The Premier League will have at least five teams in next season’s Champions League following Arsenal’s victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of this season’s quarter-finals.
A pair of Declan Rice free-kicks and a Mikel Merino goal gave Arsenal command of the tie as they triumphed 3-0 at Emirates Stadium.
In addition to giving the Gunners a huge edge ahead of next week’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, the win ensured that the Premier League is guaranteed a spot in the top two of UEFA’s association club coefficient rankings and the reward of an extra Champions League place that comes with it.
Newcastle United are fifth in the Premier League following their win over Leicester City on Monday, with Arsenal’s victory putting them in an excellent position to return to the Champions League having gone out in the group stage in 2023-24.
The Magpies are just a point ahead of Manchester City in sixth, but they have a game in hand on those around them in an extremely competitive battle for the Champions League places.
Just nine points separate Nottingham Forest in third and Fulham in eighth, the battle for European football the most compelling aspect of the Premier League run-in with the title race and relegation fight seemingly all but over.
Aston Villa are firmly in the mix to finish in the top five, as they sit just two points behind Newcastle. Unai Emery’s men could also qualify for the competition next season by winning the trophy for the second time in their history this campaign. Villa face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
And there is the possibility of seven Premier League teams featuring in the Champions League next season, with Manchester United and Tottenham both still having a path to qualification through the Europa League. United face Lyon in the quarter-finals while Tottenham take on Eintracht Frankfurt.
The second extra Champions League place is likely to go to LaLiga. Madrid and Barcelona remain in the Champions League while Athletic Bilbao are through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. In addition, Real Betis are in the last eight of the Conference League.
