Chelsea go into this weekend’s final round of fixtures with a massive opportunity of qualifying for the Champions League after beating Manchester United on Friday evening.
There is just one point separating third-placed Newcastle United and seventh-placed Nottingham Forest. Chelsea are sitting prettily in fourth-place, level on points with Newcastle, but face a Forest side who can also still qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
The City Ground will be rocking on Sunday afternoon with Nuno Espirito Santo looking to conclude a wonderful season for Forest off in style. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca will be aiming to achieve the target set out to him at the beginning of his debut campaign of getting the Blues back into the Champions League.
“Since day one, I said that the target that the club gave to me was in two years we want to play in the Champions League,” Maresca said last week. “Since day one. But when you arrive to March and you have been all season, top four, top five, it’s natural that the target is to finish in the Champions League. So the reason why it changed from the beginning is because we arrived to March, international break, I still remember that we were there all season.
“So it’s normal that then the target becomes to finish top four, top five. So what has changed is that because we have been there all season, the target automatically becomes finish top four, top five.”
While the west Londoners currently occupy a strong position, as we all know, things can change very quickly in football. And with that being said, football.london predicts the inevitable drama we will see on the final day of the season.
Man City
Manchester City were beaten in the FA Cup final on Saturday evening, meaning Pep Guardiola’s team still have a game in hand on their rivals. That will be played on Tuesday evening with Bournemouth the visitors to the Etihad Stadium.
A game City should win, especially with it being in Manchester, but equally the sort of match they have struggled in over the course of this baffling season. On the final day, they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage – a fixture, as Chelsea found out, that is never easy.
football.london prediction: City to beat Bournemouth, City to draw at Fulham (City to finish in third)
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has enjoyed another strong season at Villa Park and that would be capped off if they manage to beat Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. Old Trafford has become a very happy hunting ground for a lot of teams this season and that is unlikely to change by the time Sunday comes around.
Even more so because United will be playing in a gruelling Europa League final just four days before the final game of the season.
football.london prediction: Villa to beat Man United (Villa to finish in sixth)
Newcastle
The Magpies are top of the mini league, sitting in third-place. On the final day of the season, Eddie Howe’s side welcome Everton to St. James’ Park and given what is at stake, it will be rocking.
Everton have become a decent outfit under David Moyes but Newcastle should have too much for the Toffees at the weekend. It would be a big shock if Newcastle finished outside of the top five.
football.london prediction: Newcastle to beat Everton (Newcastle to finish fourth)
Chelsea
The big one. Everything Chelsea have been playing for in the Premier League this season comes down to this. It will not be easy – far from it, in fact, with Forest still hopeful of qualifying for the Champions League.
The home advantage could play a big part, too, but this Chelsea side have shown a grit and steeliness in recent weeks – something that seemed very far away not too long ago. The Blues have a job to do in Nottingham and I expect them to get it done one way or another.
football.london prediction: Chelsea to beat Forest (Chelsea to finish fifth, Forest to finish seventh)
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Chelsea have released their new home kit for next season, featuring the classic Chelsea blue and a subtle print inspired by London’s iconic landmarks and creative culture.
