Forest & Chelsea falter as Champions League race hots up

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito SantoImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Nottingham Forest have won just one of their past six league games

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says his side's bid to qualify for the Champions League is "not finished" despite a damaging home draw against already-relegated Leicester.

Forest would have moved up to fifth with a win but remain seventh, behind Chelsea and Aston Villa, after they let a 2-1 lead slip to draw 2-2.

Chelsea's chances were also dented as they were beaten 2-0 at Newcastle, who are on the brink of securing a place in Europe's premier club competition next season.

The weekend's results - that also included Manchester City being held to a goalless draw at Southampton and Villa beating Bournemouth - mean there are just four points separating Newcastle in third and Forest in seventh with two round of fixtures remaining.

"We now have to react," Nuno told BBC Match of the Day. "We have two games left, it's no longer in our hands but we have to find solutions for the team for those games."

Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: "It's not in our hands but it's not finished."

Forest's match against Chelsea at the City Ground on the last day of the season increasingly looks like it could determine which - if either - of the two sides finishes in the top five.

Only champions Liverpool have sealed a Champions League place so far but second-placed Arsenal, who visit Anfield on Sunday, will hope to soon join them.

The race for eighth is just as tight

There will be nine Premier league teams competing in Europe next season - up from the usual seven - but things could change in the final weeks of the campaign.

Crystal Palace, who are 12th, would qualify for the Europa League if they win the FA Cup final.

Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, and to a lesser extent Fulham, are all vying for eighth spot which might be enough.

The Bees are in eighth, above Albion on goal difference, two points ahead of the Cherries and four clear of the Cottagers.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, after a 1-0 win at Ipswich, told BBC Sport: "We have got the momentum which is important.

"We are close to finishing eighth which would be the best position ever in the league. We are laser focused on what we can do. We have given very little away but still created a lot.

"We just need to push and enjoy it, the next two games, and then reset our target."

Manchester United and Tottenham meet in the Europa League final with the winners taking a sixth Champions League spot for English teams next season.

What does the data say?

Statisticians Opta give Arsenal a 99.7% chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

They give a 94.9% chance for Newcastle, 92.6% for City and 56% for Chelsea.

For Villa it's 38.4% and for Forest it's 18.2%.

Who do the contenders have left to play?

Liverpool: Arsenal (H); Brighton (A); Crystal Palace (H)

Arsenal: Liverpool (A); Newcastle (H); Southampton (A)

Manchester City: Bournemouth (H); Fulham (A)

Newcastle: Arsenal (A); Everton (H)

Chelsea: Manchester United (H); Nottingham Forest (A)

Aston Villa: Tottenham (H); Manchester United (A)

Nottingham Forest: West Ham (A); Chelsea (H)

Brentford: Fulham (H); Wolves (A)

Brighton: Liverpool (H); Tottenham (A)

Bournemouth: Manchester City (A); Leicester (H)

Fulham: Brentford (A); Manchester City (H)

How many teams will qualify for the Champions League?

There will be nine English teams in European competitions next season - with six in the Champions League.

England got an extra spot because of their teams' performances in Europe this season - and another one because of the make-up of the Europa League final.

Manchester United and Tottenham meet in the final on Wednesday, 28 May in Bilbao - with the winner guaranteed a Champions League spot.

But since neither side can qualify for Europe through their league position, that will be a bonus spot.

How many teams could qualify for the Europa League?

A maximum of three Premier League teams could be competing in the Europa League next season.

The team who finish sixth and the FA Cup winners are the two currently due to get a spot.

However, if the cup winners have already secured a European place, it will then go to the next highest placed side who have not qualified for Europe.

A third place could be awarded if Chelsea win the Conference League and fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The Blues face Real Betis in the final on Wednesday, 21 May in Wroclaw.

If Chelsea beat Betis and finish in the top five, there would be two English teams in the Europa League and one in the Conference League.

What about the Conference League?

A graphic showing there will be a third Europa League spot awarded if Chelsea win the Conference League and fail to qualify for the Champions League

There would usually be one Conference League place awarded to a Premier League team.

As things stand that will go to Carabao Cup winners Newcastle, but that could change if Eddie Howe's side qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League (so finish in the top six at least).

In that scenario seventh spot would be a Conference League place if Crystal Palace win the FA Cup.

If Manchester City win the FA Cup and qualify for Europe through the league, then the team in eighth place will head into the Conference League.

However as mentioned above, if Chelsea win the Conference League but do not finish in the top five then there will no English teams in next season's competition.

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