The Premier League’s race for the fourth Champions League spot is reaching a fever pitch, with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa locked in a tense battle for the coveted position.

Aston Villa extended their lead over fourth place by securing a 3-1 victory against Bournemouth, enhancing their advantage to six points in the standings.

Meanwhile, Spurs, currently occupying 5th place with 60 points, had a blank fixture week, providing them with two crucial games in hand. Should they emerge victorious in both matches, they could potentially equal Aston Villa’s points tally.

Renowned presenter and pundit Jeff Stelling weighed in on the heated contest, offering his insights into who might emerge victorious in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot.

Stelling highlighted the challenging fixtures ahead for Tottenham, despite their two-game advantage in hand.

He underscored Aston Villa’s current momentum as a decisive factor, branding the Birmingham-based club as the frontrunner in the race.

“Yes, Spurs have got two games in hand, but Spurs have got blooming tough fixtures, I will tell you that. And Villa are flying at the moment,” Stelling commented on talkSPORT (quotes via TBR).

Tough fixtures ahead for Tottenham

Indeed, Spurs face a daunting series of fixtures in the final stretch of the season, including matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Burnley, and Manchester City in succession.

Their recent 4-0 defeat against Newcastle underscores the challenges they face in securing the Champions League spot.

However, Ange Postecoglou’s squad has benefitted from a much-needed break, providing them with an opportunity to regroup and refocus ahead of the crucial fixtures that will define their season.