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Aston Villa are into the Champions League places following a 2-0 win over an under-strength Tottenham at Villa Park.
Ange Postecoglou rested many of Spurs' big hitters ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United and though they kept Villa out until into the second half, goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara secured the three points.
Unai Emery's side had to be patient, Antonin Kinsky tipping a cross-shot behind and Marco Asensio firing just wide. But Spurs skipper Heung-Min Son offered enough on the counter-attack to threaten, Wilson Odobert's flick forcing Emi Martinez into a save.
But from the moment that Konsa turned the ball home early in the second half, the tension lifted, and when Kamara fizzed a left-footed shot beyond Kinsky and into the net, Villa were on their way to an eighth win in nine Premier League matches.
That form had propelled them into the top four by the final whistle, pending the result of Chelsea's game against Manchester United. Emery's side have momentum ahead of their final-day trip to Old Trafford. For Postecoglou, it is all on that showdown in Bilbao.
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Postecoglou explains team selection
Tottenham head coach Postecoglou elected to exclude Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie from the Tottenham squad, with Pedro Porro and Guglielmo Vicario unused substitutes, saving them all for that Europa League final.
"They are available. For us, there is no point bringing them in. They were not going to play today. They stayed home. They had a really good, strong session.
"Come Wednesday, they are all available, that is the most important thing. That was the primary thing. When those guys play, the back four, with Vic in goal, our chances improve."
Quizzed further on his reasoning, Postecoglou added: "Yeah, I don't know how else to say it. They are available. If something happened to them today, I think they would not be available. I just don't think that would be the smart course for us to take."
Will this backfire for Postecoglou?
Spurs missed the chance to climb at least two places up the Premier League table, staying down in 17th spot - the worst of the rest this season. Twenty-one defeats now for Postecoglou's side and while Europe offers some mitigation, how much is up for debate.
Key players are being wrapped up for that final in Bilbao, but it is hardly helping morale as the losses pile up. Any hope of finding some form is gone and players even risk being undercooked for the game that will dictate how Spurs' season will be remembered.
Postecoglou is betting it all on the game that, if won, would bring not only Champions League football next season but that long-awaited trophy, ending a 17-year wait for silverware. If lost, it is that ranking of 17th in the Premier League that will damn him.
Player of the match: Boubacar Kamara
This was Kamara's 69th Premier League game for Aston Villa but his first goal in the competition and it was not only a beauty but a significant one. Not the winner, but the strike that took all the tension out of a nervy night as Villa chase the Champions League.
The injured Youri Tielemans was missed at times in the first half - that ability to play those line-breaking passes proving difficult to replace. It needed others to step up, do things they do not normally do. His midfield partner did just that with his goal. Quality by Kamara.
Emery: Still work to do
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports:
"I am very happy and today we closed out our season here with our supporters trying to transmit our energy.
"We won, but there is still work to do to have a chance to play Champions League and we have to try and keep the inconsistencies down and focus.
"Spurs competed well and did a fantastic job. We were speaking at half-time about the difficulties we were facing and to be consistent and demanding in our game plan."
Story of the match in stats...
What's coming up in the Premier League?
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Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
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Aston Villa host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Friday May 16, live on Sky Sports' Friday Night Football, as the race for Champions League qualification continues.
Aston Villa sit sixth in the Premier League table, one place outside the Champions League qualification spots but level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, who are playing Manchester United also on Friday night.
Villa beat Bournemouth 1-0 last Saturday and victory over Spurs could lift them to fourth.
Tottenham are 17th in the Premier League table on 38 points and have not won in the league since a 3-1 win over Southampton on April 6. They lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace last Sunday.
This is Spurs' last match before the Europa League final against Man Utd on Wednesday May 21 - victory in which would secure Champions League football for next season.
Villa and Tottenham have faced each other twice already this season. Spurs won the reverse league fixture 4-1 on November 3, while Villa won 2-1 in their FA Cup fourth-round tie on February 9.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham live updates
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When is Aston Villa vs Spurs
Aston Villa vs Tottenham in the Premier League takes place on Friday May 16 at Villa Park. Kick-off is 7.30pm UK time.
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Aston Villa vs Spurs team news
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed Marcus Rashford and Youri Tielemans will miss the clash with Tottenham due to injury.
Rashford has missed the last three fixtures due to a hamstring problem and will not feature again this season due to being ineligible to face parent club Manchester United on the last day of the season.
