Are Newcastle back in the race for Champions League spot?

Newcastle United's 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday lifted them into sixth place in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester United. This marked their fourth win in six matches, with an impressive 15 goals scored over that period. The Magpies are now one spot away from fifth place, which could qualify them for the revamped 2024/25 UEFA Champions League (UCL), depending on how the UEFA competition unfolds .

Newcastle's Champions League Prospects Given UEFA's plan to award extra UCL spots to two leagues based on their clubs' performance in all UEFA competitions, there's a chance that sixth place could be enough for Champions League qualification. Currently, Newcastle needs to close a 10-point gap with Spurs and a 13-point gap with Aston Villa, who have played an extra match. We've looked at the upcoming fixtures for these teams and compared them with Newcastle's to evaluate their chances of making a significant push .

Newcastle's Easier Run-In When considering the average points won by each club's remaining opponents, Newcastle appears to have the easiest set of matches, while Spurs have the toughest . The average points for Newcastle's opponents is 32.5, akin to facing Brentford or Crystal Palace in every match. In contrast, Spurs' remaining opponents average 49.7 points, similar to playing Newcastle or Manchester United each week.

Newcastle and Manchester United both have fixtures against Sheffield United, Burnley, and Crystal Palace in their next three matches. Aston Villa, however, will not face any team currently in the bottom five until the season's end on Sunday, 19 May . Recent results are also in Newcastle's favor, as they've beaten all four opponents in this season's reverse fixtures, scoring 15 goals and conceding none, including an 8-0 win against Sheff Utd. This record, combined with the 17 Premier League goals from Alexander Isak—seven of which came in his last six matches—could be crucial as the season draws to a close .

Upcoming Key Matches Four of Newcastle's six remaining Premier League matches are away from home, while Manchester United will play the same number at Old Trafford, making home advantage potentially crucial. The most anticipated fixture is the head-to-head between Manchester United and Newcastle on Wednesday, 15 May, four days before the end of the season . This game could be pivotal in deciding which team secures the crucial sixth spot.

For more insights into Newcastle's chances of securing a UEFA Champions League spot, along with key fixtures and player performances, explore the latest Premier League updates.