With just two months of the domestic season left to go, Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea still have plenty to achieve. The Blues have progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face Real Madrid, whilst they have also sealed a place in the last four of the FA Cup for the third season running.
On the league front, Chelsea are still well embroiled in the race for a top four place, albeit having seen a potential title challenge slip away. The west Londoners currently sit third in the Premier League standings, whilst they are being hotly pursued by the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
With all of that being said, football.london has taken a look at all of the Champions League contenders’ fixture lists to see if or indeed when they could confirm their respective places at Europe’s top table.
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Chelsea: Brentford (h), Southampton (a), Arsenal (h), West Ham United (h)
Average opposition position: 9th
Heading into the penultimate month of the season, the Blues have a relatively easy start with a home clash against relegation candidates Brentford. Despite an uptick in form recently, the Bees still remain in the picture for an instant return to the Championship.
The clash with Thomas Frank’s men is then followed by a trip to the south coast against Southampton, the Saints’ season all but over already. The end of April is a little trickier on the Premier League front though with home matches against direct rivals Arsenal, whilst West Ham United also lie in wait.
Chelsea’s squad is also set to be tested with further fixtures added to the calendar. The Blues are also set to take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals, whilst the prospect of a two-legged Champions League tie with Real Madrid will be a significant examination.
Arsenal: Crystal Palace (a), Brighton & Hove Albion (h), Southampton (a), Chelsea (a), Manchester United (h)
Average opponent position: 9th
Much like Chelsea, Arsenal face a relatively kind start to April, with the more testing fixtures set to come at the end of the month. The Gunners begin with a trip to Selhurst Park to face Patrick Vieira’s Palace before they then host Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
Southampton are then the next opposition before the all-important clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They then face another key clash in their efforts to secure a Champions League return with a home game with Manchester United.
Tottenham Hotspur: Newcastle United (h), Aston Villa (a), Brighton & Hove Albion (h), Brentford (a), Leicester City (h)
Average opponent position: 12th
Of the current runners and riders for a place in the top four, it is Tottenham who have the kindest run of fixtures in April. They at first face three consecutive clashes with mid-table sides in the form of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brighton before then facing a trip across the capital as they square off with Brentford.
Antonio Conte’s men round-off their month with a home game against Leicester City, whose European excursions could see them rank the league somewhat lower in their priority list.
Manchester United: Leicester City (h), Everton (a), Norwich City (h), Liverpool (a), Arsenal (a)
Average opponent position: 11th
Currently the outsiders to finish in the top four come the end of the season, Ralf Rangnick’s men have a somewhat mixed bag of fixtures. They return to action after the international break with a home clash against Leicester City before facing two relegation candidates in the forms of Everton and Norwich City.
Whilst the Red Devils will be confident of picking up maximum points, the fixtures certainly increase in difficulty towards the end of the month. An away trip to face title contenders Liverpool at Anfield will be a severe test, whilst a visit to the Emirates Stadium promises to be a tricky fixture to navigate.
