The Ball – After 20 years: Newcastle are back in the Champions League! (England)

Newcastle missed the opportunity to move away from Mane on Monday night. United in the English Premier League standings, by not going beyond ‘zero’ (0-0) against Leicester City, in the 37th round match of the competition that took place at the Estádio de St. James Park, in Newcastle (England), but he mathematically guaranteed that he would finish in the “top four” of the standings and return to champions, after 20 years of last presence, in 2003.

In a tournament that the guy has already won. City, three-time champions of England, in which Arsenal finished second, the “Magpies”, coached by Eddie Howe, remained third in the leaderboard with 70 points in 37 matches. ONE POINT AND ONE GAME Over 69 points in 35 games total The ‘Red Devils’, as Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes line up, are in the Premier League as only the ‘Top 4’ compete in Champions 2023/24.

With Newcastle reaching 70 points and Liverpool, fifth, with 66 points – four points away – both in front of only one game, and a “meager” three-point difference, the “magpies” concluded this second return to the Champions League, with two points. Decades later, with Sir Bobby Robson as coach, they were able to do it for the last time: which is why there is a statue of the charismatic and unsuccessful former coach, also of Sporting and FC Porto, outside the Estádio de St. James Park in Newcastle.

A draw and a point in Newcastle still keep the “Foxes” (“Foxes”, Leicester) dreaming and hoping to stay in the Premier League: Leicester entered the match in 19th and penultimate place, but they are now equal, Leeds and United are 18th in the table, both With 31 points, and playing just one role (Round 38), in a tournament whose struggle for maintenance heralded expectations and drama until the last minute of the afternoon matches on Day 28.

Seventeenth – and first above the waterline – is Everton, who are now two points away: they have 33 points, a total Leicester City could still surpass, if they win their match on Sunday 38th, at King Power. The stadium, against West Ham (4.30pm).

In addition, Leicester – where the Portuguese international right-back Ricardo Pereira was excluded from Dean Smith’s options for the game – and we have to hope that, at the same time, “Everton” will not beat Bournemouth, in addition. Leeds cannot beat Tottenham at Elland Road.