Race for Europe: How it stands and remaining games

TL;DR

Bournemouth secured a 1-0 victory over Fulham, enhancing their chances of qualifying for Europe for the first time. Brighton also remains in contention, sitting seventh in the table with two games left.

Key points

Bournemouth won 1-0 against Fulham
Bournemouth is sixth in the table with two games left
Aston Villa must win their Europa League final for Bournemouth to qualify
Brighton is seventh with 53 points
Brighton won 3-0 against relegated Wolves

BournemouthBrightonAston VillaEuropa League

Bournemouth boosted their chances of playing in Europe for the first time in their history with a 1-0 win at Fulham on Saturday, while Brighton also remain on course to return to continental action.

The Cherries, who finished 21st in League Two in 2008-09, are sixth in the table with two games left.

That will be enough to earn a Champions League spot providing Aston Villa finish fifth and win their Europa League final encounter against Freiburg on 20 May.

It means the Vitality Stadium, which has a capacity of around 11,200, could be welcoming sides like Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid next season.

Brighton, meanwhile, are seventh on 53 points - two behind the Cherries and five adrift of Villa, after a comfortable 3-0 home win over relegated Wolves.

The Seagulls reached the last 16 of the Europa League in 2023-24, defeating Ajax home and away, as well as Marseille.

Three Premier League clubs have reached European finals this season - Arsenal in the Champions League, Aston Villa in the Europa League and Crystal Palace in the Conference League.

How many can qualify?

Figure caption,

'He's been phenomenal' - Hill on what Iraola has done for Bournemouth

There could be up to nine Premier League clubs in Europe next season - six in the Champions League, two in the Europa League and one in the Conference League.

The top five are guaranteed a place in Europe's most prestigious competition.

As mentioned above, sixth will also secure a Champions League spot providing Aston Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League.

If Manchester City beat Chelsea in next Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley, the Europa League spot would be passed on to seventh, with the eighth-placed team in the Conference League.