Arsenal predicted to win Champions League

Opta's supercomputer gives Arsenal the highest chance of winning the Champions League, following the draw for the remainder of the knockout stage.

According to Opta's supercomputer, Arsenal has a 27,4% chance of winning Europe's most prestigious club competition. Bayern ranks second with a 14,28% probability, with Liverpool close behind at 12,83%. The three remaining spots in the top 6 are Manchester City (10,79%), Barcelona (7,72%), and Chelsea (6,86%).

Saka (in red) celebrates scoring the winning goal for Arsenal in their 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 1/10. Photo: Reuters

Arsenal is the only team still in contention for a quadruple this season. In addition to the Champions League, the Gunners have maintained their top spot in the Premier League for an extended period. Domestically, Mikel Arteta's squad has also advanced to the 5th round of the FA Cup and the final of the English League Cup.

After winning all their Champions League group stage matches, Arsenal will face Leverkusen in the round of 16. If they advance, they will play Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals. Should they reach the semi-finals, Arsenal could encounter a Spanish team like Barca or Atletico, or one of two domestic rivals: Newcastle or Tottenham. This draw appears favorable, with a 46,17% chance of Arsenal reaching the final.

Opta also notes that the Premier League contributes four clubs to the top 6 teams with the highest chances of winning the Champions League. Newcastle ranks 7th with a 4,66% probability, while Tottenham's chances of winning are very low, placing 12th with just over 1%.

Meanwhile, Opta calculates Paris Saint-Germain's chances of successfully defending their title at 4,64%, ranking even below Newcastle. This is partly due to their inconsistent performance in the group stage and an unconvincing display in the play-off round, despite PSG defeating Monaco 5-4. Furthermore, Luis Enrique's squad must compete against Chelsea, the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions, in the round of 16. If they advance to the quarter-finals, PSG would likely face Liverpool.

The round of 16 first legs will take place on 10/3 and 11/3, with the second legs on 17/3 and 18/3. The quarter-finals will be played over two legs on 7-8/4 and 14-15/4. The semi-finals are scheduled for 28-29/4 and 5-6/5. The final will be held in Budapest, Hungary, at Puskas Arena, on 30/5.