A supercomputer has analyzed the data ahead of the Champions League knockouts, and the forecast is positive for the remaining Premier League clubs.
Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa are all participating this week as the knockout stages begin.
Credit: Reuters
Credit: PA
Only 16 teams are left in this year’s revamped competition after an extended group stage.
Liverpool topped the 32-team league table but will face a challenging last-16 match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal and Aston Villa also avoided the play-offs to reach this round.
They will need to overcome PSV Eindhoven and Club Brugge to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Opta’s AI model was used to predict how far each team will advance in the tournament.
The knockouts were simulated 10,000 times to get the most accurate prediction.
Each match outcome was calculated using betting odds and Opta Power Rankings.
Liverpool won seven of their eight group stage matches and appeared comfortable in the new format.
The supercomputer gives Arne Slot’s team the highest probability of winning the tournament among the remaining 16 teams.
Liverpool’s chances are estimated at 19.2 percent, meaning they won the Champions League trophy in almost 2,000 out of 10,000 simulations.
However, their difficult draw against PSG could be a potential stumbling block.
The model rates the Reds’ chances of defeating the Ligue 1 champions at just 58.3 percent.
According to the model’s calculations, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Aston Villa are all more likely to reach the quarter-finals.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal faces a challenging path to the final, potentially facing Real Madrid or Atletico in the quarter-finals if they beat PSV.
The supercomputer estimates their chances of reaching the final in Munich at 20.5 percent.
However, their chances of winning the cup are currently only 11.6 percent.
Aston Villa are enjoying a fantastic return to European competition after a 41-year absence.
Facing Belgian side Brugge in the last 16, the model gives Unai Emery’s team a strong 60 percent chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Villa would then potentially face either Liverpool or PSG in the quarter-finals, and the AI model is not optimistic about their chances.
They are given an 11.6 percent chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Villa has a 2.7 percent chance of reaching the final and only a 0.9 percent chance of winning the Champions League.
Real Madrid’s difficult draw gives them a 9.8 percent chance of defending their title.
The tournament’s biggest underdogs are Feyenoord, who have only an 18 percent chance of overcoming Inter to reach the quarter-finals.
Inter are considered the dark horses of the tournament.
The Serie A leaders are ranked third-favorites for the trophy, behind only Liverpool and Barcelona.
