Without the suspended Nicolas Jackson and struggling to find a way through Manchester United’s three-man defence, left-back Cucurella came to the rescue again – just as he did against Leicester City in March – to put his team on the brink of Champions League qualification.

By Clare Lovell LONDON (Reuters) -Chelsea stayed in the hunt for a Champions League place next season with a nervy 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Friday, courtesy of a second-half goal from Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea ensured that qualification for the Champions League remains in their own hands as Marc Cucurella's winner beat Manchester United 1-0 to climb to fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea and Aston Villa,

Aston Villa's Matty Cash, left, and Fulham's Sasa Lukic battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) AP

BST Chelsea v Manchester United kicks off at 20:15 BST Chelsea are level on points with Villa in race for top five Man Utd and Spurs face each other in Europa League final on Wednesday Get Involved: #bbcfootball,

Aston Villa beat an under-strength Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 and moved into the Premier League top four on Friday. Villa started the day in sixth, one of six teams battling for the four remaining Champions League places along with league winner Liverpool.

Manchester United's starting lineup for Friday's Premier League match at Chelsea will not be influenced by the upcoming Europa League final, but players susceptible to injuries will not be risked, manager Ruben Amorim said.

All the latest from Premier League news conferences as Enzo Maresca, Ange Postecoglou, Ruben Amorim and Unai Emery speak before Friday's matches.

Ruben Amorim says there is still time for players to secure their place in his Europa League final line-up as Manchester United look to head to Bilbao buoyed by a morale-boosting win at Chelsea. Next Wednesday’s San Mames showpiece against fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham is crucial for the misfiring Red Devils as it offers silverware and Champions League football at the end of a wretched campaign.

With barely a week of the season remaining, nothing is decided in the gripping race to finish in the Premier League’s top five. Well, that’s not quite true, Liverpool are champions and will definitely represent the Premier League in next season’s Champions League.

Six Premier League teams separated by six points are battling it out for the four remaining Champions League spots with two rounds of matches left and no team can rest easy, although they have all secured European football for next season.

Arsenal will welcome Newcastle United to the Emirates on Sunday 18th May in their final home game of the 2024/25 Premier League season, with both clubs still battling for a place in next season’s Champions League.