Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterAston Villa have two chances to qualify for next season's Champions League in the final three weeks of the campaign.Unai Emery's side need a maximum of four points from their last three Premier League games to guarantee a top-five finish, thereby securing a return to the continent's top club competition.Villa can also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League - although they will first have to overturn a 1-0 aggregate deficit when they host Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday. You may like How NINE Premier League teams could qualify for Europe next season How to watch Notts Forest vs Aston Villa for FREE: Live stream details The Premier League could have 11 teams in Europe next season Who would qualify for Europe if Aston Villa win the Europa League?If Villa progress to the final in Istanbul on May 20, manager Emery will have the chance to win the competition for a fifth time, having lifted the trophy on three occasions with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.It would also be the club's first major silverware since their League Cup triumph in 1996 - and some of their Premier League rivals may be hoping the Villans go all the way.Emery's side are fifth in the Premier League and if they finish in that position while winning the Europa League, their Champions League qualification place will be passed down to the team in sixth.That is currently Bournemouth, who are six points behind Villa and have never played in Europe in their history.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.In this scenario the team in seventh place - which is occupied by Brentford, who are a point behind the Cherries and one ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion, in eighth - would qualify for the Conference League, as the Premier League would lose a Europa League place if they get an extra Champions League spot.However, the situation is complicated by the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea. The Blues are currently ninth in the table, so if they stayed where they are and won the Wembley showpiece, they would take the Europa League spot awarded to the FA Cup winners.But second-place City are already guaranteed Champions League football next season, so if they win the final - and Villa finish fifth and lift the Europa League - then the team in seventh place would qualify for the Europa League and whoever ends up eighth goes into the Conference League.There are yet more permutations if Villa win the Europa League and finish in the top four, which is still possible considering they trail Liverpool only on goal difference.When allocating European places, UEFA prioritises domestic league positions and the winners of European competitions before factoring in the European Performance Spot (EPS), which is the extra Champions League place given to the Premier League.This would mean that if Villa win the Europa League and finish fourth, only the top five in the Premier League would qualify for the Champions League, with the teams in sixth and seventh going into the Europa League and Conference League respectively.TOPICSAston VillaPremier LeagueUEFA Europa LeagueJames RobertsFreelance writerJames Roberts is a freelance sports journalist working for FourFourTwo and other titles. He started his career at the Oxford Mail, where he covered Oxford United home and away, before becoming a sports sub-editor for various national newspapers.