Tielemans picked up a minor issue before the recent 1-0 win against Bournemouth and will not feature.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Dejan Kulusevski is "out for a few months" having undergone knee surgery.
The Sweden international joins fellow midfielders James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall on the club's injury list but captain Heung-Min Son is back after a month on the sidelines and is set to feature at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Spurs odds and score prediction
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones...
Tottenham going off 7/1 with Sky Bet for the away win tells you all you need to know about their prospects in this fixture. It is the biggest price they have been by a long way vs a non-big six team in the last 10 years. Even if you added another zero to that 7/1, I'd be tempted to swerve it.
Villa have a goal in sight and have been relentless in their pursuit of a top-five finish, winning seven of their last eight Premier League games. They have crashed the markets and the top-five party and are now just 11/10 with Sky Bet to finish there.
Sky Sports to show 215 Premier League games next season
Pro-Villa angles are the only betting angles to consider across the props markets and with Jacob Ramsey (suspended) and Youri Tielemans (injured) out for this fixture, backing Boubacar Kamara's shots lines makes appeal based on he could be playing with attacking licence.
He did last weekend in the win at Bournemouth, hitting two shots, which is way above his season per 90 average of 0.44. It is 4/1 with Sky Bet for him to repeat the feat and register two or more shots.
SCORE PREDICTION: 4-0
The Race for the Champions League
The race for Champions League qualification is more competitive than ever with five Premier League teams guaranteed qualification, but who will make the cut?
The race for the top five is tight, with only six points separating second-placed Arsenal down to Nottingham Forest in seventh.
Chelsea and Aston Villa are level on 63 points with Forest on 62.
Premier League winners Liverpool have already guaranteed Champions League football, while Opta put Arsenal's prospects at 99.9 per cent.
Following their 2-2 draw at Anfield, the Gunners require one point from their remaining two fixtures to secure a top-five place.
Newcastle and Man City, despite their draw at Southampton, are also expected to qualify.
Newcastle's prospects of qualifying for the Champions League are now rated at 95 per cent by Opta's supercomputer with Man City's at 93 per cent.
The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...
THE TIMES
Football's lawmakers do not plan to make changes to the VAR protocol around delaying an offside flag despite the injury to the Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, on the basis that the policy already tells officials to immediately signal if they are certain a player is offside.
Liverpool are expected to approach Bayer Leverkusen and formally trigger the £30million release clause that will make Jeremie Frimpong the first signing of the club's summer recruitment drive.
New stadium developments in Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham could head the list of the 16 venues to host the 2035 Women's World Cup in the UK.
The FIFA president Gianni Infantino was humiliated by a walkout of European members after he delayed the organisation's annual congress by hours to join Donald Trump's tour of the Gulf.
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THE TELEGRAPH
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all showing interest in Brighton forward Joao Pedro ahead of a possible summer transfer.
Ange Postecoglou is in line to earn a bonus in the region of £2 million if he can clinch Tottenham Hotspur's first European trophy for 41 years.
Wrexham have made an approach for Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney in a sign of their ambition following promotion to the Championship.
DAILY MAIL
Marcus Rashford can leave Manchester United for £40million this summer, but Aston Villa do not have first option on the England star.
Arsenal have made strikers Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres their key targets as they look to bolster their attacking options in the summer window.
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been indicted along with three former youth players at the club, for the alleged distribution of a sexual video involving a minor.
THE SUN
Eddie Hearn expects Chris Eubank Jr to rematch Conor Benn next - back at Tottenham's stadium on September 27.
Nottingham Forest are set to launch an internal investigation into their medical team's handling of Taiwo Awoniyi's horror injury on Sunday.
THE ATHLETIC
Brazil forward Neymar is in talks with Santos over extending his contract through to 2026.
DAILY MIRROR
Football fans going to the Europa League final are facing travel chaos because of airport strike action.
Real Madrid are keen on a move for the Benfica left-back Alvaro Carreras, but Manchester United could still have a significant say over whether a deal is completed, according to reports.
DAILY RECORD
Kyogo's future at Rennes has been plunged into further doubt after the transfer chief who brought him to France from Celtic left the club.
SCOTTISH SUN
Derek McInnes has been spotted leaving Rugby Park for the last time as Kilmarnock boss.
David Ancelotti has had 'positive talks' about becoming the next Rangers manager, according to a report.