- There are five teams battling it out for three places in the Champions League
- The Opta super-computer has provided it’s prediction as to who seals a place
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Should Marcus Rashford leave Man United to spearhead Aston Villa’s attack?
Opta’s super-computer has revealed the exact results that five Premier League teams need in order to seal a place in next year’s Champions League.
Currenty, there are five teams – Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa – battling it out to secure a place in the the competition next season.
With Liverpool and Arsenal likely to qualify, there are only three places remaining for the aforementioned teams to compete for – with fifth place also earning a spot in the competition.
As it stands, Newcastle sit third with a points tally of 59, while seventh place Aston Villa are just two points behind – with the other teams mixed in between them.
With just five games remaining, Opta’s super-computer has suggested the results that each team needs in order to seal a place in the Champions League.
It suggests that a minimum of 66 points are needed to clinch a place in Europe’s elite competition, which could set alarm bells ringing for some of those teams.
Opta’s super-computer has predicted the outcome in the race for a Champions League spot
Pep Guardiola will be hoping to salvage Man City’s season with a place in the competition
Chelsea are also pushing for a return to the Champions League under Enzo Maresca
It means that Chelsea, Forest and Villa would all need to pick up nine points from their remaining matches in the top flight, given they all currently have 57 points.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest arguably have the best run of fixtures to end the campaign, as well as boasting a game in hand on their rivals.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, however, still have to face the likes of Liverpool and Man United before ending their season.
Similarly, Aston Villa still need to face Tottenham, Man United and Man City, which could derail their current push for a return to the Champions League.
City, however, will need just eight more points, according to the super-computer, in order to seal a place in the competition.
Aside from a clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday night, they will also face Fulham, Bournemouth, Wolves and Southampton before the season’s end.
Finally, Newcastle need just seven points to reach Opta’s benchmark, given that they currently have 59 points in the league.
However, the Magpies will need to overcome tricky tests such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Brighton in order to reach Europe’s elite competition next season.
Newcastle are currently third and are expected to finish in a Champions League spot
The super-computer predicted that Aston Villa will narrowly miss out on qualification
While the super-computer offered a suggestion on the points tally needed to seal a place in the Champions League, it has also predicted who will in fact claim the spots.
It suggests that City will finish third on a points tally of 68, with Newcastle one point behind them on 67.
It claims that Nottingham Forest will seal the fifth and final spot in the Champions League. The last time the club played in Europe’s premier club competition was in 1980.
This means that, according to the super-computer, that Aston Villa and Chelsea would miss out and, instead, will be playing Europa League football next season.
