How Chelsea and Manchester United can secure European qualification before the final day of the Premier League season.
Chelsea and Manchester United each have one Premier League match remaining as they aim to secure a spot in European competitions for the 2024-25 season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea beat Brighton 2-1 in their penultimate game, while United won 3-2 against Newcastle. These results place Chelsea sixth and United eighth in the Premier League standings before the final matches on Sunday.
Chelsea will face AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United will travel to Brighton.
The Champions League spots have already been claimed by Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa, so Chelsea and United are vying for Europa League and Europa Conference League spots alongside Tottenham and Newcastle.
Fifth place, likely Tottenham, secures a Europa League spot. The fate of sixth and seventh place depends on the FA Cup final, where United will play Manchester City.
If United win the FA Cup, they will qualify for the Europa League regardless of their league finish. If they win and finish sixth, the seventh place will qualify for the Europa Conference League. If United finish lower than sixth and win the FA Cup, the seventh place team will miss out on European qualification.
If City win the FA Cup, sixth place earns a Europa League spot, and seventh place secures a Europa Conference League spot.
Chelsea could finish as high as fifth if Tottenham lose to Sheffield United and Chelsea beat Bournemouth. Finishing sixth is more likely, potentially earning a Europa League or Europa Conference League spot based on the FA Cup outcome. Chelsea need just a point against Bournemouth to guarantee sixth place. If they lose and Newcastle win, Chelsea would drop to seventh and risk missing out on Europe if United win the FA Cup.
Manchester United can guarantee a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup, regardless of their league finish. If they lose the FA Cup final, they need to finish sixth for a Europa League spot or seventh for a Europa Conference League spot. Though mathematically possible, it is highly unlikely United will finish sixth due to a significant goal difference gap.