Chelsea come into the ultimate weekend of the Premier League season nonetheless harboring some hopes of European soccer. Tuesday’s amusing win over , which not solely raised spirits however stored Spurs nonetheless below risk of relegation, has us sitting in eighth presently, which might be ok for an additional tour of obscure European cities through the Convention League.
However a win on Sunday, mixed with Brighton & Hove Albion failing to beat , would see us end the season in seventh, which might as an alternative give us the Europa League — nonetheless not the Champions League however definitely higher than different alternate options. There are different permutations at play as properly, with upwards of one other 5 groups within the combine doubtlessly for these final two European spots, however so long as we win, we solely have to fret about . And since all of the video games on the ultimate day are performed on the identical time, we will solely give attention to ourselves anyway.
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Whereas there’s an argument to be made that it could be extra useful for our league marketing campaign if Xabi Alonso didn’t must take care of European soccer as properly subsequent season, by rule we should always at all times attempt for successful probably the most issues. So let’s begin by ending the season with a win!
Date / Time: Sunday, Could 24, 2026, 16.00 BST; 11am EDT; 8:30pm ISTVenue: Stadium of Gentle, Referee: Chris Kavanagh (on pitch); Matthew Donohue (VAR)Forecast: Good and sunny and heat
On TV: Sky Sports activities+ (UK); none (USA); none (India); SuperSport Blitz (NGA); Streaming: Sky Go (UK); Peacock (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Sunderland group information: The Mackems solely got here up by means of the playoffs however have finished higher than both of the opposite two promoted groups (although solely are going straight again down), and for some time early on, have been even flirting with the top-four. A tough patch within the winter — successful simply two of twelve at one level — noticed them fall away from the highest finish, however they haven’t completed larger than tenth since 2001 and haven’t tasted European soccer since 1973. Each of these are very a lot on the desk ought to they beat us.
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An enormous motive for Sunderland’s success was their large £200m summer season spending spree, breaking the membership switch document a number of instances as they virtually signed a model new group. Attempting to combine so many new gamers is rarely straightforward, however in some way it labored for them. The likes of Enzo Le Fée, captain , goalkeeper , , prime scorer , and a number of other others have all performed key roles, particularly in solidifying the group with out the ball. They could be one of many lowest scoring sides within the league — solely the underside two have scored fewer — however solely three groups have conceded fewer: the highest two, and Brighton. They’ve been particularly robust at house, dropping simply 4 instances all season.
Supervisor Régis Le Bris does have a pair accidents to take care of, although nothing too vital. , , and have been dominated out whereas and former Chelsea winger Bertrand Traoré face late health check.
View from the enemy:
Chelsea group information: Chelsea have a reasonably clear invoice of well being as properly, with solely , , and dominated out. João Pedro, , and shall be gametime choices nevertheless, after not being totally concerned towards Spurs — the truth is, JP missed out with a knock whereas Colwill was rested to handle his post-ACL harm workload.
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That win towards Spurs was simply our second win in our final twelve Premier League matches — matching Sunderland’s aforementioned blip — and I’m positive we’re all able to be finished with this season and by no means point out it once more. There’s hope of higher days forward with Xabi Alonso coming in as the brand new supervisor. On the identical time, this can be the final time we see a number of these gamers in a Chelsea shirt — Enzo Fernández, specifically, is being linked with strikes away — so if nothing else, we will not less than admire them one remaining time.
Beforehand: Sunderland acquired a stoppage time winner on the Bridge earlier this season. That was our first assembly in over eight years. Our final go to to the Stadium of Gentle resulted in 1-0 win due to a objective from . We’d go on to win the league that season; nonetheless our most up-to-date title.