The battle for a top four finish in the Premier League this season is heating up, with Aston Villa and Tottenham set to fight it out for the final Champions League spot.
Ahead of what is set to be a close finish to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, we take a look at both Tottenham and Aston Villa’s final matches of the season.
Top Four Finish All To Play For
There are currently just five points separating Tottenham and Aston Villa in the Premier League table, although Spurs do have a game in hand over their rivals.
Aston Villa have won four of their last five league games which has sent them just above Tottenham to fourth in the league, but last weeks last gasp win against Luton was anything but convincing.
Lucas Digne saved Villa’s blushes just before the full time whistle, as the Frenchman nodded home a Moussa Diaby cross for a dramatic 3-2 win. Villa were ahead 2-0 against the Hatters but they threw away their lead and had to push late on for a winner against a resilient Luton.
Spurs finally have some of their core players back from injury and with the likes of James Maddison and Heung-Min Son back in their lineup, they were able to edge past Crystal Palace last weekend to keep the pressure on Villa in fourth.
Their win against Palace was just Spurs’ third victory in their last six after a disappointing run let Villa back into the race for Champions League qualification.
Manchester United are Tottenham’s nearest pursuers in sixth, but the Red Devils are now five points behind Spurs who still have a game in hand.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Run-In
The next game for both of these teams could have huge implications on the top four race, with Spurs making the trip to Villa Park next weekend.
In their only other head to head this season Villa came out on top which took them to three consecutive games without dropping points against Tottenham.
Both teams have an extremely tough run in following their match next weekend with games against Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all still to come for both clubs.
Tottenham have one more game to play than Villa this year as their match against Chelsea was postponed last weekend due to an FA Cup clash – with no date yet for the London derby.
Will Aston Villa Be Distracted By Europe?
One advantage Tottenham might have in the top four race is Aston Villa’s hunt for the Conference League – which they definitely have a great chance of winning this year.
Villa are currently priced as favourites to win the competition this season with most Conference League bookmakers offering a price of 5/2 for Unai Emery’s side to lift the trophy.
The Conference League last 16 gets underway this week, with Villa taking on Ajax away from home on Thursday in their first leg.
If Villa are able to advance all the way to the Conference League final then they would play a total of seven more matches than Tottenham this season – with Spurs failing to qualify for any European competition last year.
The extra matches could take a toll on Villa’s squad coming into the business end of the season which would hand Spurs an advantage.
Aston Villa Run In
Below is the remaining 11 fixtures Aston Villa have to play in the Premier League this season.
- Aston Villa vs Tottenham – 10/03/2024
- West Ham vs Aston Villa – 17/03/2024
- Aston Villa vs Wolves – 30/03/2024
- Manchester City vs Aston Villa – 03/04/2024
- Aston Villa vs Brentford – 06/04/2024
- Arsenal vs Aston Villa – 13/04/2024
- Aston Villa vs Bournemouth – 20/04/2024
- Aston Villa vs Chelsea– 27/04/2024
- Brighton vs Aston Villa – 04/05/2024
- Aston Villa vs Liverpool – 11/05/2024
- Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa – 19/05/2024
Tottenham Run In
Below is the remaining 11 fixtures Tottenham have to play in the Premier League this season.
- Aston Villa vs Tottenham – 10/03/2024
- Fulham vs Tottenham – 16/03/2024
- Tottenham vs Luton Town – 30/03/2024
- West Ham vs Tottenham– 02/04/2024
- Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest – 08/04/2024
- Newcastle vs Tottenham – 13/04/2024
- Tottenham vs Manchester City – 20/04/2024
- Tottenham vs Arsenal– 27/04/2024
- Liverpool vs Tottenham – 04/05/2024
- Tottenham vs Burnley – 11/05/2024
- Sheffield United vs Tottenham – 19/05/2024
- Chelsea vs Tottenham – *
*Chelsea vs Tottenham’s Premier League match has been postponed due to a clash with FA Cup fixtures. New date of rescheduled fixture yet to be announced.
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