Premier League: why some clubs may need to lose to qualify for the Champions League

The race for Europe is heating up towards the end of the season in England. With the Premier League potentially having up to 10 clubs in European competitions in 2026-2027, some teams may have to prioritize a loss to qualify for the Champions League.

A necessary evil. This could be the motto for several English clubs on the final day of the Premier League. As revealed by BBC Sports, some elite English teams may have more to lose than to gain in the last match of the 2025-2026 season to secure their spot in the Champions League.

This peculiarity is due to a specific rule from UEFA. Thanks to their performances in Europe, the Premier League sends five clubs directly to the Champions League. However, if Aston Villa finishes 5th in the league and wins the Europa League, the 6th place will also be qualifying.

A thrilling final day ahead

For now, this scenario is still possible. Aston Villa currently holds 5th place tied with Liverpool (4th with 58 points) and is set to play the second leg of the Europa League semifinals at home against Nottingham Forest on Thursday (lost 1-0 in the first leg).

Currently 6th and 7th in the Premier League, Bournemouth and Brentford have slim chances of catching up to the Birmingham team (6 and 7 points behind with 3 games left) but could influence their fate by facing Manchester United (3rd with 64 points) and Liverpool on the final day. A defeat could seal the 5th place for Aston Villa and send the 6th team to the Champions League. A potentially historic qualification for two clubs that have never competed in Europe.

Before that, securing the 6th position will be crucial. This won’t be easy considering the competition at the top of the table. Six other clubs are still in the running. This Monday afternoon, Chelsea could catch up to Brentford with a victory against Nottingham Forest (4 pm), while Everton (11th) could close in with a win over Manchester City in the evening (9 pm).

Brighton is also lurking in 8th place (50 points), along with Fulham (11th with 48 points), Sunderland (12th with 47 points), and even Newcastle (13th with 45 points).

This season, the number of English clubs qualifying for European cups could reach up to 10. This scenario can only happen if Nottingham Forest wins the Europa League and Crystal Palace lifts the Conference League without being among the top eight.