Bournemouth have taken the lead in the battle for sixth place in the Premier League, a position that could unexpectedly secure a Champions League spot under a unique set of circumstances.
The Cherries’ 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday pushed them above Brentford into sixth, with only one point separating the top three contenders. Even more intriguingly, some teams might find themselves needing to lose on the final day to clinch a Champions League berth.
How Could Sixth Place Lead to the Champions League?
Two conditions must align for sixth to become a Champions League spot. First, Aston Villa must finish fifth (where they currently sit) and win the Europa League. Villa hold a 1-0 deficit from their semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest but host the return leg on Thursday.
Due to UEFA’s rules on distributing European spots, if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, the Premier League’s extra Champions League place (earned through the European Performance Spot) would pass down to the team in sixth. However, if Villa finish in the top four, winning the Europa League would not affect other English clubs, and sixth would earn only a Europa League place.
The Contenders
With Aston Villa six points clear in fifth, the battle for sixth is between Bournemouth (52 points), Brentford (51), and Brighton (50). Bournemouth have momentum after their dominant win, but all three clubs—none of whom have ever qualified for Europe—face a tense final stretch.