Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave Manchester City at the conclusion of the current season, marking the end of a decade-long tenure at the club. His final match in charge will be against Aston Villa, and it could potentially culminate in yet another Premier League title triumph.
Title Race Dynamics
Arsenal currently hold a five-point lead at the summit of the Premier League table after a narrow 1-0 victory over Burnley, with Bukayo Saka assisting Kai Havertz for the decisive goal. However, Manchester City remain firmly in contention for the championship.
According to The Athletic, Guardiola will depart after the game against Aston Villa, having enjoyed 10 highly successful years at the Etihad Stadium. Former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is set to replace him, having agreed to a three-year contract five months after resigning from Stamford Bridge, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
City's Path to the Title
Manchester City must first defeat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday, May 19, 2026, to keep the title race alive until the final day. Their hopes hinge on Arsenal slipping up in their remaining fixtures.
On the final day, City host Aston Villa at the Etihad, while Arsenal travel across London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. If City win both matches and Arsenal drop points—either through a draw or a loss—Guardiola could celebrate a title on his way out.
Should Arsenal lose, City would win the title by one point. If Arsenal draws, both teams would finish level on points, and tiebreakers would come into play. The first tiebreaker is goal difference, which is currently identical at +43 for both sides. The next criterion is goals scored, where City lead 75 to 69. If still tied, City would be crowned champions due to a superior head-to-head record, having beaten Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
However, all these scenarios become irrelevant if Arsenal defeat Crystal Palace on the final day, regardless of City's result against Aston Villa.
Supercomputer Prediction
Legit.ng previously reported that Opta's supercomputer gave Manchester City approximately a 15% chance of overtaking Arsenal to win the title, following Arsenal's victory over Burnley that extended their lead to five points.
