Aston Villa final position predicted by supercomputer in Champions League shootout
Aston Villa have one game remaining this season, and it will determine which European competition they will play in.
Unai Emery’s side are currently in fifth place, which will grant them a spot in the Champions League as it stands, but Manchester City have a game in hand.
Aston Villa will play in Europe again next season, for the third campaign in a row, but they hope to end up in the Champions League, rather than Europa.
They will face Manchester United on the final day, and a victory could see them finish in the top five, depending on other results.
Aston Villa backed to qualify for Champions League
Despite needing a victory and other teams to drop points, Villa have been backed to finish in the Champions League spots for next season.
Opta’s supercomputer has now predicted the final Premier League table, and has placed Villa in fifth, just above Chelsea.
| Top-five contender | Opponent |
| Newcastle | Everton |
| Chelsea | Nottingham Forest |
| Aston Villa | Man United |
| Man City | Fulham |
| Nottingham Forest | Chelsea |
They have given Villa an expected points total of 67.54, which is very marginally higher than Chelsea’s 67.44, ahead of a shootout on the final day.
While Villa are facing Manchester United just days after their Europa League final clash with Tottenham, Chelsea face a tough test at Nottingham Forest, who are also battling for a top-five spot.
Villa need to beat Man United
There is very little room for error on the final day, as Villa will need to beat United and hope that Manchester City drop points against Fulham and Bournemouth, while also hoping for Chelsea to do the same at Forest.
The other results are out of Villa’s hands, but they simply need to focus on winning at Old Trafford and hoping that everything else swings their way in the Premier League.
If Villa drop points, they will regret it massively if the other results go in their favour, and they may have thrown away an incredible opportunity to qualify for the Champions League again.
If they do qualify for the Europa League, they will be hopeful of winning the competition, given that Emery has won it four times in his career with Sevilla and Villarreal.