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What Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City need to qualify for the Champions League

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Chelsea, Newcastled United, and Manchester City gained a clearer picture of their Champions League qualification prospects following Sunday’s Premier League action.

Nottingham Forest kept their top-four hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham, while Arsenal sealed their place in next season’s competition thanks to a narrow win over Newcastle.

Forest’s surprise push for Champions League football had appeared to stall after winning just once in their previous six matches. However, they delivered an improved display at the London Stadium, defeating a struggling West Ham side that had recently upset Manchester United.

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring in the 11th minute, continuing his impressive season. Nikola Milenkovic then doubled Forest’s lead with a powerful second-half header before Jarrod Bowen scored a late consolation for the hosts.

That result moved Nottingham Forest to 65 points in seventh place ahead of the season finale. The club remains in contention to overtake Manchester City, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Newcastle United depending on how the final fixtures unfold. Forest’s 19th win of the season reignited their Champions League pursuit at the perfect moment.

Later in the day, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Newcastle thanks to Declan Rice’s curling effort. That result confirmed the Gunners’ Champions League qualification for the 2025-26 season.

With England’s strong UEFA co-efficient this season, the Premier League’s top five and the Europa League winner—either Manchester United or Tottenham—will all qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The table currently sees Liverpool top with 83 points and two games remaining, followed by Arsenal on 71, then Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa all tied on 66 points. Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are just behind on 65, though City still have two games left.

For Arsenal, a single point from their remaining matches will officially guarantee a Champions League spot, though they could still qualify even without adding to their total depending on other results. They’ll face Newcastle on May 18 and Southampton on May 25.

Chelsea can confirm their Champions League place with a win over Nottingham Forest on May 25. A draw might be enough if either Manchester City or Aston Villa fail to win, while even a loss could still see them through if other results are favorable.

Newcastle also just need a win against Everton on the final day to secure their place, though they too might qualify with a draw or even a loss under certain conditions.

Manchester City, on the other hand, need to beat both Bournemouth and Fulham to guarantee a Champions League spot. Securing four points would likely be enough, but anything less could see Pep Guardiola’s team drop into the Europa League instead.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest’s manager Nuno Espirito Santo described the final week of the campaign as one to savor, saying the team will prepare well to face Chelsea. Star midfielder Gibbs-White emphasized the importance of giving their all, calling it a “do or die” moment with Champions League football still within reach.

Paul Merson, a former Arsenal star, stressed the significance of finishing second, saying a late-season drop to third or fourth could hurt the team’s momentum heading into the summer. Arsenal, currently second in the standings, are aiming to maintain that position for a third consecutive season.

Elsewhere, the Europa League spots remain open. The sixth-placed Premier League side and the FA Cup winner will qualify. Manchester City currently hold sixth, but have work to do to hold off challengers. Crystal Palace, having won the FA Cup against City, will feature in Europe next season under Oliver Glasner.

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Napoli-linked Sancho ‘attracting interest’ from new Serie A side

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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.

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Flamengo punish 10-Man Chelsea in 3-1 Club World Cup stunner (Highlights)

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Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea

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

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Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan: Ramos opener earns shock draw after Lautaro misses sitter

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Monterrey vs Inter Milan

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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