BATTLE FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BERTHS
While Chelsea and Tottenham have almost secured the top-two spots in the Premier League, the battle for the remaining two qualification spots for Champions League is far from over. With four clubs battling it out in the final stretch, HT looks at how they are placed to make it to Europe:
They did the hard part well — finishing with a win against teams in the top six — but their Achilles’ heel have been sides in the mid-table and below. Of their remaining three fixtures, two will be against Southampton and West Ham, who have held them to a draw in first legs. While they did win against Middlesbrough, it won’t be an easy tie considering the fact that they are fighting for their survival in the top flight.
Making it to the Champions League will be of paramount importance for the Pep Guardiola-managed side considering the amount that has been invested in building the squad. They play three of their four remaining matches at home and it won’t be of much help looking at their home record this season. The Citizens have won just eight at home compared to 11 on road and Guardiola will hope that they finish on a high note.
The Red Devils have won the least number of matches among the top six teams. They have also drawn the most matches in the 20-team league which means they are still jostling to make it to the Champions League. With tough fixtures against Arsenal and Tottenham coming up, Man United will have to pull up their socks if they have to secure their Champions League future next season.
They may have a match in hand but other teams will have to drop points for Gunners to secure their Champions League future. If they don’t manage to do so, it will be for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s reign that they will fail to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition or secure a top-four place in the Premier League. It has been a familiar story for the Gunners, who started the season well but have dropped to new depths as this edition has progressed, they have struggled to stay in contention for a top-four berth.