Aston Villa finally broke their 44-year European trophy drought by overcoming SC Freiburg in the Europa League final, simultaneously giving the Premier League a stronger shot at a coveted sixth Champions League spot next season.

Unai Emery’s squad had already locked in Champions League football for next season with a top-five Premier League finish. Now, their Europa League victory has thrown open the door for both AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion to dream of Champions League qualification from sixth place.

If Villa end the season in fifth place, they would enter the Champions League as Europa League winners under UEFA regulations.

In that scenario, the Premier League’s additional Champions League berth earned through the European Performance Spot would then be passed down to the team finishing sixth.

Villa would finish fifth if they lose away to Manchester City and Liverpool FC defeat Brentford FC at Anfield.

If those results unfold, all eyes would turn to the fierce contest for sixth place. Bournemouth could clinch it by avoiding defeat against Nottingham Forest, or if Brighton stumbles at home against Manchester United.

But if Bournemouth falter and Brighton triumph, Brighton would leap into sixth place and stand on the brink of a Champions League adventure.