Premier League set to miss out on fifth Champions League club after Arsenal and Man City woes

The Premier League has been hoping to land itself a fifth club in next season's Champions League - but Wednesday night's result mean that prospect now hangs up a thread.

A rejigged tournament will be introduced next season with UEFA increasing the number of teams involved. Their coefficient ranking will determine which major leagues see their spots go from four to five and the English top flight found itself in competition with the leagues in Italy and Germany.

Serie A has all put confirmed itself top spot which meant it was between the Premier League and the Bundesliga to grab second. Before this week England had five clubs still involved in Europe - one more than Germany - but that number could be down to one on Friday morning.

Arsenal were undone in Germany by Bayern Munich, who won 1-0 at the Allianz Arena and 3-2 on aggregate. Holders Manchester City are out with Real Madrid the victors on penalties. Bayer Leverkusen, the newly crowned Bundesliga champions, are heavy favourites to end West Ham's Europa League hopes on Thursday.

Liverpool also face a mammoth task in overhauling a 3-0 deficit to Atalanta. It could leave Aston Villa as the only team flying the flag for England and the Premier League.

Germany meanwhile still have Bayern and Leverkusen in the mix. They're narrowly ahead on points and will only extend that advantage in the next round.

It all means that Villa and Tottenham will be the two teams most effected. The battle for the top four had become a bit of a battle for the top five this season. The north Londoners currently sit fifth, three points behind Unai Emery's high flyers. Manchester United look to be out of the Champions League hunt.

Arsenal's Champions League hopes ended in Munich
(Image: Getty Images)

Whoever finishes fifth in the Premier League now though is poised to endure a year of Thursday night football in the Europa League. Landing a Champions League spot would be a major coup for Villa, who could yet win the Europa Conference League.

Tottenham meanwhile were aiming to prove this season that life exists beyond Harry Kane with Ange Postecoglou leading them impressively in north London. They have a game in hand over Villa, but do face all of the top three before the season is up.

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