Aston Villa and Chelsea each secured important home victories, keeping their dreams alive for a top-five Premier League finish and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Villa Dominate Spurs 2-0
Aston Villa defeated an under-strength Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 thanks to goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara. Konsa opened the scoring in the 59th minute after a well-placed corner from John McGinn, and Kamara sealed the win with his first Premier League goal, a low shot from outside the box.
Kamara said after the match, “We knew today was a must-win. We want to play UEFA Champions League football again. It’s a competition every player wants to be part of.”
Villa now sit fifth in the league on goal difference and have an impressive record of eight wins in their last nine league games. Their unbeaten home run has stretched to 21 matches in all competitions, the best since 1977. Their final game is at Manchester United on May 25.
Chelsea Edge Past Manchester United 1-0
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 thanks to a second-half header by Marc Cucurella. The goal came in the 71st minute from a cross by Reece James after a slow first half.
Chelsea now hold fourth place with 66 points, narrowly ahead of Aston Villa who also have 66 points but are behind on goal difference.
Tight Race for Champions League Spots
With Liverpool already confirmed as league champions, the fight for the remaining Champions League places is fierce. Arsenal leads with 68 points, followed by Newcastle with 66, Manchester City with 65, Nottingham Forest with 62, and then Chelsea and Villa.
Both Tottenham and Manchester United had several key players rested as they prepare for the Europa League final next week in Bilbao. Friday’s games were brought forward by two days to give both teams extra preparation time.
The final weeks of the Premier League season promise to be exciting as these clubs battle for Europe’s biggest football stage.
