Supercomputer tips Manchester City to retain UCL, ranks Arsenal above Real Madrid and Barcelona

Pep Guardiola, Man City boss | Imago

Supercomputer tips Manchester City to retain UCL, ranks Arsenal above Real Madrid and Barcelona

Ayoola Kelechi 06:21 - 01.09.2023

Arsenal are more likely than Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United to be crowned European Champions this season according to a supercomputer which suggests that Manchester City will retain the title

A supercomputer has predicted that Manchester City will be crowned champions of Europe once again, making them favourites for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League. 

Manchester City favourites for UEFA Champions League again

The Cityzens carted away Europe’s biggest prize last season as part of a glorious treble, which also included Premier League and FA Cup triumphs. 

Now they have been tipped to go all the way again by Opta’s supercomputer, which has given them a 98.8% chance to qualify from the group stage and also considered them odds on at 50.3% to at least reach the final. 

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with the UCL trophy | Imago
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with the UCL trophy | Imago

According to Opta, the likelihood of Manchester City winning the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League stands at 36.1%, more than three times the next-best team, Bayern Munich

The Bavarians were given a 10.2% chance of becoming European Champions for the first time since 2020, slightly higher than Arsenal’s 7% chance of winning the trophy for the first time in the club’s history. 

Arsenal favoured ahead of Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG

The Gunners' incredible placement as the third most likely team to win the Champions League this season, comes on the back of their relatively straightforward group, which also contains Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven, and RC Lens. 

UEFA Champions League predictions | OptaAnalyst
UEFA Champions League predictions | OptaAnalyst

It is also a testament to Arsenal’s valiant effort to stop Manchester City from winning the Premier League last season, as well as stellar transfer business, that they are considered more likely than UCL giants Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the UCL. 

While Real Madrid are only one place behind Arsenal in fourth, Barcelona are way down in 10th, with only a 0.3% chance separating them from England’s least likely representative to win the tournament, Newcastle

Incredibly, French giants Paris Saint-Germain did not feature in the top 16 most likely teams to win the UCL, with PSV, Benfica, and RB Leipzig all considered more likely to win the trophy than the reigning Ligue 1 champions. 

Related content