How the Champions League Race Was Decided | Premier League 24/25

Today, we get all the answers. Who will be playing in the Champions League next season? And Aston Villa have scored, or have they? Newcastle have so much to do now. Harland to surely make sure. And that could well be enough for Chelsea. Forest hearts breaking all around us. We know who's going down. We know who's coming up. The race for Europe, though, far from run. Old Trafford, the theatre of dreams. United's last opponents, Aston Villa, will be in Europe next season, but it's a return to the Champions League they crave. A warm welcome here to Craven Cottage. Manchester City only need a point at Fulham to book their Champions League place. But it's mighty tight behind them, with only one point separating the next four teams. Newcastle know that a win at home to Everton will be enough for them, whilst a Chelsea success here at Forest suffices for the Blues. But if Chelsea were to lose here, they would only make it if Villa then lost at Manchester United, and Newcastle lost by three goals more than the margin of the Blues' defeat. Two clubs whose hopes are mutually incompatible, each hoping to triumph at the other's expense. A win will do for Chelsea. Forest need a victory and the favour from elsewhere. And whilst they can't both succeed, they might both fail. It's a beautifully poised final game of high stakes and high emotion. Cleverly rolled down the side of Kukerea, Einer's ball in. And Cole had to make sure that he got there ahead of Wood. One point, enough to ensure that Manchester City will be back. Mammoosh, Nunez into the box. Nunez, Leno got the touch, and acrobatically in by Ilkay Gundogan. What a fabulously improvised finish that was by Ilkay Gundogan. The news will shortly filter through that the goal is good. So this is the situation as things stand at the moment. Palmer driving it forward, smacked straight at Sancho. It's off Kukerea's head, Wood trying to react. And Cole will clear these lines. Good pressure this from Nottingham Forest. Yeah, exactly the right idea, this time from the wide area again. Now in by Fernandes, Martinez comes and doesn't really dominate. Kept alive by Maguire here. It's a crafty turn, but he's come back his way. And he was trying to Diabdalo. And Heaven is there, Hoyland is there. And somehow Aston Villa survive. That's the closest they've come. And they've come pretty close a few times already. Half an hour played and it remains goalless. Opened up in front of Tonali to have a goal. Pickford pushes it away and saves the follow-up from Isak Horner. Hits the target, but Pickford is there. Good double save. Fulham haven't finished yet though, this is Harry Wilson. Traore, Jimenez in the middle. Kearney! Pereira, Kearney again! The captain going close to equalising for Fulham. Matisa Gueye releasing, Mikalenko gets his cross in! And Alcaraz is header. It's a fantastic save from Nick Bolt. That's a brilliant save. Top-class goalkeeping. One of the sides involved in this five-way tussle for the three Champions League places. Manchester City the only ones winning at the moment. Kearney floats it to Wilson. He's got a little bit of space in which to work. It's Wilson! Pereira side-netting. Didn't Ederson get down well there to deny Harry Wilson. Einer. Anderson making a good run forward. It was Wood that got there ahead of Sanchez. But he couldn't keep it down for his best chance by a street. Just can't steer that one on target. Goalkeeper is committed to coming and grabbing it and he's nowhere near it. Manchester United haven't scored. That's a very important factor from a Villa perspective. Hoyland's going to get there first. Martinez is stranded here. And that's a very big moment on this final day. And goes the Aston Villa goalkeeper. And maybe with him goes the Champions League hopes. But Emi Martinez has got one thought on his mind, and that's to stop Rasmus Hoyland getting his shot away. I don't think he can have too many complaints. And Unai Emery is hanging his head here. Well, it's halftime. So Villa will address the task of trying to win this game with 10 men. Still Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League right now. Still Forrest with work to do. So Everton start the second half. Newcastle have been the dominant force, but Everton have had their moments and are, as we expected, proving to be stubborn opponents. Newcastle hope that things will click soon. It's done really well to hold on to this. Brilliant skill. He's still going. It's wonderful work