In-form Aston Villa close on Champions League return with Tottenham victory

Aston Villa moved closer to a Champions League return after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham, who had more than one eye on Wednesday’s Europa League final.

Villa’s memorable run to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition gave them the taste for more and they boosted their hopes with an eighth win from their last nine Premier League games.

This was probably the biggest home banker of the campaign given where Spurs’ focus lay, but Villa made hard work of it, needing second-half goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara to get the job done.

What a win for @AVFCOfficial as they continue their charge for a Champions League spot!#AVLTOT pic.twitter.com/7uqh1ccWoY

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 16, 2025

That means, if other results go their way this weekend, a win in their final game of the season at Manchester United would be enough to guarantee Villa a return to the promised land.

Spurs could yet still be in the Champions League next season as well if they can end their trophy drought with Europa League victory over United and boss Ange Postecoglou did nothing to jeopardise that at Villa Park.

The embattled Australian made it clear where his focus was by naming a weakened side, which included a first Premier League start since 2022 for forgotten man Sergio Reguilon.

They never really looked like avoiding a 21st league defeat of a miserable league season, but all roads now lead to Bilbao where history could beckon.

Villa had an early flurry of chances as Ollie Watkins fired straight at Antonin Kinsky and John McGinn fizzed an effort just over.

But Spurs, and Son Heung-min in particular, showed – for a time at least – they were not here just to make the numbers up.

The South Korean is one of the players who is likely