Race for Europe: What each club need on the final day

 

Who will seize the Champions League spots on final day?

The 2024-25 Premier League season is poised for a breathtaking climax on Sunday, May 25, 2025, as five teams; Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest fight for the three remaining Champions League spots. With Liverpool and Arsenal already qualified and Tottenham Hotspur securing a place via their Europa League triumph, the final matchday promises high stakes and unrelenting drama.

 Thanks to the Premier League’s stellar European performances, five automatic Champions League berths are up for grabs, making this a historic race where only three points separate third from seventh. 

Here’s how the contenders can secure their ticket to Europe’s elite competition.

Manchester City (3rd, 68 points) – Fulham vs. Man City

Manchester City, perennial title challengers, need only avoid defeat at Fulham’s Craven Cottage to lock in Champions League football. Their superior goal difference makes a loss catastrophic only if Aston Villa were to win by an unthinkable 17-goal margin at Manchester United. City’s unbeaten record against Fulham since 2009 positions them as overwhelming favorites, but Pep Guardiola will demand focus to avoid a slip-up in West London.

see also: Season three is better than season two,' Postecoglou tells Tottenham fans

Newcastle United (4th, 66 points) – Newcastle vs. Everton

Newcastle United can cement a top-five finish with a home win against Everton at St. James’ Park. Riding a six-match home winning streak, Eddie Howe’s side is brimming with confidence, though Everton’s gritty midfield could test their resolve. A draw would leave Newcastle vulnerable, requiring Manchester United to hold or beat Aston Villa or Chelsea to falter at Nottingham Forest. A loss would hinge on Villa dropping points, as Newcastle’s goal difference offers a slight edge.

Chelsea (5th, 66 points) – Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea

Chelsea face a tricky trip to Nottingham Forest, where a victory guarantees Champions League qualification. Mauricio Pochettino’s side, buoyed by a recent win over Manchester United, holds a goal difference advantage over Aston Villa but not Newcastle. A draw or loss could see them overtaken if Villa win, making this clash at the City Ground pivotal. Forest’s raucous home support will make this anything but straightforward for the Blues.

Aston Villa (6th, 66 points) – Man Utd vs. Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s hopes rest on a daunting trip to Old Trafford, where they must defeat Manchester United and hope either Newcastle or Chelsea drop points—or, less likely, Manchester City lose. Unai Emery’s team has struggled historically against United, but the Red Devils’ dismal campaign (16th, two points from eight games) and fatigue from their Europa League final offer a glimmer of hope. Villa’s inferior goal difference means a draw is unlikely to suffice unless Newcastle suffer a heavy defeat.

Nottingham Forest (7th, 65 points) – Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea

Nottingham Forest face a long-shot bid for Champions League glory, needing to upset Chelsea at home while hoping either Newcastle or Aston Villa fail to win. A draw could theoretically work with an extraordinary goal swing (e.g., Newcastle losing by 10+ goals), but their focus will be on victory. Fresh off a 2-1 win at West Ham, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side is backed by a fervent City Ground crowd and guaranteed at least Europa League football with a win—an astonishing achievement for a team once battling relegation.

Key Fixtures 

Fulham vs. Manchester City

Newcastle United vs. Everton

Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea

Manchester United vs. Aston Villa