LONDON: Chelsea and Aston Villa won home games and strengthened their hopes for a top five Premier League finish and a place in next year’s Champions League on Friday.

Chelsea overcame a stuffy Manchester United 1-0 courtesy of a second-half goal from Marc Cucurella, while second-half goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara saw Villa comfortably dispatch Tott­enham Hotspur 2-0 and ensure the battle to play in Europe’s elite club competition will go down to the last day of the season.

The result left Chelsea in fourth with 66 points, and Villa in fifth on goal difference with one fixture left. The other teams fighting for one of the four Champions League spots after league winner Liverpool all have two games left to play.

Arsenal have 68 points, Newcastle United 66, Manchester City 65, and Nottingham Forest 62.

Chelsea woke up after a dull first half at Stamford Bridge when Spanish defender Cucurella headed home from close range, turning in a cross from captain Reece James, who bamboozled the United defence with a twist and turn in the 71st minute.

Chelsea were tense but dominant for most of the match as United ultimately slipped to an 18th league defeat of the season and remain 16th in the table.

Qualifying for the Champions League has been Chelsea’s target since Enzo Maresca took over as coach at the start of the season.

“The Champions League is where the club belongs, competing in the best competitions,” James said.

Chelsea will be assured of a return to Europe’s top competition after a two-year absence should they beat Forest on the final day of the season.

And they could also end the campaign with a trophy as they face Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final on May 28.

“Now only two games left to achieve something special,” said Cucurella. “Today is a moment to enjoy because we work all season for these moments so now we have ambitions to achieve these things.”

On a tense night at Villa Park, the home side had the better of the play but was forced to wait until the 59th minute to get the opener.

Ollie Watkins steered John McGinn’s corner back across goal and an unmarked Konsa turned in the ball.

Kamara doubled the lead with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area. It was his first Premier League goal in his 69th game.

“Very very happy,” said Villa coach Unai Emery, punching the air in joy before posing with fans for selfies after the game.

Friday’s win was Villa’s eighth in their last nine league matches and extended their unbeaten home run to 21 games in all competitions, their best since 1977.

“We have to try keep being consistent like we are now, focused and demanding,” he added. “There’s still work to do, to have the chance of playing Champions League.”

Villa’s final match is against United at Old Trafford.

After suffering a 21st defeat in this season, Spurs sit a woeful 17th in the Premier League with 38 points, just above the bottom three already relegated sides.

Spurs and United went into the matches with one eye on next week’s Europa League final.

Both of Friday’s matches were brought forward by 48 hours to allow the sides more time to prepare for the final on Wednesday in Bilbao.

United’s miserable season can only be saved by victory in Bilbao but Ruben Amorim resisted the temptation to rest his key men at Stamford Bridge.

“Today was a really good game to prepare the final,” said Amorim. “Almost 10 days without playing for me would be a mistake.

“It was a good thing for them to play, to feel that they can do it. We can control the game, we can have possession, we can push the opponent. “But in the end, in this club and any club you need to win and we are not winning.”

Plagued by injuries, Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou at least had the pleasure of seeing his captain Son Heung-min, recently back, looking unscathed for the Bilbao clash.

“He is ready and available,” Postecoglou said. “It was important tonight and he feels like he is getting back to some rhythm.”

Far from contending for a European berth through the league, Spurs’ only path to next season’s Champions League is by winning the second-tier European competition.

“It’s a very disappointing result and a very poor season,” Son said. “But at the end of the day, we can win a trophy, that’s what we’re all looking for.”

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025