As the 2024/25 Premier League season edges towards its finish, Chelsea find themselves in the race for a coveted spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League. With only several games to play, Enzo Maresca’s side have bounced into form, and this has boosted their hopes of qualifying.
Current Standings
Following a hugely significant 3-1 win over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on May 4, Chelsea have climbed into fifth, the final Champions League spot. They’re now level on points (63) and goal difference (+21) with Newcastle United, who they face next, but they trail them on goals scored.
Remaining Fixtures
Chelsea’s final three league fixtures are crucial:
- May 11: Newcastle United (A)
- May 16: Manchester United (H)
- May 25: Nottingham Forest (A)
Two of their remaining games are against direct competitors for the Champions League spots, making each match a potential six-pointer in the race to qualify.
Expanded Champions League Spots
As mentioned above, Chelsea are battling to finish in the top five this season. This is because the Premier League now have five allocated Champions League spots for the 2025/26 season. The expansion from four to five is a boost, but it also means that more teams are in the hunt to claim the final place.
Key Players and Form
Standout performances from key players have strengthened Chelsea’s recent resurgence. Cole Palmer finally brought his goal drought to an end by converting a stoppage-time penalty against Liverpool, highlighting his importance to the team’s attacking prowess. As the season has gone on, defender Marc Cucurella and midfielder Enzo Fernandez have shone, with their performances having a big impact on Chelsea’s overall showing.
While Chelsea did great in the first portion of the season, the dip inform between December and January knocked them off course. Form was patchy after that for a while, but they’re looking like the Chelsea of old in recent weeks, recording four wins and two draws from six top-flight outings. They will need to continue this form in their final three games to achieve their target of Champions League football.
Can They Do It?
Taking everything into account, you’d imagine Chelsea will finish in the Premier League’s top five this season. They’re back in form, Cole Palmer is on his game, and the likes of Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez are performing well. What’s also been key for Chelsea is the return of Nicolas Jackson to lead the line. He was a big miss for them.
If Chelsea get it right against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, especially, they will get the job done. And after defeating Liverpool, they’ve proven they’ve got what it takes. While Champions League betting will indicate they have an outside chance to win the 2025/26 tournament, you can never write The Blues off, just look at what happened in 2011/12.
Final Thoughts
They’re not quite there yet, but Chelsea are in the driving seat where fifth place is concerned. It’s essentially their spot to lose. They have a tough run in coming up, and games that will directly impact their position. However, if recent form is anything to go by, they will fancy their chances in all three fixtures and cement their place in the top five in the process.