from Unai. And now Jack Harrison. It flashes across and Everton plead for a handball in there, which will be checked. He may well have been punished, but very quickly overlooked. It's not quite happening yet for Newcastle, but this time. The dangerous Maguire around the penalty spot. One suspects Mount will try and put it in his direction. And it's stuffed in. Maybe he knew, almost with the naked eye, it looked offside. Palmer back for Caicedo and back again. Now Palmer firing it in. Morello there, it's Tosin that have made the run towards the ball. Kukerea, that's an awkward one. Stabbed towards goal. Caldwell for Chelsea. Levi Caldwell applying a simple touch, but a really important one to give Chelsea the lead. Forrest now in a position that they've got to come from behind. Now there has been a goal at the city ground for Chelsea. They take the lead against Nottingham Forest. Newcastle in that fifth place at the moment. But there'll be a few more nails getting bitten here if they can't score a goal. Ndjiaye now looking to make it happen for Everton, as he often has. Mikalenko's cross, Alcaraz, goal for Everton. Absolutely flattens St James' Park. And as he stands, they have dropped out of the Champions League places. They're playing to Everton, but Newcastle have so much to do now. And there's been a big goal at St James' Park where Newcastle trail Everton. And that means that Villa climb above Newcastle into the top five, despite the fact that Villa down to ten men are currently being held at Old Trafford. Doku, shepherded by Lukic, but he's popped it up to Gundogan. Lukic makes the challenge and the referee points to the spot. Haaland to surely make sure of Champions League football next season for Manchester City. Haaland sends Leno the wrong way. And that should be enough. That should be enough for Champions League football for the 16th successive season. Here's Rodgers. Oh, and Altai's lost it. And Rodgers has put it in. And Aston Villa have scored. Or have they? Thomas Bramall has blown his whistle. For what? I think a foul on the goalkeeper. I'm not sure it is a foul because I think he loses control of the ball. Has he got both hands on the ball when Rodgers nicks it off him? If the whistle's gone, they can't give the goal. I'm fairly confident that the whistle had gone. And I think that's what the referee was saying. In towards Ahmad from the potential ecstasy of seeing his team score, Unai Emery has to deal with the agony. It's on a plate for Ahmad. He arrives brilliantly at the far post and guides his head up past Robin Olsen into the back of the net. Moments after they could have conceded a goal to Morgan Rodgers. He's furious with that decision. Even more furious now that minutes later, Man Utd have gone ahead. Now there's been a goal at Old Trafford and Manchester United have taken the lead against Aston Villa, which would put Newcastle back in the Champions League frame. Ahmad has scored it. Trippier for Schär. Fabian Schär! Oh, well, if anyone was going to score from there, he was. What a hit. Oh, my goodness. So close. Forrest in a position that two late goals here. They could finish fourth. A goal could still make a really positive difference for Aston Villa. Mane, Casemiro and here is Ahmad. Away again. Madsen is quick. Contact there. Where was it? What was it? He's given a penalty. Here goes Christian Eriksen. And it's 2-0. And Villa's day and the misery today is now complete. Well, Manchester United are 2-0 up against Aston Villa now, and it looks like Newcastle will be in the Champions League after all. Yeah, that expression says it all, doesn't it? It really does. Sal's in Chelsea territory by the time he launches that four. It's Chris Wood. Oh! What a chance. That had to go in. It did. And he took it perfectly on his thigh, didn't he? Did everything right. It was a really good ball from the goalkeeper. Now that would have given us a grandstand finale. It really would. It's Chelsea who are back in the Champions League. Victory theirs. And Nottingham Forest, who haven't played in European football's top competition for more than 40 years, see their weight go on. No silverware this time round for Pep Guardiola, but they have managed through their late season recovery to salvage a golden ticket to the Champions League next season. The other games have finished. Newcastle have lost, which will be particularly frustrating for Aston Villa because a draw would have been enough. Around St James' Park, playing Champions League football again. Boys of Nottingham.