Aston Villa secured the Europa League with a resounding 3-0 win over Freiburg to win their first European trophy since 1982 and with that, they may have unlocked another Champions League place for a Premier League side.
Villa were 2-0 up by halftime with a Youri Tielemans goal and a wonderful strike from Emiliano Buendía, and they extended their lead further when Morgan Rogers scored in the second half.
By winning the Europa League, that secured Villa a spot in the Champions League for next season, something they had already done by virtue of their league position.
So that does create a scenario where there could be, for the second successive season, six English teams in the Champions League next season.
But how could this happen?
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How can there be six teams in the Champions League next season?
Well, there is only one way it can happen and that is if Aston Villa, currently fourth in the Premier League table, end up finishing fifth.
The Premier League were granted an extra Champions League spot due to their UEFA coefficient, as Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace all reached their respective finals.
Aston Villa won the Europa League to potentially create a scenario of having six teams in the Champions League next season. Mustafa Alkac/picture alliance via Getty Images So, if Villa finish fifth, they would be taking an 'extra' Champions League spot, which they also take by winning the Europa League.
Effectively, two extra Champions League spots cannot be taken by one team, and so, if Villa finish fifth then the extra Premier League spot to the Champions League would drop down to sixth place -- currently Bournemouth.
What do Bournemouth, Brighton need to qualify for the Champions League next season?
Well, Bournemouth have already secured Europa League football at the very least next season as they are sixth in the Premier League and have a four-point cushion over eighth-place Chelsea.
They are also three points ahead of Brighton in seventh, so to secure sixth, they need just a draw on the final day against Nottingham Forest.
But, as earlier said, sixth means the same as seventh if Aston Villa don't finish fifth.