EPL: Tottenham, Manchester City Battle for Champions League Slot

With the top three positions in the Premier League now looking pretty much sewn up (Arsenal and Chelsea may swap around a bit), I thought it apt to turn my attention to a different battle.

The battle between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City for fourth place, and a chance to play in next season's Champions League.

Of course, this is a familiar story to last season where Spurs pipped City to it thanks to a late Peter Crouch goal at Eastlands. Spurs went on a good run in the tournament, eventually coming unstuck against the Galaticos of Real Madrid after memorable European nights at White Hart Lane when the two Milan teams came to visit.

With that in mind, I'll look at Spurs first.

Their fans will be desperate for another European adventure. The atmosphere in North London when a 0-0 draw against AC Milan secured passage to the quarterfinals was like nothing I've experienced. I never thought I'd see a so-called "bore draw" celebrated with such enthusiasm!

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will hope for further Champions League entertainment as well with a place in the inital group stages thought to be worth around £25 million next season, money that manager Harry Redknapp will likely want to reinvest in the squad.

Spurs currently lie in fifth position, two points behind City with a far inferior goal difference and arguably a more difficult run-in.

Home encounters with West Brom and Blackpool are tempered by visits to London rivals Chelsea and a resurgent Liverpool. Not to mention a trip to Manchester to play City themselves, but more on that tie later.

Manchester City, on the other hand, have never tasted Champions League football though I doubt that means their fans want it any less. A decent Europa League campaign this season was cut short by two rather flat displays against Dynamo Kiev, and Eastlands will be hoping to welcome rather more illustrious names next season.

Furthermore, it is strongly rumoured that qualification was the number one target set by City's Middle Eastern backers at the start of the season. The money will be pocket change to them.

It is the prestige of having their club amongst the Barcelonas and Inter Milans that they crave, a chance to show the world that their club is carving out a path for itself.

City will be favourites to claim fourth spot. They presently occupy that position and hold two points and 12 goals over Spurs. Their most difficult remaining fixture, barring the visit from Spurs, would be a trip to Everton, who have been something of a bogey team for the blue half of Manchester in recent times.

So who will ultimately claim fourth?

The game between the two on May 10th will be critical. I can see the two teams claiming the same amount of points as each other from their remaining fixtures, meaning Spurs will arrive knowing only a win will see them through, a similar position to last season.

On that night, City set up defensively and an 85th-odd minute goal from the lanky Peter Crouch saw their European aspirations evaporate. 

This time around, they will also have one eye on the FA Cup final just four days later against Stoke.

A lot will rest on injuries and fitness for both sides. City will hope to have captain Carlos Tevez back, whilst Spurs will be doing their best to protect key men Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart after they've both suffered various knocks this season.

A lot can change between now and then, but my money is on Manchester City to condemn Tottenham to the Europa League next season.

Spurs have looked fragile recently, and as long as manager Roberto Mancini learns from last time and doesn't set up for the point they'll be fine.

Stoke will win the Cup though.