Aston Villa has secured a coveted spot in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, marking their first appearance in the prestigious tournament in 42 years. This achievement comes after Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday, effectively cementing Villa's position in the Premier League's top four for the season.
Villa demonstrated their resilience by holding Liverpool to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Villa Park on Monday, which elevated them to 68 points and the fourth position on the table. This placed them five points ahead of Tottenham, who occupied the fifth spot. Tottenham's subsequent loss to City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ensured that Villa remains out of reach, with both clubs having only one game left to play. As a result, Tottenham cannot surpass Villa to secure a top-four finish this season.
The last time Villa participated in the Champions League, then known as the European Cup, was during the 1982-83 campaign. They had won the tournament in the previous 1981-82 season but were ousted by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals the following year.
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Aston Villa's return to UEFA Champions League a first in 42 years
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