Unai Emery said qualifying for the Champions League is Aston Villa's "dream" after his side beat fellow European hopefuls Fulham 1-0 to move level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League.
Youri Tielemans scored the only goal early in the first half to earn Villa their seventh victory in nine league games and apply pressure on the teams above them before the weekend's remaining fixtures.
Only four points separate Manchester City in third from Villa in seventh, but Newcastle, Chelsea and sixth-placed Nottingham Forest still have a game in hand.