Five Premier League teams are in the race to secure a Champions League spot
Opta's super-computer has given its verdict on who will finish in the top five
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By WILL PICKWORTH
Published: 06:09 EDT, 20 May 2025 | Updated: 06:09 EDT, 20 May 2025
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have been tipped to just miss out on qualifying for next season's Champions League, according to Opta's super-computer.
The top five in the Premier League will secure a place in Europe's elite club competition for 2025-26, with champions Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal already having confirmed their spots.
However, ahead of what promises to be an enthralling final day of the campaign, five teams can still take the remaining three positions and just one point separates Newcastle in third and Nottingham Forest in seventh.
Manchester City, who sit fifth, do have a game in hand, and if they beat Bournemouth on Tuesday they will jump up to third place.
It is perhaps no surprise then that Opta gives Pep Guardiola's side an 85.5 per cent chance of finishing in the top five.
In fact, City have a 56.7 chance of coming third and a 0.3 per cent chance of second place, although Arsenal are all but guaranteed to secure a third successive runners-up spot given they are six points clear, have a superior goal difference and face Southampton in their final game.
Manchester City have been tipped to finish in third place, according to Opta's super-computer
The super-computer's top five predictions currently has Aston Villa ending up in sixth place
It has also snubbed Nottingham Forest, who are expected to finish seventh, as per the data
Meanwhile, Newcastle's defeat at Arsenal last week was slightly damaging for their Champions League hopes, but they are the next best backed at 36.8 per cent to come fourth.
Eddie Howe's side have been in fine form during the second part of the campaign and they have an 83 per cent chance of coming in the top five, as per the super-computer.
The Magpies take on Everton on the final day, and while a healthy rivalry has developed between the clubs, they are still expected to win given the Toffees are comfortably in mid-table and have nothing to play for.
The biggest fixture of the weekend is at the City Ground where Nottingham Forest entertain Chelsea, with both teams in the race for the top five.
The Blues picked up a crucial 1-0 victory against Manchester United on Friday and although Forest have developed a strong home record, Opta are confident the visitors will pick up a result.
Enzo Maresca's side have been given a 60.3 per cent chance of securing a spot in the top five, with the super-computer predicting that Chelsea are most likely to finish fifth.
This means that Villa will miss out on playing in Europe's elite club competition after their memorable run to the quarter-finals in 2024-25.
They travel to Old Trafford to take on United on the final day and are most likely to finish sixth, according to Opta.
Despite a tricky period of form and a difficult trip to Forest, Chelsea are tipped to come fifth
Newcastle are the other team who the super-computer has predicted to finish in the top five
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Unai Emery's side have been given 45.3 per cent of getting in the top five, meaning that Opta's predictions are not a foregone conclusion.
Unfortunately for fans of the underdog, the super-computer is not confident in Forest's chances of completing a miraculous story by qualifying for the Champions League.
There is a 56.3 per cent chance that Forest finish seventh and therefore Nuno Espirito Santo's side would play in the UEFA Conference League next season.
In fact, Opta have given Forest just a 27.5 per cent chance of taking a spot in the top five.