Chelsea are currently in fourth place in the Premier League, but there is still plenty of football to be played before the end of the season. The Blues moved back into the final qualification spot for the Champions League at the weekend, with their 5-0 win against Huddersfield Town at Stamford Bridge moving them above their London rivals Arsenal in the race for the top four. But it is far from over when it comes to the battle to get back into the Champions League, with one third of the Premier League still to go And Chelsea's remaining fixtures hint that it is far from a certainty that the Blues will finish in the top four. Chelsea still have to play against Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United before the end of the season, with the first of those games coming this weekend against Pep Guardiola's City side at the Etihad Stadium. Indeed, three of those four fixtures are away from home, with Spurs the only 'big six' side the Blues are yet to face at Stamford Bridge in the league. Manchester United, who currently sit two points behind the Blues, also still have to play four of their 'big six' rivals before the end of the campaign, but Arsenal, who currently sit just three points behind Chelsea, only have Tottenham and Manchester United still to play from the current top six. Of course, there are no guarantees that Arsenal will win the other 11 remaining games, but their record against teams outside of the top six is good, and if they can replicate that in the closing stages of the season, they will force Chelsea or United to get results off of their rivals to finish above them. Chelsea would also need to avoid any further defeats such as the 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth last week, although they are facing the possibility of fixture congestion in the coming weeks and months ahead, still being involved in four competitions. The Blues face Swedish side Malmo in the Europa League, with the two legs of the round of 32 tie falling either side of their clash with United in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday, February 18. Maurizio Sarri's men will also face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, February 24. As a result of reaching the final, Chelsea's home game with Brighton & Hove Albion will need to be rearranged, and their trip to Goodison Park to face Everton next month could also be rearranged, should the Blues progress in the FA Cup. That could heap pressure on Chelsea in the latter stages of the season in terms of their league position, and potentially leave them playing catch up. There is potentially a second route into the Champions League should Chelsea fail to qualify via the Premier League, as they could do so by winning the Europa League, and the Blues are the current favourites to do so. The final of the Europa League will be in Baku on May 29, after the Premier League season has finished, so were Chelsea to reach the final, their fate in the battle for the top four would be known. But d
The crunch games for Chelsea that will decide their fate in top four battle - YouTube |
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