05/10/25 11:06:00
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05/10 11:04 CDT Man City's surprising draw at Southampton throws Champions
League hopes into doubt
Man City's surprising draw at Southampton throws Champions League hopes into
doubt
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
Manchester City's Champions League qualification ambitions were thrown back
into doubt on Saturday after a surprising 0-0 draw at already-relegated
Southampton, the Premier League's last-placed team.
It could prove to be two crucial dropped points for third-placed City in a
six-team race for the four remaining spots to get into the Champions League,
along with champion Liverpool.
Even Erling Haaland's return after a six-week absence because of injury
couldn't inspire City, which dragged itself into a better position in the
league on the back of four straight wins.
City had two points more than Newcastle and Chelsea --- who meet at St. James'
Park on Sunday --- and four more than Nottingham Forest, which hosts
already-relegated Leicester on Sunday.
Seventh-placed Villa was a further point back and visits Bournemouth later
Saturday.
City's unprecedented four-year reign as champion was ended by Liverpool this
season.
The draw lifted Southampton onto 12 points --- one more than the lowest ever
points haul in a single season, set by Derby County in 2007-08.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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