As the 2023/24 English Premier League season draws to a close, the race for European football spots reaches a thrilling climax. With the final game week approaching on Sunday, football enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating which teams will secure their places in prestigious European competitions.
Aston Villa has already booked their spot in the UEFA Champions League for the upcoming season, joining the top three teams – Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool – in the quest for the ultimate European glory. However, the battle for the league title is still undecided, with Manchester City leading the table by a mere two points over Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side aims to clinch their fourth consecutive title with a victory, while Arsenal, determined to end a 20-year title drought, hopes for a win coupled with City’s loss or draw.
Meanwhile, the scramble for European spots below the top four intensifies, with four teams vying for qualification to the UEFA Europa League and the Europa Conference League.
PUNCH Online provides a comprehensive analysis of the teams contending for European qualification:
Fifth-place Race:
Tottenham Hotspur, having narrowly missed out on a top-four finish, only requires a draw in their upcoming match against Sheffield United to secure fifth place and a spot in the UEFA Europa League group stage for the next season. However, Sheffield United poses a tough challenge, making it an intriguing battle to watch.
Sixth-place Stakes:
Currently, the team finishing in sixth place will secure a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League. This spot was transferred from the EFL Cup winners, Liverpool, to the highest-placed Premier League team not qualifying for any UEFA club competition, which is currently sixth-placed Chelsea.
In a recent victory against Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea moved into sixth place, and they have a chance to overtake Tottenham and finish fifth if they defeat AFC Bournemouth on the final day and Tottenham loses to Sheffield United.
Seventh-place Competition:
Newcastle United has slipped to seventh place, while Manchester United finds themselves outside the European places in eighth. However, Manchester United’s recent win against Newcastle United has brought them level on points. The battle for seventh place and a potential European qualification spot remains intense.
FA Cup Impact:
The outcome of the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City on Saturday, May 25th, will significantly influence the European qualification scenario. If Manchester City emerges victorious, the UEFA Europa League group stage spot earned by the FA Cup winners will be transferred to the highest-ranked Premier League team not qualifying for any UEFA competition.
Considering the higher ranking of the UEFA Europa League, sixth place in the Premier League would earn qualification for that competition, while the Europa Conference League spot would move to the team finishing seventh.
On the other hand, if Manchester United triumphs in the FA Cup final and finishes in the top six, they would secure a Europa League spot, with the fifth-placed team joining them in the competition, and the team finishing seventh would earn a place in the Europa Conference League.
However, if Manchester United triumphs in the FA Cup final but finishes seventh or eighth in the Premier League, only the team in fifth place would qualify for the Europa League. The team in sixth place would then compete in the Europa Conference League next season.
The final standings in the Premier League and the result of the FA Cup final will add an extra layer of excitement to the concluding stages of the season, as the European qualification scenarios hang in the balance.
