LAGOS, Nigeria — As the 2025 Premier League season dey enter final stretch, competition for Champions League spots don turn serious. With only four points separating teams ranked third to seventh, everything dey at stake as we approach the final match days.
The race tight as top five teams go secure Champions League spot for next season, while the sixth-placed team go grab European League entry. This season, Arsenal dey in strong position, but dem need to keep sharp as dem face fresh competition from teams like Newcastle and Manchester City.
As e stand now, di latest table shows Arsenal lead with 72 points. Behind dem, Manchester City follow with 71 points, while Newcastle dey sit on 70 points. Aston Villa, who dey grab form lately, don reach 69 points. As it dey be now, finishing in di top five na true battle as teams push dem luck for di last two matches.
Last weekend, Arsenal draw 2-2 with Liverpool, denting dere hopes even as Newcastle secure vital 1-0 victory against Chelsea. According to manager Mikel Arteta, “We dey focus on maintaining our form and securing di points we need to guarantee we make di Champions League.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also dey optimistic, saying, “Each game dey important for us. We don show we fit compete with di best, and we plan to keep pushing.” Dem don earn their place after winning di EFL Cup earlier dis season, and dem dey eye more European glory.
Di match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also shake di table as Forest draw 2-2 with Leicester, pulling dem down in di race. As e stand, Forest dey seventh with only 62 points and six victories in di last matches.
In di race for di Europa League, di sixth-placed team traditionally takes di spot, but with di new EPS (European Performance Spot), di fifth-place team will qualify for di Champions League, and di sixth will land in Europa League instead. This means winners of di FA Cup also get entry to di Europa League.
If Manchester City win di FA Cup and also qualify for di Champions League through di league, their Europa League spot go pass down to di next highest team without qualification. So clubs like Brentford, Brighton, and Fulham, who sit around di relegation hunt, dey eager to take advantage of di situation.
“It’s not just about di matches we get left, but how others perform as well. We dey watch di table closely,” said Brentford’s manager Thomas Frank. “For us, one strong performance could change our fortune for di whole season.” On di final weekend, Brentford get chance to get European football if dem finish eighth.
In di end, di race for di Champions League spots dey intense, and each team dey feel di pressure as dem head into di final confrontations. Fans dey expect exciting clashes ahead as di curtain dey fall on di season, with every point counting more than ever.
Matchday 37 go show more from dis battle, as teams try seal dere fate before di final weekend. Fans should not miss di excitement as di Premier League dey give us another thrilling finish.”
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
