London (AFP)
Leicester suffered a surprise defeat Sunday at relegated Bournemouth (4-1), missing the opportunity to relegate Chelsea out of the Premier League podium, while Tottenham, hard-working winner of his North London rival Arsenal (2-1) , keeps in touch for the Europa League.
Chelsea can breathe.
Beaten Saturday in Sheffield (3-0), the Blues are sure to keep one of four qualifying places in the Champions League at the end of this 35th day, thanks to the surprising defeat of Leicester at Bournemouth on Sunday and whatever the result of Manchester United (5th) Monday against Southampton.
The Leicester Foxes had the opportunity to climb to third position if they won on the relegation pitch. Jamie Vardy even opened the scoring (23rd) and consolidated his status as the top scorer in the championship (23 goals). But Leicester, who recently took only six points out of fifteen possible, is definitely not the same team since the recovery in mid-June.
The changeover took place in less than two minutes, first with a penalty from Junior Stanislas (66th), followed by a second goal from Dominic Solanke (67th), accompanied by the expulsion of Çağlar Söyüncü following a gesture of anger. An own goal from Jonny Evans (83) knocked out Leicester, who let Solanke slip away for a fourth goal (87).
Mourinho treats its popularity
Much criticized for months, José Mourinho will be able to at least finish the season with the credit of the most important game for the supporters on a symbolic level, against the historic rival Arsenal. As in the first leg (2-2), disputed at the end As of last summer, no team has really proven to be the best Sunday at Tottenham Stadium.
. The victory of Tottenham (2-1), thanks to a victorious header from Toby Alderweireld (81st) only emerged two minutes after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came up against Hugo Lloris and failed to give the advantage to the Gunners.
Arsenal opened the scoring in the first period with a pure strike, twenty meters, from Alexandre Lacazette (16th), before a big mistake by his teammate Sead Kolasinac (19th) allowed Heung Min-Son to replace the Spurs in the match.
In an empty stadium, which contrasted with the usual fiery atmosphere of derbies, Tottenham only managed to break free after scoring the second goal. Previously, as often since the arrival of José Mourinho on the bench last fall, the Spurs struggled to print their game, despite the obvious weaknesses of Arsenal in the defensive sector.
However, this victory allowed them to return to Arsenal in the classification, in eighth position, three points behind the first qualifier for the Europa League, Wolverhampton. Arsenal can still hope to save its season, but will have to beat Manchester City on Saturday in the FA Cup semifinals.
Aston Villa keeps hope
In the middle of the day, Wolverhampton easily dispersed a ghostly Everton (3-0) and regained a point ahead of Sheffield United. The Wolves, current sixth, therefore keep the advantage in terms of qualifying for the next edition of the Europa League.
Note also the victory of Aston Villa against Crystal Palace (2-0), which allows the Lions to return to four points from the first two non-relegationable, West Ham and Watford, who won on Saturday. The two London clubs will face off on the next day, and Aston Villa will travel to West Ham in the very last game of the season.
As all Premier League players continue to kneel before the start of each game to support the Black Lives Matter movement, Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has revealed the content of a series of messages racists received on his Twitter account before moving to Birmingham. The insultor, a 12-year-old boy, was arrested by the police.
Results of the 35th day:
Saturday
Norwich City - West Ham 0 - 4
Watford - Newcastle 2 - 1
Liverpool - Burnley 1 - 1
Sheffield United - Chelsea 3 - 0
Brighton - Manchester City 0 - 5
Sunday
Wolverhampton - Everton 3 - 0
Aston Villa - Crystal Palace 2 - 0
Tottenham - Arsenal 2 - 1
Bournemouth - Leicester 4 -1
Monday
(19:00 GMT) Manchester United - Southampton
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