Aston Villa's Europa League win against Freiburg ended their 44-year wait for a European trophy and kept alive the Premier League's hopes of securing a sixth Champions League spot next season.

Unai Emery’s men had already secured their place in next season’s Champions League with a top-five finish, but now Bournemouth and Brighton will know that finishing sixth could earn them a place alongside them. If Villa finish fifth in the Premier League, they will qualify for the Champions League as the Europa League winners.

The European Performance Spot

The extra Champions League place that the Premier League earned through the European Performance Spot would then go to the team finishing sixth. Villa would finish fifth if they lose to Manchester City and Liverpool wins at home against Brentford.

If that scenario unfolds, the Champions League qualification focus would then shift to the team finishing sixth. If Bournemouth avoids defeat at Nottingham Forest or Brighton fails to win at home to Manchester United, the Cherries would finish sixth. Should Bournemouth lose and Brighton win, the Seagulls would claim the sixth spot.

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