“Newcastle seals Champions League qualification with draw against Leicester”

Newcastle drew 0-0 at home against Leicester (18th and in relegation positions) and added the point they needed to seal qualification for the next Champions League, this Monday at the close of matchday 37 of the Premier League.

With 70 points, the Magpies are out of the reach of Liverpool, fifth ranked to four points, with only one game to play.

However, Newcastle could leave the podium to the benefit of Manchester United, who still have two games left, on Tuesday against Chelsea and on Sunday against Fulham.

Newcastle will close the course playing at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, who have become the judge in this symbolic dispute for the podium.

In their farewell to their fans at Saint Jame’s Park this season, Eddie Howe’s men would have wanted to add victory, but a very defensive Leicester and the wood prevented it.

Callum Wilson (41), Miguel Almirón (43) and Bruno Guimaraes (71) smashed their shots into the posts, but the disappointment over the draw is better digested with qualifying for the Champions League, the tournament that Newcastle played for the last time in the 2002-2003 season.

The prize for Newcastle is enormous, especially taking into account the situation of the club a year and a half ago, when it was fighting not to lose category, before a powerful Saudi group took control of the entity.

Leicester, for their part, will play everything on the last day against West Ham, who no longer have any goals.

To stay in the elite, the club that surprisingly won the Premier League in the 2015-2016 season will have to beat the ‘Hammers’ and hope that Everton don’t beat Bournemouth at home, already saved.

^{© Agence France-Presse}