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UCL supercomputer picks winner as Arsenal given better chance than Real Madrid

  /  autty

A Champions League supercomputer has assessed every team's chances and incredibly made Real Madrid the fifth favourites to land the trophy.

The last 16 begins on Tuesday night with many of Europe's juggernauts involved. Real are defending champions and made light work off Manchester City in the knockout play-offs to advance with Kylian Mbappe making them an ominous prospect.

They are likely to find challengers in the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona. The Reds comfortably lead the Premier League and topped the league phase earlier this season, winning all but one of their games. Barcelona meanwhile look to have got their mojo back.

Opta's AI model has determined how far each team is likely to progress in the tournament with the knockouts were simulated 10,000 times to produce the most accurate result - which has seen Real given just a 9.8 percent chance of winning, compared to Liverpool's 19.2 percent.

That is likely down to Real's challenging last 16 tie, which sees them take on Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone's side have looked impressive this year and sit above Los Blancos in La Liga. A tough draw in the last 16 has dampened a team's winning percentage.

Liverpool take on PSG in the last 16 but that has harmed their chances and they're viewed as the most likely winners. Opta has given them a 30.9 percent chance of making the final. Just behind them are Barcelona, who have a 14.8 percent chance of European glory.

The third most likely winner is Inter Milan, the finalists two years ago. The Italians have slipped under the radar but are given a 14.8 percent chance of winning the final in Munich. Incredibly fourth favourites - above Real, Bayern Munich and PSG - are Arsenal.

The Gunners have a crisis in the final third and have fallen away domestically. They have a more favourable draw in the first round of the knockouts but still have been given a 11.6 percent chance of winning the Champions League despite knowing they will face either Real or Atletico in the quarters.

Bayer Leverkusen have, marginally, been given a better chance of making the final than Bayern. The two German sides meet in the last 16 with Xabi Alonso's men handed a 5.4 percent chance of winning compared to 5.3 percent for Harry Kane's side.

Four sides have been incredibly dismissed, with Opta deeming that they have less than a one percent chance of success. Among those is Aston Villa, as well as Club Brugge, their last-16 opponents. Dutch duo PSV and Feyenoord are also in the category.

Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Lille all have less than a two percent chance of victory. Atletico, despite the form this year, only have a 4.2 percent chance of European success. For context, it means Opta believes Inter are more three times more likely to win than the Spanish side.

Inter have been given the best chance of making it through the last 16, partly down to them playing Feyenoord. They've been given an 81.6 percent chance of making it through whilst Liverpool, who face PSG, only have a 58.3 percent chance of winning their tie.