Who will get the last Premier League ticket?

After the final is before the playoffs! The tension was quickly over on Pentecost Sunday 2024 in the Premier League season finale for the English championship with the remote duel between Manchester City and FC Arsenal. City won their 4th consecutive Premier League championship, setting a new record. Football England – aside from the Champions League final on June 1, 2024 – looks to Wembley twice more.

On May 25th for the FA Cup Final between the two Manchester clubs, City and United and one day later for the big duel for the last Premier League ticket.

Leeds United against FC Southampton – two relegated teams from the previous year who finished the 46-matchday marathon league Championship as third and fourth (Southampton) in the table.

With Leicester City, the third club that had to accept the bitter relegation in 2023, returned to the Premier League as Championship champions. The second direct promotion went to Ipswich Town.

Premier League leader never toppled on the last matchday

Retrospect: As in 2022, the decision for the English championship in the Premier League was made on the last matchday.

The fact that the champion is determined in the season finale also occurred in the inaugural season of the English Super League in 1992/93. But never before has the team leading the table on the 38th and final matchday missed the title.

Not this time either. English international Phil Foden, also known as "Stockport Iniesta" due to his birthplace, ended Arsenal's hopes for their first PL trophy since 2004 just 69 seconds into the match with a 1-0 against West Ham United.

No drama like 2012 or 2022

Manchester City secured the championship title in the final as in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Unlike May 13, 2012, when events spiraled out of control in stoppage time against Queens Park Rangers (3-2 / "Look at the frustration here!") – and Edin Dzeko and Argentine record scorer Sergio Agüero caused incredible jubilation scenes in the Etihad Stadium with their late goals – this time everything went according to the script for star coach and restaurant owner Pep Guardiola's team. The 2012 Premier League final is one of the most emotional games I have ever written about, believe me.

German international Kai Havertz (88') turned the home game for Arsenal, who were practically hopeless after City's 2-0 lead against London rival West Ham, around against FC Everton to 2-1. But it was too late to initiate last-minute drama and to set it all in motion again. It would have needed 2 goals from the "Hammers" in the parallel match.

Havertz was left with the bitter realization: "We gave our best, but it wasn't enough." The 13-goal scorer for the "Gunners" wishes: "Hopefully we can compete again next year and give the Arsenal fans what they need and what we are all here for."

But who will get the 20th starting place for the 2024/2025 season?

The only team among the 4 semifinalists for the Premier League that has made it via playoffs before was Norwich City in 2015.

"The Canaries", whose Championship match against Stoke City I was privileged to visit in September 2023 for die-fussballreise.de and for you, will not be able to repeat this triumph in 2024.

They failed in the duel of the German coaches – David Wagner at Norwich and Daniel Farke at Leeds United – against the "Whites". It was 0-0 in Norwich, 0-4 at Elland Road in Leeds. Subsequently, Norwich City parted ways with Wagner.

Leeds United, the last champion before the introduction of the Premier League (1992), will play on May 26, 2024, for the "jackpot" with 200 million euros guaranteed extra income in the English elite league.

"This club deserves promotion!"

For a long time, the "Peacocks", as the club is also called by the fans, looked like the safe direct promotion candidates. But Daniel Farke's team, who already led Norwich to the Premier League in 2019 and 2021, won only one of the last 6 league games.

Nevertheless, Farke believes: "Our players, our fans, this club deserves promotion."

Opponent FC Southampton comes to Wembley with great euphoria. 3-1 against West Bromwich Albion was the score in the semifinal on May 17, 2024. The first leg ended – like Norwich against Leeds – goalless.

For fan author Harry Tizard from the podcast TheSaintsScore the atmosphere in St. Mary’s Stadium was the best ever in a "Saints" home game. His reasoning is clear: "Forget the atmosphere in the 4-0 against Coventry City in 2012 (last matchday of the Championship, ed.) or the famous victory against Inter Milan in 2016 (2-1 in the Europa League, ed.), when we beat the Baggies, it was the biggest noise ever. Thousands of fans greeted the team with a sea of red shirts and smoke flares. After difficult years and differences in the fan scene, no one can deny that this Southampton team has brought the fans closer to the club again."

This is also due to striker Adam Armstrong's 21 season goals in the Championship, who also scored twice against West Brom.

Who will get the last Premier League ticket? With this setup – Leeds against Southampton – anything is possible. Even a penalty drama like 2017 with Huddersfield Town and FC Reading.

The playoff final is definitely our "Match of the Week". Enjoy!