It is a state of celebration for 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and not because the club enters the final day safe from relegation. No, this is Europa League champion Spurs, headed to next season’s Champions League with plenty to build upon despite a historically bad Premier League performance. Much of this season felt like a disaster, but the history books will remember this 2024/25 Tottenham side as title winners.
That makes Sunday’s finale in North London nothing short of a celebration. Brighton & Hove Albion might be playing for an outside chance at the Conference League, but the hosts are just here for a good time. From the joys of Bilbao to the parade on Friday, it is hard to imagine many Tottenham players care too much about Sunday — still wild to realize we are here.
Tottenham Hotspur (17th, 38pts) vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (8th, 58pts)
Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 11:00 am ET, 4:00 pm UK
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
TV: Peacock (US)
Brighton should finish eighth, which is up from last season, but on par with the prior finishes of sixth and ninth. It does feel like it would be a bit of a disappointment to miss out on Europe though, given the sheer number of English teams headed into the various competitions next year (again: wooooooo) and the fairly open competition near the top of the table.
The reverse fixture was one of the most frustrating in a year of frustrations for Spurs. Brennan Johnson and James Maddison gave Tottenham a 2-0 lead at the Amex in October, but three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half completely flipped the scoreline, with the home side taking the points. The wheels had not fully come off yet, but that collapse was a big omen of the rest of the season ahead.
Finale fun
While that defeat was representative of Spurs’ catastrophe in the league, none of that matters now. With nothing pointwise to play for, Sunday can be a carefree capper on a strange year, now full of joy and elated supporters. It could be the final time someone like Cristian Romero or Richalison puts on the kit — or Ange Postecoglou is on the touchline? — though most goodbyes this summer are unlikely to be huge emotional hitters.
Thanks for riding along with us through 20-plus losses this year across all competitions. It was painful, exhausting, and potentially worst of all, numbing, for much of the season, but it all was worth it in the end. Tottenham has a ton of work to figure out this summer, especially with Champions League on the schedule next year, but at least everything is moving in the right direction. Talk to you ahead of the Super Cup!