City have two Premier League games remaining to achieve Champions League qualification
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Sport
11:22, 17 May 2025
Marc Cucurella of Chelsea celebrates scoring against Manchester United
Marc Cucurella of Chelsea celebrates scoring against Manchester United
(Image: 2025 Chelsea FC)
Manchester City suffered a double blow in their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League as they fell out of the top five places and into sixth place in the Premier League table.
While City were preparing for Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, Chelsea beat City's cross-city rivals Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to a second half goal from Marc Cucurella.
That win lifted Enzo Maresca's side up to fourth in the table, while Aston Villa moved up to fifth place thanks to a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara at Villa Park has now left all the pressure on City to re-establish their place in the top five going into the final game of the season.
The Blues and the Villans are now one point above City on 66 points although City can move back ahead of both teams on Tuesday when they welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium.
If Pep Guardiola's side avoid defeat against the Cherries it will ensure they move back into the top five before their final day trip to Fulham next weekend.
A draw would move City level on points with Chelsea and Villa but their goal difference of +24 is superior to Chelsea's (+20) and Villa's (+9) meaning they would move above both teams in the league table.
Similarly, a win would lift City up to 68 points and move them two points clear of sixth placed Villa with one game remaining.
Indeed, avoiding defeat against Bournemouth could even move them up to third depending on what happens in the game between second placed Arsenal (68 points) and third placed Newcastle (66 points) on Sunday.
Should Arsenal win, City would move up to third with a win or a draw against Bournemouth. If it is a draw at the Emirates Stadium, a win over the Cherries would also move City up to third place in the table. However, a Newcastle win would mean City could only move as high as fourth in the table with a win on Tuesday, unless there is a huge goal difference swing between themselves and Arsenal.
Seventh placed Nottingham Forest (62 points) aren't out of the Champions League hunt either but Villa's win on Friday means they must win away at West Ham on Sunday to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
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Current Premier League table
Games remaining
Arsenal: Newcastle (h), Southampton (a)
Newcastle: Arsenal (a), Everton (h)
Chelsea: Nottingham Forest (a)
Aston Villa: Manchester United (a)
Man City: Bournemouth (h), Fulham (a)
Nottingham Forest: West Ham (a), Chelsea (h)