Football
Champions League permutations: What Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City need to qualify

Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Manchester City are among five Premier League clubs still battling for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League as the final matchday of the 2024–25 campaign approaches.
With Liverpool crowned champions and Arsenal firmly secured in second, both clubs have already booked their spots in Europe’s premier club competition for the 2025–26 season.
Tottenham Hotspur will also feature in the Champions League despite their poor domestic form this season. Their qualification comes via their Europa League final victory over Manchester United earlier this week.
That leaves three Champions League berths still open, with clubs placing third, fourth, and fifth in the Premier League standings set to join Liverpool, Arsenal, and Spurs in next year’s tournament.
While the top four typically qualify, UEFA has granted the Premier League an additional slot this year due to strong showings from English clubs across continental competitions.
That added incentive has intensified the battle as Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest all remain in contention entering the season’s final fixtures.
At the top of the table, Liverpool have 83 points and Arsenal sit on 71, both already assured of their Champions League spots.
Manchester City are third with 68 points, followed closely by Newcastle and Chelsea, both on 66. Aston Villa also have 66 points but trail on goal difference. Nottingham Forest sit just behind them on 65 points.
Goal difference plays a critical role here. Newcastle boast a +22 goal difference, which puts them in the strongest position among the teams tied on points. Chelsea follow with +20, while Villa lag significantly at +9.
Manchester City face Fulham away and only need a point to lock in a top-five finish. A win would likely secure third place, and there’s still an outside chance to leapfrog Arsenal for second, though that would require a heavy win and a substantial loss for the Gunners.
City’s worst-case scenario is dropping to sixth, which would send them to the Europa League instead.
Newcastle are at home against Everton and can clinch Champions League football with a win—unless Aston Villa somehow overturn the large goal differential.
A draw would also suffice if Villa fail to win or Chelsea draw with Forest. A loss would leave them depending on Villa losing or a more favorable goal swing against Chelsea or Forest.
Chelsea head to the City Ground to play Nottingham Forest in what will be a decisive matchup for both clubs.
A win will likely send Chelsea into the top five, barring a goal difference miracle from Villa. A draw would leave them needing a Newcastle loss or a non-victory from Villa. If they lose, Chelsea could still qualify if Newcastle also lose by a larger margin.
Aston Villa must travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. A loss ends their Champions League hopes. A draw could be enough only if Newcastle fall to Everton. A win over United could see Villa qualify if either Chelsea or Newcastle drop points.
Nottingham Forest are the ultimate outsiders. They must defeat Chelsea to even have a chance at the Champions League. Even then, they would still rely on either Newcastle or Villa failing to secure three points in their respective fixtures.
As for Europa League qualification, Crystal Palace are already assured of a place after their FA Cup triumph. The Premier League’s sixth-placed team will also earn a spot in Europe’s secondary competition.
Meanwhile, the Conference League berth is currently held by Newcastle after their Carabao Cup win. However, this could shift. If Chelsea win the Conference League final against Real Betis and finish seventh, the spot may pass down to the eighth-placed Premier League team, either Brentford or Brighton.
The same could happen if Chelsea finish sixth and Newcastle seventh, as long as the Blues also lift the Conference League trophy.
Football
Napoli-linked Sancho ‘attracting interest’ from new Serie A side

Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Football
Flamengo punish 10-Man Chelsea in 3-1 Club World Cup stunner (Highlights)

Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Football
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan: Ramos opener earns shock draw after Lautaro misses sitter

Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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