Why Bournemouth and Brighton want Villa to win UEL to have chance of CL qualification

  /  autty

Aston Villa can take one step towards opening up a sixth Champions League qualification spot for the Premier League by winning the Europa League on Wednesday night.

Bournemouth, currently sitting sixth, and seventh-placed Brighton will be desperate for Unai Emery's side to beat Freiburg and earn their first major European trophy since 1982.

The Premier League earned a fifth Champions League spot this season through UEFA's European Performance Spots, but that would be extended to sixth place, replacing one of the two Europa League slots - but only if Aston Villa win on Wednesday and then finish fifth.

If Aston Villa lose to Freiburg or finish in the top four, only the top five in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League, and Liverpool are all but guaranteed to finish in fifth as they are three points ahead of Bournemouth with a superior goal difference heading into the final day of the season.

European places as it stands (if Villa finish fourth and win or lose EL)

European places if Aston Villa win EL and finish fifth

The Premier League could also have nine teams playing in Europe next season, should Crystal Palace win the Conference League, which would earn them a Europa League place.

Premier League final day permutations

Aston Villa will drop to fifth if they lose at Manchester City and Liverpool beat Brentford.

Bournemouth will finish fifth if they beat Nottingham Forest and overturn a six-goal swing in goal difference with Liverpool losing to Brentford. Bournemouth need a point to confirm sixth place.

Brighton will finish sixth if they beat Man Utd and Bournemouth lose to Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea can only finish as high as seventh. They can achieve that by bettering Brighton's result.

Brentford will finish seventh if they beat Liverpool and Chelsea and Brighton fail to win.

Sunderland will finish seventh if they beat Chelsea, Brighton lose and Brentford don't win.

Sunderland playing Chelsea means that Newcastle, Everton and Fulham are out of the race for Europe as they can only reach 52 points, which wouldn't be enough to finish eighth.

Related: Aston Villa Brighton & Hove Albion AFC Bournemouth
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