Will we qualify for the CL?

[Dave]

Can someone who understands this stuff better than I do (which is pretty much everyone), explain the impact on our chances of getting a 5th place CL qualifier if ALL the Premier League teams go out of Europe at this stage?

5th place has looked like an almost certainty for a long time, but I doubt anyone expected every English team to go out this round, which now looks like a possibility.

If they all did go out, is there still a chance we lose the 5th team in the Champions League?

I think that if all nine English teams go out of Europe at this stage, and every German / Spanish team goes as far as they can  then it's just about mathematically possible.

But if Arsenal go through as expected, it's done. If Palace go through, it's done. If I dunno, Roma or Lyon, or Porto, or PSG or Fiorentina or Strasbourg beat a German / Spanish team then it's done.

In short, it's absolutely fine to enjoy Chelsea / Man City / Spurs getting pummelled.

Thank you.  That is precisely what I wanted to know, can I sit at home and enjoy watching those three get hammered, without worrying about the consequences for us - thank you!!

They English Champions League teams have followed the script perfectly - swatting aside everyone in the group sides with no fuss to make fifth place nailed on nice and early, only to them collapse like a massive pile of Hotspurs as soon as they've done what they needed to do. Couldn't have asked them to do more.

Now we just need to do our bit.

[AV82EC]

The only issue I’ve got is if they all go out then they can focus on the League. Swings and roundabouts.

[Dave]

Yeah, but you can't have everything. And unless it has a direct impact on us, then Villa's rivals losing games is going to be better than Villa's rivals winning games.

[eamonn]

I think Yanited, Liverpool & Chelsea still need to play each other too so points will be dropped one way or the other in those 3 games.

[TheToffnar]

With the way the league's been this year the top 6 sides are just as likely to drop points against any side bar Spurs. Doesn't matter if we can't win our games though.

[PaulWinch again]

Yes, ultimately we need to starting winning games again.

[paul_e]

and now Betis and Stuttgart have both lost and we won, which pushes us even closer to this being a sure thing.

[PeterWithesShin]

England still on course for fifth Champions League spot

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj0npqv9rylo