Who will win race for the Champions League?

March 2, 2026 No Comments

Who will win race for the Champions League?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Who will win the race for the Champions League?ByDavid AndersonBBC SportPublished39 minutes agoWhile Arsenal and Manchester City slug it out for the Premier League title, the contest for the remaining Champions League places is coming to the boil – with five sides battling for potentially three remaining spots.Fifth place in the Premier League is virtually certain to bring Champions League qualification because of England’s commanding lead in the Uefa coefficent table.

Manchester United have leapfrogged Aston Villa to claim third, with Liverpool and Chelsea are tucked in behind.

Surprise packages Brentford are seventh and are dreaming not just of Europe, but of the Champions League.

BBC Sport assesses the runners and riders bidding to join Arsenal and Manchester City in qualifying for European club football’s most lucrative competition.

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Manchester United (3rd): P 28 Pts 51

Sesko leads Man Utd to victory against 10-man Crystal Palace

Form WWDWW: Manchester United are desperate to return to the Champions League after a two-season absence and are flying under caretaker boss Michael Carrick. He has six wins and a draw from his seven games, taking 19 points from 21.

What Carrick says: [On going third] “It doesn’t mean an awful lot at the moment. It’s nice, of course it is. We want to keep progressing and moving up the table as much as we can and in that respect, it’s a step today.”

Run-in: Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), Bournemouth (A), Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), Brentford (H), Liverpool (H), Sunderland (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Brighton (A).

Chances: United are the form horse, without Europe or the FA Cup to distract them, and they are looking favourites to make it back to the Champions League.

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Aston Villa (4th): P 28 Pts 51

Wolves beat Aston Villa to avoid Premier League-low points record

Form LDWDL: Injury-hit Villa have hit the buffers after their tremendous eight-game winning run at the end of 2025 – they have just two victories from their past seven league games. Defeat by bottom club Wolves on Friday was a new low – Unai Emery’s side look as if they’re running on empty.

What Emery says: “I know it will be very difficult to compete for the position in the Champions League because we have United and Liverpool near us. They are very good. They challenge and they have the power to challenge us.”

Run in: Chelsea (H), Manchester United (A), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), Burnley (A), Liverpool (H), Manchester City (A).

Chances: After looking so good for so long, Villa have been caught by Manchester United and are in danger of slipping further down the table.

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Liverpool (5th): P 28 Pts 48

Liverpool score five in dominant win over West Ham

Form WWWLW: Liverpool are finally finding some consistent form in a difficult season. Champions League football is the least Arne Slot needs to deliver after splashing out £450m on last season’s Premier League winners.

What Slot says: “We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top.”

Run in: Wolves (A), Tottenham (H), Brighton (A), Fulham (H), Everton (A), Crystal Palace (H), Manchester United (A), Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Brentford (H).

Chances: Liverpool – who have not finished outside the top five since 2016 – look like they’re timing their run to perfection.

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Chelsea (6th): P 28 Pts 45

Arsenal beat 10-man Chelsea to re-establish five-point lead

Form LDDWW: Liam Rosenior would love to deliver Champions League football to show he is making progress in what has been a turbulent season for Chelsea. Rosenior’s blue bandwagon has lost momentum after he made a winning start and they have taken just two points from their past three league games.

What Rosenior says: “The great thing is we have to play them [the teams around Chelsea]. If the level of performance is there and we solve our problems, we have a great chance. But we have to solve the problems yesterday to have a chance.”

Run in: Aston Villa (A), Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Manchester City (H), Manchester United (H), Brighton (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Liverpool (A), Tottenham (H), Sunderland (A).

Chances: Rosenior needs to reboot his off-colour Blues, but Villa’s slide gives them a chance.

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Brentford (7th): P 28 Pts 43

Injury-time Damsgaard goal gives Brentford win in seven-goal thriller

Form WLDWW: Keith Andrews is a worthy contender for the manager of the season award – as many pundits tipped Brentford to struggle after so many big-name departures in the summer. They are hitting form – only Erling Haaland can top Igor Thiago’s tally of 18 Premier League goals.

What Andrews says: “I’ve not looked at the table. I don’t think we have changed position. Yeah, we just keep going and we have a tough one on Tuesday against Bournemouth.”

Run in: Bournemouth (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (A), Everton (H), Fulham (H), Manchester United (A), West Ham (H), Manchester City (A), Crystal Palace (H), Liverpool (A).

Chances: The Champions League is a long shot, but qualifying for Europe for the first time would still be the club’s greatest achievement.

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