\n<\/p>\n
Both elements needed for sixth place to be a Champions League spot seem quite plausible.<\/p>\n
Aston Villa<\/a> would need to finish in fifth spot exactly (where they currently reside) and win the Europa League.<\/p>\n They trail Nottingham Forest 1-0<\/a> after the semi-final first leg, but are at home for Thursday’s return leg.<\/p>\n This scenario will only play out if Villa finish fifth – and not in the top four (or below fifth) – because of a quirk in Uefa’s rules.<\/p>\n The Premier League landed a fifth Champions League place because of English teams’ performances in Europe – something called the European Performance Spot (EPS).<\/a><\/p>\n In short, when it comes to dishing out European spots, Uefa goes by domestic positions and who won the European trophies first, before factoring in the EPS.<\/p>\n So if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, that EPS spot would be passed down to the team in sixth – who would qualify for the Champions League.<\/p>\n However, if Villa finish in the top four then winning the Europa League would make no difference to any other English teams. In this situation the sixth-placed finisher would qualify for the Europa League.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n