Who will win the battle for Champions League football next year? – A look at each team’s remaining fixtures

There aren’t a lot of games left this season but there are still some issues to be decided over the remaining fixtures. Manchester United have sealed the title and both Reading and QPR have been relegated from the Premier League. However, aside for who will join those two in the Championship next year, the biggest story over the next few games will be who qualifies for the Champions League and who has to settle for Europa League action next season instead.

Below I analyse the remaining fixtures of all teams. I haven’t made any predictions as to how it will go as football is too unpredictable, but there are other things that could come into it too.

Here are the remaining fixtures of the teams that still have a chance of Champions League qualification:

ARSENAL:

QPR (A)

Wigan (H)

Newcastle (A)

Arsenal have three games that are certainly winnable on paper. QPR’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed yesterday and they have nothing but pride to play for. Arsenal did lose away to QPR last season though. Wigan are always a tough nut to crack for Arsenal and they earned a good point at home to Tottenham at the weekend, nearly claiming all three. Arsenal lost at home to Wigan last season. Wigan have an FA Cup Final to look forward to next month, but could it be a distraction in their fight to stay up?. Newcastle lost 6-0 at home to Liverpool at the weekend and haven’t had a good year at all. Arsenal drew 0-0 at Newcastle on the opening day of the 2011/12 season.

CHELSEA:

Man United (A)

Tottenham (H)

Aston Villa (A)

Everton (H)

Chelsea have a tough end to their season. Manchester United away is always a difficult fixture for any team. The one thing they have going for them is that United are already champions, so don’t have anything to play for. A win against Chelsea is always a good thing in Sir Alex’s book though. Tottenham at home is crucial for Chelsea and that fixture could decide not only Chelsea and Tottenham’s fate, but also Arsenal’s too. Aston Villa are fighting relegation and will be trying to get points in every game between now and the end of the season. Everton are still in with a sniff of Champions League football next season, so if they still have a chance on the final day of the season, it could make that game interesting. Add to all this that Chelsea have the second leg of a Europa League semi-final with Basel ahead and potentially a Europa League Final to fit in too and Chelsea’s run-in looks even less friendly.

TOTTENHAM:

Southampton (H)

Chelsea (A)

Stoke (A)

Sunderland (H)

Spurs’ run-in doesn’t look too bad on paper. Southampton are seven points clear of danger so although just a point would get them to the magic number of 40, Tottenham should be able to see them off. Chelsea away as discussed above is a game that will be huge in this Champions League qualification battle. Stoke away is never easy, if you were to play Stoke you’d have wanted to of played them a few weeks back when they looked as though they could go down. Two wins out of two has all but confirmed their safety, but like Southampton, an extra win wouldn’t do them any harm at all. Sunderland at home would have been a perfect end to the season for Spurs before Paolo Di Canio became their manager. Two wins out of three has been a good start for Di Canio and with other games that they could win before now and the end of the season, Sunderland could be safe before their trip to White Hart Lane. One thing Spurs won’t want is Sunderland needing to get a result on the last day to stay up. If they do, you wouldn’t put it past them.

EVERTON:

Liverpool (A)

West Ham (H)

Chelsea (A)

Everton are definitely the biggest outsiders for the top four. Having played one game more than Chelsea and Spurs and a lot of ground to make up, it is hard to see it happening for them. The Merseyside Derby is always a fierce contest, local pride is at stake and a Liverpool win would take them within touching distance finishing above their local rivals. West Ham at home is a winnable game for Everton but Chelsea away is a difficult one for them too. Like I said above, if Everton still have a shot at Champions League qualification when that fixture is played, it will be a very interesting game to watch. Everton would give everything in that game if that was possible.

Who will qualify for the Champions League and who will be playing in the Europa League next season?