?
There will be nine English teams in Europe next season, so the race for eighth place is just as heated. Crystal Palace (12th) could crash the party if they win the FA Cup. Meanwhile:
- Brentford lead the eighth-place charge on goal difference over Brighton.
- Bournemouth and Fulham are still in the hunt.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank said after their 1-0 win at Ipswich:
“We’ve got the momentum. We’re close to finishing eighth, which would be our best-ever league position. We just need to push for the next two games.”
Opta’s Champions League Probabilities:
- Arsenal: 99.7%
- Newcastle: 94.9%
- Manchester City: 92.6%
- Chelsea: 56%
- Aston Villa: 38.4%
- Nottingham Forest: 18.2%
The race is wide open—and with drama building on all fronts, the final two matchweeks promise unforgettable twists.
