How Chelsea can confirm Champions League qualification on final day after huge Man Utd victory

Chelsea are one step closer to qualifying for next season's Champions League following a 1-0 victory against Manchester United. After Harry Maguire saw his excellent opener disallowed by VAR for offside, Marc Cucurella grabbed the only goal of the game

Both the Blues and Aston Villa had the chance to put pressure on Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United before they play on Sunday. Manchester City meanwhile, due to their participation in the FA Cup final, do not play their scheduled fixture at home to Bournemouth until Tuesday.

And Unai Emery's side certainly took advantage of that against a heavily-rotated Tottenham with their focus fully on the Europa League final against Man United.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Villa met a stubborn test in the first 45 minutes and were unable to find a way through but Ezri Konsa calmed nerves when he flicked home Ollie Watkins' knock down from a corner just before the half hour mark. Boubacar Kamara then grabbed a second later in the half with a powerful strike from just outside of the box.

The three points took Villa into the top four momentarily with Chelsea level against Man United when the full-time whistle went at Villa Park.

The onus was then on Enzo Maresca's side to respond and they did exactly that . Noni Madueke had the chance to grab a second moments later but he scuffed his effort off target.

Nonetheless, Chelsea still won and thus moved back into the Champions League qualification spots and onto 66 points - above Villa on goal difference. Newcastle are also on that tally but a three-goal swing over Chelsea, which was made last weekend, kept them third. That could decrease however, when they face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

With Villa and Chelsea both winning, Man City were the team to drop out of the top five but they will have the chance to move back up the table and onto a maximum of 68 points if they beat Bournemouth in a few days.

Then come Nottingham Forest on 62 after they dropped points against Leicester City last Sunday. Nuno Espirito Santo's side will have to beat West Ham this weekend to still have a chance of qualifying for Europe's top competition.

If that does take place, it will come down to the final day clash at the City Ground against Chelsea. Assuming every team in the race repeats the success of Chelsea and Villa, Man City and Newcastle will make up the final spots in the top four with Chelsea back down to fifth.

It will then be in Chelsea's hands with a win up north securing Champions League football and they can even afford to draw if Villa do not win at Old Trafford at the same time.

Winning on Friday night was the priority and as Chelsea have done that, they will be able to seal their own fate and another three points will confirm that.