Following the Champions League group stage draw on 28/9, Opta's supercomputer analyzed each team based on their power rankings, the number of major opponents faced, home advantage, and away challenges.
The results revealed Bayern has the toughest schedule, with a score of 92.9. The German champions will face Chelsea (home), PSG (away), Club Brugge (home), Arsenal (away), Sporting (home), PSV (away), Union SG (home), and Pafos (away).
Among these opponents, Chelsea recently won the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2024-2025 Conference League, while PSG secured the 2024-2025 Champions League title. Arsenal, despite not winning any titles last season, reached the Champions League semi-finals.
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PSG defeated Bayern 2-0 in the Club World Cup quarter-finals in July. Photo: FCB |
PSG defeated Bayern 2-0 in the Club World Cup quarter-finals in July. Photo: FCB
PSG's schedule is the second most difficult, with 92.7 points. The reigning champions will play against Barca (away), Bayern (home), Atalanta (home), Leverkusen (away), Tottenham (home), Sporting (away), Newcastle (home), and Bilbao (away). Among these, Tottenham are the Europa League champions, Barca, Bayern, and Sporting are the Spanish, German, and Portuguese champions respectively, Newcastle won the English League Cup last season, and Atalanta are former Europa League champions.
Barca's draw ranks 15th out of 36 in terms of difficulty, with 90.9 points. After their first two matches against PSG (home) and Chelsea (away), manager Hansi Flick's team will face less pressure against Frankfurt (home), Club Brugge (away), Olympiakos (home), Slavia Prague (away), Copenhagen (home), and Newcastle (away).
Real Madrid, Barca's eternal rivals, have an even easier draw, ranking 24th out of 36 with 90 points. The record 15-time Champions League winners will face Man City (home), Liverpool (away), Juventus (home), Benfica (away), Marseille (home), Olympiakos (away), Monaco (home), and Kairat (away). Their toughest match will likely be the away game at Anfield against a strong and ever-evolving Liverpool.
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Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in the 2024-2025 Champions League group stage. Photo: Reuters |
Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in the 2024-2025 Champions League group stage. Photo: Reuters
Man City's schedule is one spot above Real Madrid in difficulty, with 90.2 points. The 2023 Champions League winners will face Real Madrid (away), Dortmund (home), Leverkusen (home), Villarreal (away), Napoli (home), Bodo/Glimt (away), Galatasaray (home), and Monaco (away).
Liverpool's journey is ranked 26th out of 36 in difficulty, tied with Olympiakos, Inter, Chelsea, and Juventus at 89.9 points. Apart from Real Madrid (home) and Inter (away), the Premier League champions have a good chance of securing three points against Atletico (home), Frankfurt (away), PSV (home), Marseille (away), Qarabag (home), and Galatasaray (away).
The contender with the easiest draw is Arsenal, ranked 34th out of 36 with 88.8 points. Both matches against Bayern and Atletico will be played at their home ground, Emirates Stadium. Their other 6 opponents are Inter (away), Club Brugge (away), Olympiakos (home), Slavia Prague (away), Kairat (home), and Bilbao (away).
Champions League draw difficulty rankings:
1. Bayern: 92.9 points
2. PSG: 92.7
3. PSV: 92.6
4. Marseille: 92.5
5. Newcastle: 92.2
6. Atletico: 92.1
7. Leverkusen: 92
8. Union SG: 91.8
9. Slavia Prague, Frankfurt: 91.6
11. Bilbao: 91.6
12. Qarabag, Kairat: 91.2
14. Atalanta: 91
15. Barca: 90.9
16. Club Brugge, Galatasaray: 90.8
18. Benfica, Bodo/Glimt: 90.7
20. Monaco: 90.6
21. Napoli, Dortmund: 90.5
23. Man City: 90.2
24. Sporting, Real Madrid: 90
26. Olympiacos, Juventus, Inter, Chelsea, Liverpool: 89.9
31. Ajax: 89.8
32. Villarreal: 89.6
33. Tottenham: 89.1
34. Arsenal: 88.8
35. Copenhagen, Pafos: 88.7
Thanh Quy (according to Opta)
