City could be in Champions League by Monday
CITY NEWS RESULTS AND MAN CITY’S APPEAL AGAINST EURO BAN NEED TO GO THEIR WAY
LEICESTER City could secure a place in the Champions League by Monday if results go their way this weekend.
City’s hopes of a return to Europe’s top competition were boosted on Wednesday night after Wolves suffered a last-gasp defeat at Sheffield United.
It means City’s cushion inside the top five stands at seven points with four games remaining.
And if four results and one court case go their way, they will be back in the Champions League in four days’ time.
Here’s what City need to happen.
Sheffield United v Chelsea – Saturday, July 11, 5.30pm kick-off – City need Sheffield United to fail to win
Although it seems illogical with City chasing down Chelsea for a place in the top four, they need Frank Lampard’s side to at least get a draw at Bramall Lane to halt the Blades’ charge for fifth.
Wolves v Everton – Sunday, July 12, noon kick-off – City need Wolves to lose
Back-to-back defeats have severely dented Wolves’ hopes of reaching the Champions League spots, and City will be hoping they fall to a third straight loss on Sunday.
Although City would need Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to lose to mathematically secure Champions
League football, a draw would effectively be good enough, given the huge margin in goal difference.
Tottenham v Arsenal – Sunday, July 12, 4.30pm kick-off – City need the sides to draw
To keep their hopes alive of wrapping up Champions League qualification by Monday, City need Sunday’s north London derby to finish all square.
That is unless Spurs failed to beat Bournemouth last night. If Jose Mourinho’s men didn’t get the better of the Cherries, then City can cheer for a Tottenham victory against the Gunners.
Bournemouth v Leicester City – Sunday, July 12, 7pm kick-off – City need to win
City need to do what they have never done before in the Premier
League and beat Bournemouth away. Although they defeated the Cherries when they last met in the Championship, none of City’s four top-flight trips to the Vitality Stadium have ended in victory.
Uefa v Manchester City – Monday, July 13 – City need Uefa’s ban to be upheld
The final piece of the jigsaw is the big one in many ways. Man City have appealed their two-year suspension from Uefa competitions for breaking financial rules, and after a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an outcome is expected on Monday.
If CAS decide to uphold Uefa’s decision, then fifth place in the Premier League becomes a Champions League spot.
If CAS rule that Man City’s appeal is successful, then fifth place becomes a Europa League spot again.