Champions League places incredibly tight after nervy Aston Villa match on Saturday | OneFootball

The Champions League contest is racing towards the finishing line and getting ever tighter.

Five Premier League clubs (Villa, Chelsea Man City, Forest and Newcastle United) chasing three Champions League places.

On Saturday it was the turn of Aston Villa.

Having been knocked out of both the Champions League and FA Cup, Unai Emery’s side looking to bounce back via the Premier League.

Tielemans gave them a 12th minute headed lead at Villa Park in the early Saturday kick-off and looked set to send them on their way to a convincing victory.

However, chances wasted by Villa and at the other end Fulham having their own dangerous moments, including when Sessegnon saw a goal disallowed for handball.

As the game went on, an increasingly nervous Aston Villa team and fans looking for the final whistle. Even when Fulham went down to ten men on 83 minutes through injury after all five subs used, it didn’t ease the tension.

Fulham pressing for the equaliser despite a man down and sadly Villa managed to hold on.

Villa deserving the win but such small margins meaning so much at this stage of the season.

This follows another Champions League contender winning 1-0 on Friday, Man City scoring the winner with one of only two efforts on target, whilst Wolves saw two efforts hit the woodwork, another shot cleared off the line and messing up an easy chance when a Wolves player had to square the ball for a tap in but hit the pass just too far in front.

With Forest losing at home to Brentford on Thursday, these recent results have made the Champions League race incredibly tight.

This is how the upper end of the Premier League table now looks on Saturday 3 May 2025 after Aston Villa 1 Fulham 0:

As you can see, three teams (Chelsea, Forest, Villa) on 60 points, Newcastle two ahead of that trio, then Man City another two points above.

With only 16 matches remaining involving the five Champions League chasers, Sunday’s games looking even more important.

A win for Newcastle United at Brighton would be huge, as it would take Eddie Howe’s side back up to third and five points clear of sixth. Whilst even a point might not be the worst result, especially when you consider the goal difference advantage NUFC have over Forest and Villa in particular.

Sunday 4 May

Brighton v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Chelsea v Liverpool (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Monday 5 May

Palace v Forest (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 10 May

Southampton v Man City (3pm)

Bournemouth v Villa (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 11 May

Newcastle v Chelsea (12pm) TNT Sports

Forest v Leicester (2.15pm) Sky Sports

Friday 16 May

Chelsea v Man U (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 18 May

Villa v Spurs TBC Sky Sports (Spurs have asked about moving this match due to proximity to Europa League final on 21 May but it will be televised live by Sky Sports regardless of which date)

West Ham v Forest (2.15pm) Sky Sports

Arsenal v Newcastle (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Tuesday 20 May

Man City v Bournemouth (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 25 May (Live TV choices made after round 37 of PL matches completed)