It all comes down to this.
One game, to return to the richest league in the world: the Premier League.
According to the recent release of monetary figures earned by each Premier League club for 2018-19, Wolverhampton, which was in its first year back in the top flight, just earned $161 million for its seventh place finish. Now, because the Wanderers will be in the UEFA Europa League qualification and have another year in the Premier League, they will make that again and more next season.
Those numbers are staggering: $300 million is a large chunk of change, and can help turn the team into power.
Monday, Aston Villa or Derby County will have its chance to get back into the top flight and back into the best league in the world.
Both teams had to navigate a two-legged semifinal to get to Wembley, and will be battle tested from this season. Aston Villa is the slight favorite, and has comfortable wins over the Rams this season, 3-0 and 4-0.
But this game is different. Teams can sometimes be cautious, with the one-to-two year pans to get back into the to flight at stake. Which team will come away as newly-minted Premier Leaguers?
The FIFA U20 World Cup continues as well today with four more matches, including the disappointing USA side that now has a must win game with a tough Nigeria side in the final match of the day.
Derby County (+290) vs. Aston Villa (+100), draw (+230), 10 a.m. EDT (ESPN+)
THE PICKS:
Aston Villa ML (+100)
Aston Villa -1 (+300)
GROUP C
Honduras (+1600) vs. Uruguay (-1000), draw (+650), 12 p.m. EDT (FS2, Universo, and Fubo.tv)
THE PICKS:
Over 3.5 goals (+100)
Uruguay half time/full time (-200)
GROUP D
Norway (+106) vs. New Zealand (+215), draw (+235), 12 p.m. EDT (FOX Soccer Plus and Fubo.tv)
THE PICK: Norway ML (+106)
GROUP C
Qatar (+650) vs. Ukraine (-304), draw (+360), 2:30 p.m. EDT (FOX Soccer Plus and Fubo.tv)
THE PICK: Ukraine half time/full time (+100)
GROUP D
USA (+185) vs. Nigeria (+125), draw (+230), 2:30 p.m. EDT (FS1, Universo, and Fubo.tv)
THE PICK: Nigeria ML (+125)