Chelsea’s victory means the race for fourth could become obsolete, crushing both Newcastle, Arsenal and Spurs’ dreams.
The most unlikely twist of all is suddenly looking like becoming a reality.
If Chelsea win the Champions League, they will qualify for next season’s competition, irrespective of where they finish in the Premier League.
This means whoever finishes fourth, will have their spot taken away from them and be demoted to the Europa League, and UEFA rules dictate only four English clubs will be permitted in next year’s competition.
Newcastle and Spurs fans would have been supporting Barcelona last night, to no avail, and will have to pin their hopes on the winners of tonight’s clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
It would be the most heartbreaking scenario of all, especially for Newcastle, who would seen you laughed out of any bookies had you attempted to place a bet on them finishing fourth last summer.
They must try to not let it affect the end to their seasons, but there is no doubt it will be a bitter blow.
It means that even when the Premier League season is over, and the positions are final, there will still be a week of uncertainty for all four teams.
The season ends on May 13, and the Champions League Final takes place on May 19.
Only when this is over, will we find out what happens next season.
It will all rest on a 50/50 throw of the dice for Chelsea- although many will argue they have less chance than that, if essentially ‘away’ to Bayern Munich, or if Ronaldo and co take on their patched up defence.
We include Arsenal in this because by no means do they have third place wrapped up.
If Newcastle win their game in hand they will go level on points with the Gunners, who simply cannot afford to drop any more points, and have to do without the injured Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta- and Newcastle will now think of aiming for third.
Spurs seem out of it at the moment, but if they claw their way back and claim fourth spot, it would be even more galling to see the prize snatched away from them.
Chelsea could save everyone the worry by claiming it themselves, but they remain outsiders, narrowly off the pace, and now face injuries and even more distractions to deal with.
It makes the race for third more important than ever.
Are you nervous about the ‘nightmare scenario’- Who do you think will finish third and fourth?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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