Opinion: Top four chase: Can Spurs catch Aston Villa for final Champions League place"
With the likelihood of just four Premier League teams in next season?s Champions League all but confirmed, Tottenham has just a handful of matches to catch up – and pass – Aston Villa for the last UCL place.
For a good portion of the current campaign, it looked as though Spurs were on their way to a return to not just European competition next season, but a coveted place in the Champions League.
Even as Tottenham?s form became inconsistent following a strong start and they settled in behind the top three of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, it seemed like fourth was possibly as low as Spurs could go through Matchweek 12.
Helped by the up-and-down results of European place contenders Manchester United, Newcastle, and West Ham, Tottenham seemingly had just one club to edge for fourth position. Aston Villa.
Photo by SpursWeb
Locked in fifth place
As Spurs? form dipped, they found themselves outside the top four for the first time following a home loss to Unai Emery?s side in Matchweek 13.
Tottenham has jumped back into the UCL places four times since that defeat, but it has only lasted a single match before they dropped back into fifth.
Even as Spurs sat in fifth, it looked as though they would get a Champions League place next season anyway. Thanks to changes to the top-tier European competition, the top two performing leagues in this year?s edition would be rewarded with an extra spot for 2024-25.
The competition for those places...
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