Nottingham Forest decides relegation battle and championship
As of 9:31 p.m
Goal achieved: Serge Aurier (left) and Joe Worrall celebrate relegation
Credit: AFP/DARREN STAPLES
Newly promoted Nottingham Forest have secured early relegation in the Premier League with a surprise win against Arsenal. The success made Manchester City champions on the sofa. Now the Guardiola team can achieve history.
MManchester City are English football champions for the ninth time. Because second-placed Arsenal FC lost 1-0 (0-1) at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Cityzens can no longer take first place in the Premier League. Coach Pep Guardiola’s side are four points clear of Arsenal, who have just one game left. City had three league games left on Saturday night. The home game against Chelsea on Sunday will be a championship celebration.
Arsenal lost at Nottingham Forest, who are thereby assured of staying in the league, through a goal by Taiwo Awoniyi (19th minute). Bitter: The Londoners had led the Premier League table for almost the entire season, but showed nerves in the final sprint. In the last eight games, former Guardiola assistant Mikel Arteta’s side have only won twice. In contrast, defending champion City with striker Erling Haaland recently won eleven league games in a row, including the direct duel with Arsenal.
Liverpool’s comeback halted
Liverpool are in danger of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in seven years. The team of German coach Jürgen Klopp did not get more than 1-1 (0-1) in the Premier League home game against Aston Villa on Saturday, while competitor Manchester United won 1-0 (1-0) in Bournemouth.
Three points off third and fourth with just one game left, the 2019 Champions League winners will have to hope for Man United or Newcastle United to lose both their catch-up game and their last game of the season. In the case of Newcastle, Liverpool would also have to come back from a goal difference deficit of seven goals.
Manchester City’s fifth championship in six years is the first of three possible titles this season. On June 3, Pep Guardiola and his team will play in the FA Cup final against local rivals Manchester United. A week later, the final of the Champions League takes place in Istanbul, in which City meets Inter Milan.
After Manchester United in 1999, the Guardiola Club would only be the second football club from England to achieve the historic triple of league, cup and premier class. The Champions League handle pot is the trophy that City’s wealthy owners long for the most. The Cityzens, funded by Scheichs, have won all titles at national level, but have so far lacked international success.
