In a thrilling weekend of Premier League action, Chelsea secured their spot in the top four with a commanding 4-0 victory over Southampton at Stamford Bridge. The Blues, eager to bounce back from three consecutive defeats, delivered a stunning performance with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Levi Colwill in the first half, ensuring their third league win in 11 games.
This decisive win propels Chelsea two points above Manchester City, placing them firmly in fourth place. With strong showings from English clubs in European competitions this season, a top-five finish could secure Chelsea a spot in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, igniting hope among the fans for a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s aspirations of a consecutive Champions League appearance took a hit after a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. Unai Emery’s side, who had previously revived their European hopes with a victory over Chelsea, struggled to maintain consistency, winning just one of their last seven league games.
Crystal Palace showcased their resilience with Ismaila Sarr opening the scoring in the first half, only for Morgan Rogers to level the score early in the second half. Jean-Philippe Mateta quickly restored Palace’s lead, with Sarr and Eddie Nketiah adding to the tally, confirming their fine form at home. Under Oliver Glasner, Palace have won seven of their last nine matches, climbing to 12th place, just six points behind Villa in 10th.
Other notable matches saw Brighton edge out Bournemouth 2-1 in a closely contested battle, keeping their European aspirations alive. Despite the loss, Bournemouth remain seventh on goal difference, just one point behind fifth-placed Manchester City.
In the relegation battle, Wolves missed an opportunity to move further away from the drop zone after a 2-1 home loss to Fulham, currently ninth in the standings.
As the season progresses, the race for European spots and the battle to avoid relegation promises more excitement, keeping fans around the world hooked on every match.
Reference(s):
Chelsea thrash Southampton, Villa beaten in race for Champions League
cgtn.com
