Supercomputer predicts Champions League winner as Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd and Newcastle's chances rated

A Supercomputer has predicted the Champions League winner.

The Champions League group stage returns this week, with the Premier League’s representatives Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United, all kicking off their respective campaigns.

And data analysts at Best Gambling Sites crunched the raw data points 1000 times, to determine that reigning champions City are favourites to retain their crown.

According to the analysts Pep Guardiola’s side, who claimed a historic treble last year, have a 61 per cent chance of winning this season’s Champions League.

City are overwhelming favourites having reportedly lifted the trophy on 611 of the 1000 occasions the scenario was put through the supercomputer.

However, their Premier League rivals are far less likely to win the Champions League outright. Arsenal, who are returning to the competition for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign, have just a 5.3 per cent chance of going all the way.

Mikel Arteta’s side have a 38 per cent chance of reaching the semi-final however, though they are likely to be defeated by City or Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, amid their Premier League woes, Manchester United are only tipped to make it to the competition’s round of 16.

Erik ten Hag’s side, who are in a group with Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen, have been given a 16.3 per cent chance of topping Group A, and an 80.8 per cent chance of finishing second, which equated to a 97.1 per cent chance of reaching the round of 16.

However, at that point United have just a 19.7% chance of making the quarter-finals, with eight other teams with over a 60 per cent chance of reaching the last eight.

Elsewhere, the supercomputer has predicted that Newcastle will also make it as far as the first knockout stage.

However, Eddie Howe’s side has also been given a 31 per cent chance of finishing third in their group and dropping into the Europa League.

Harry Kane’s Bayern have been given a 13.2 per cent chance of claiming the competition, the second-best of all the teams, with serial winners Real Madrid in third at 10.3 per cent.

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Topics: Football, Newcastle United, Champions League, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.