The battle for Champions League qualification is heating up—and Chelsea are right in the thick of it.

Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City has added even more spice to what promises to be a thrilling finish to the Premier League season. The victory moves the Magpies level on points with Chelsea, who still occupy fourth place thanks to a superior goal difference. However, Eddie Howe’s men have a game in hand—a crucial advantage that could see them leapfrog Enzo Maresca’s side if they continue their solid run of form.

For Chelsea, the pressure is mounting. The Blues are in the final stretch of the season and every point now counts more than ever. Maresca’s side have shown promise, but they’ll need to find consistency and resilience to fend off the challenge from Newcastle, as well as the chasing pack.

The good news? The Premier League is likely to have five teams in next season’s Champions League due to its strong UEFA coefficient ranking. That offers Chelsea a safety net—but only just. Manchester City and Aston Villa are also pushing to finish in the top five, with both teams displaying the form and depth needed to secure Champions League football.

But it’s not just Newcastle who are lurking. Surprise packages like Fulham, Brighton, and even Bournemouth have shown that they’re capable of putting together a late surge, while Nottingham Forest are surprisingly third. The margins are fine, and Chelsea cannot afford any slip-ups with so many contenders breathing down their necks.

The next few weeks will be crucial. Maresca must find the perfect balance between attack and defence, especially with fixtures coming thick and fast. Every game is a final from this point onward.

Chelsea fans can be optimistic, but cautious. The path to the Champions League is still in their hands—but the race just got a whole lot tighter.

This promises to be an interesting run-in until the end of the season.