FA Cup Final: Why Brentford fans should support Manchester City this weekend
Will Jackson 
Brentford could have some skin in the FA Cup Final on Saturday, with European football a possibility if results go their way between now and the end of the season.
The Bees, currently eighth in the Premier League table and out of the standard European qualification positions, could be handed a back-door route into the Europa Conference League.
But how would a team so far down the table qualify for Europe? Free Bets has had a look at some of the permutations for this weekend's big game.
Battle for Eighth
Before we dig a little deeper into it, eighth place will secure Europa Conference League football next season if Manchester City win the FA Cup on Saturday.
Brentford currently occupy that position, but they are far from secure in there and it was only this time last week that Bournemouth were daring to dream of a maiden European campaign.
Throw in Brighton and Fulham, and you have four teams all separated by four points with two games to go - though Fulham are four points adrift of Brentford and Brighton, and as such unlikely to sneak in.
Thomas Frank's side have won their last four games and with matches against Fulham and Wolves to finish the season, there is every chance they will cling on courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Brighton meanwhile face Liverpool and Spurs, and you would fancy them to drop points in at least one of those games which is advantage to Brentford.
The defeat to Aston Villa was a big blow for Bournemouth who now have Manchester City and Leicester to play, while Fulham also have City to play.
If there were markets with online bookmakers for eighth place, Brentford would be heavy favourites - and they do have the shortest odds of the four to finish in the top 10 at 1/33.
| Team | Played | Goal Difference | Points |
| Brentford | 36 | +10 | 55 |
| Brighton | 36 | +3 | 55 |
| Bournemouth | 36 | +12 | 53 |
| Fulham | 36 | +1 | 51 |
What needs to happen?
But what needs to happen for Brentford to get that European spot?
Permutations are never easy to explain, but let's try and make it as easy as possible.
English football offers the following European places:
- 5 x Champions League places (top five in the Premier League)
- 2 x Europa League places (sixth place and FA Cup winners)
- 1 x Europa Conference League place (Carabao Cup winners)
Incidentally, there will be a sixth English team in the Champions League when either Manchester United or Tottenham lift the Europa League next week, but that doesn't affect Brentford's chances.
The confusing bit comes if Manchester City win the FA Cup, because of the following:
- Newcastle have already won the Carabao Cup and occupy a top-five place, which means their Europa Conference League place goes down to seventh in the league
- If Manchester City win the FA Cup - they also occupy a top-five spot - the Europa League places will go down to seventh in the league (currently Nottingham Forest)
Therefore the Conference League spot will be pushed down to eighth in the table - simple!
FA Cup Final Odds
So, plenty to be getting excited about if you are a Brentford fan.
If the top seven stays as it is, Manchester City win the FA Cup and they finish the season in eighth, they will be able to celebrate a first taste of European football in the club's history.
And the football betting markets are suggesting they should be able to do just that, with City comfortable favourites to lift the FA Cup on Saturday.
Should Crystal Palace win, they will automatically qualify for the Europa League themselves, so for neutrals looking for a team to follow in Europe next season - it's win-win!
