Final Day Quandary: Could Sixth Be a Champions League Place After All?

Bournemouth’s win put them in sixth and ahead of Brentford, but the final day could create a bizarre scenario where sixth only gets a CL spot if Aston Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League, due to UEFA’s European Performance Spot rules. With Villa fifth, the fight remains tight among Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton for sixth, while Chelsea and Fulham lurk nearby; a loss on Sunday could, in theory, help the 6th-placed club reach the Champions League by triggering EPS transfers. Seventh would secure a Conference League place, and eighth could also land in the Conference League if England’s extra CL slot alters the pecking order. The results hinge on Brighton hosting Manchester United and Brentford visiting Liverpool on the final day, against a backdrop of potential shifts if Villa’s European run changes the distribution of spots across Europe for English clubs.