- Arsenal’s last-minute victory over Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final helped their Premier League rivals
- Chelsea, Manchester United and possibly Liverpool are set to benefit greatly from Kai Havertz’s late goal for Liverpool
- We explain how Arsenal’s narrow first-leg win will affect next season’s Champions League race
Arsenal came from behind to beat Sporting CP to earn one leg in the Champions League semi-finals at the Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday night.
Source: Getty Images
Kai Havertz came off the bench to score the winning goal in the dying minutes to put the Gunners in a good position to advance to the second leg next week at the Emirates Stadium.
The victory also helped Mikel Arteta’s men grab a record unbeaten run in cup competitions after back-to-back defeats in the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Champions League race in the Premier League
But apart from that, the victory also helped their Premier League rivals who are chasing Champions League qualification for next season.
Arsenal are in the race for the Premier League and Manchester Citywhere they have a nine-point advantage after playing less than a game, but below them, there is another battle for European places.
Manchester United they are in third place with 55 points, one ahead of fourth-placed Aston Villa. Departing champions Liverpool are fifth with 49 points, while Chelsea are sixth with 48.
Brentford and Everton are just two points behind in seventh and eighth, respectively.
How Arsenal’s victory helped Chelsea, Manchester United
Arsenal’s victory over Sporting ensured that the Premier League will earn an extra place in next season’s Champions League.
This means that the top five will be guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League round. Since the new league stage system was introduced, the two best performing nations in each season of the European club competition are awarded an additional place in the following season’s Champions League.
Source: Twitter
Arsenal’s win on Tuesday ensured that England have an unassailable lead at the top and they are now confident of an extra place. Spain are more likely to get another chance.
How the Premier League can get 7 places in the Champions League
The Premier League could even offer seven places if a number of factors are met.
The sixth place can be found if Liverpool they would win the Champions League but finish outside the top five in the league.
The Reds will play defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals and one of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich next if they move forward. Champions League winners are often guaranteed direct qualification to defend their title next season, regardless of where they finish in the league.
In addition, the winners of the Europa League are automatically given a place in the Champions League. If Aston Villa, who play Bologna in the quarter-finals, win the Europa League and finish outside the top five, the Premier League will get another chance.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
