With the title and relegation battles largely settled, the fight for European qualification is providing the excitement as the Premier League season nears its end. Aston Villa fueled this drama with a commanding win over Newcastle United, drawing level with Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a coveted top-five finish.
Villa`s 4-1 victory was a display of strength, echoing their strong performance against PSG earlier in the week. Villa Park is proving a formidable ground for visiting teams, especially when Unai Emery unleashes his attacking talent. Newcastle found themselves under pressure from the very beginning, conceding in the first minute after Ollie Watkins` shot deflected off Fabian Schar. Schar had earlier been fortunate to avoid a red card for a challenge on Watkins, but later redeemed himself somewhat by scoring a header to equalize before halftime.
However, Newcastle struggled to maintain the scoreline. Eddie Howe will need to address his team`s late-game fatigue when he returns. Newcastle, despite winning their previous three games with a significant goal margin, appeared to lose momentum towards the end of a demanding series of matches. Starting the same eleven players for five consecutive April games likely contributed to this.
In contrast, Aston Villa, with a wealth of fit players, had the resources to overwhelm Newcastle. Watkins delivered a performance of intent, scoring a goal, hitting the crossbar twice, and setting up Ian Maatsen for Villa`s second goal.
Building on their momentum, Emery utilized his substitutes effectively. Jacob Ramsey`s run and cross led to a goal by Dan Burn, following a touch from Youri Tielemans. Another substitute, Amadou Onana, sealed the victory with a powerful strike from outside the box.
Aston Villa`s recent form suggests they are perfectly timed their push for European spots. Their five consecutive wins, including victories over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, are tightening the race at the top. Chelsea, in particular, will appreciate Villa`s results.
Manchester City will be wary of their upcoming visit to Villa Park after witnessing this performance. Despite this, they are managing to secure crucial points. Their recent late win against Everton was vital, especially considering Everton`s improved form at home.
Typically, when Manchester City gains late-season momentum, it`s in pursuit of major trophies beyond Champions League qualification. However, Pep Guardiola emphasizes that Champions League qualification itself would be a significant achievement for his injury-affected squad.
`Today was crucial,` Guardiola stated. `While the motivation differs from a title race, we`ve accepted our position for months. I`ve urged the players to recognize that Champions League qualification in this league is a massive success. We shouldn`t dwell on not having a perfect season. We still have a valuable opportunity to improve and reach our desired level.
`To underestimate Champions League qualification would be arrogant and presumptuous. Every season in my nine years here, I`ve viewed Champions League qualification as a major accomplishment.`
Their Champions League qualification remains uncertain. After a comeback win against Crystal Palace, Guardiola continued with the Kevin De Bruyne-led system. The concern is relying heavily on a 33-year-old whose fitness might be waning. This was evident against Everton, where City struggled to break down their defense for much of the game.
Nico O`Reilly scored late following a Jordan Pickford error, and Mateo Kovacic added a second. While the performance wasn`t perfect, securing points is the priority now.
This is especially true as their rivals are also facing challenges. Chelsea, after facing boos despite reaching a Conference League semifinal, need to recover against Fulham. Their lead in the standings has narrowed, and they will look to their game against Tottenham, a team susceptible to counter-attacks, to end their two-game losing streak.
With just a month left in the season, the race for European spots looks set to go down to the wire. Villa`s surge is putting significant pressure on the other contenders.
