With the Champions League knock-out stage just around the corner, excitement is building as teams prepare for the next chapter of Europe’s most prestigious competition.
The draw, set for Friday, will reveal the matchups for the play-off and last-16 stages, and a supercomputer has already run the numbers to give us an idea of what we might see.
Arsenal and Liverpool’s Predicted Path
Both Arsenal and Liverpool have secured spots directly in the last-16 by finishing in the top eight of the inaugural league phase.
This gives them a slight advantage, bypassing the play-off round entirely.
The big question now is, who will they face in the next round?
For Liverpool, topping their group puts them in a strong position.
According to the supercomputer’s predictions, they are likely to face the winner of the play-off between PSG and Monaco.
Man City Facing a Tough Challenge
Manchester City, however, has a much tougher road ahead.
After finishing outside the top eight, they’ll need to win a play-off round to advance.
The supercomputer has forecasted a blockbuster showdown between City and Bayern Munich.
If Pep Guardiola’s side gets through, they could face Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16, adding more German opposition to their path.
Other Intriguing Play-Offs
The predicted play-offs bring some exciting potential matchups.
Celtic could face defending champions Real Madrid, while there’s a possibility of an all-French clash between Monaco and PSG.
In addition, Sporting Lisbon could meet Atalanta, and Feyenoord might be drawn against AC Milan.
Other play-offs to watch out for include Juventus vs. PSV, Brest vs. Benfica, and Club Bruges vs. Borussia Dortmund.
Potential Last-16 Blockbusters
As for the predicted last-16 ties, we could see some high-stakes games.
Arsenal, after finishing third in their group, might be drawn against either Milan or Feyenoord.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa would face either Sporting Lisbon or Atalanta, giving them a chance at another historic run.
There’s also the potential for a derby-style clash, with Atletico Madrid possibly up against the winners of the Celtic-Real Madrid play-off.
Inter Milan could be drawn against the victor of Juventus and PSV, while Barcelona, who finished as second seeds, might face either Brest or Benfica.
Their memorable 5-4 win over Benfica during the league phase showed just how chaotic this competition can be.
The Official Draw
All of these predictions will be put to the test on Friday when UEFA conducts the official draw at their headquarters in Nyon.
While the supercomputer’s forecasts are intriguing, nothing beats the drama of the real thing.
Fans are eager to see which teams will clash in what promises to be another thrilling chapter of the Champions League.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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