Champions League joy for Real Madrid and a blow for Barça and Atleti

Opta’s ‘supercomputer’ has been busy and has conducted an in-depth analysis on how all Spanish teams will end up at the end of the eighth matchday in the Champions League group phase.

The ‘supercomputer’ has looked at the three remaining Champions League matches, taking into account the difficulty of the schedule and the points obtained so far, and the verdict is clear: of the five LaLiga sides involved in the competition, only Real Madrid are predicted to finish in the Top 8.

According to Opta’s statistical projections, Real Madrid would finish sixth in the League Phase, one place lower than their current fifth-place position under Xabi Alonso. The outstanding matches against Manchester City (home), Monaco (home), and Benfica (away) suggest they will secure the necessary points needed to guarantee their place in the Round of 16 without having to go through a preliminary round.

Two set for elimination

As things stand, the Opta prediction suggests that both Atlético Madrid and Barcelona would fall below the top eight threshold and have to play a play-off round. Atlético, currently sit in 12th place and would climb two spots to 10th, still not enough to qualify for the top eight. Their next matches are against PSV Eindhoven (away), Galatasaray (away), and home to Bodø/Glimt.

The situation is expected to be equally difficult for Barça: they are currently 18th and, according to Opta, would finish 12th, forcing them to play in the round of 32. Flick’s team must play against Eintracht Frankfurt (home), away to Slavia Prague, and home against FC Copenhagen.

Things are looking grim however for both Athletic Club and Villarreal. Neither team are projected to make it past the group stage. From their current positions of 27th and 34th, they would drop to 28th and 31st. According to Opta, neither would qualify for the next round of the Champions League. Both would be eliminated.