Champions League: Supercomputer Predicts Final League Phase

A supercomputer has predicted what the Champions League table will look like at the conclusion of the competition’s current phase.

The 2025/26 edition of Europe’s most-prestigious competition is now well underway, with this season’s Champions League representing the second-ever league stage, which replaced the more traditional group stage formatting in 2024.

As is always the case with the Champions League, a number of elite European sides will be vying for the glory of winning what many regard to be the greatest club achievement that is available. Paris Saint-Germain, under Luis Enrique’s management, will no doubt seek to retain their title.

Now past the halfway point, the current Champions League could and no doubt will throw up some surprising results as it continues. Opta Analyst have asked their supercomputer how it thinks the Champions League table will look at the league stage’s conclusion.

Eliminated Teams – 36th to 25th

Based on Opta’s Expected Points and Position data, a number of gigantic clubs have been predicted to crash out of the Champions League after the group stage, including Ajax, a team that have continental pedigree courtesy of four European Cup/Champions League victories. After five league games, only Kairat, in their maiden Champions League season, are predicted to finish below the Amsterdam side.

Moving up the table, Opta have positioned Copenhagen, Bodo/Glimt and Slavia Prague as teams that will miss out on progressing. The Norwegian side are another team playing in what is their first-ever Champions League campaign, though Opta feel that the fairytale will not continue beyond the competition’s current stage.

Benfica are also named as one of the bottom 12 sides, despite Jose Mourinho’s arrival mid-season, and after five games they sit on three points.

Olympiacos, Athletic Club and Villarreal are also all expected to crash out. It’s been a hugely disappointing league phase campaign for the Spanish duo and time is running out for them to turn their fortunes around.

Frankfurt, Club Brugge and Pafos are also expected to crash out. The latter are enjoying a fine campaign, with David Luiz starring. The Brazilian became the second-oldest goalscorer in Champions League history when he netted against Monaco in November. They are expected to narrowly miss out on a playoff spot, though.

Play-Off Teams – 24th to 9th

Moving into teams that will qualify for the play-off games that follow the league, the next stage of the table, Opta have predicted that Monaco will be the team scraping the barrel in 24th place, narrowly edging out Pafos.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille are expected to qualify, as are Union SG. Azerbaijani side Qarabag are also set to make the playoffs. The Azerbaijani side became the first club from their country to advance beyond the Champions League qualifiers and have been the surprise package this season, winning each of their opening two matches and then earning a draw with Chelsea.

Turin juggernauts Juventus are expected to qualify despite their fall off in recent years, while PSV, Galatasaray and Serie A champions Napoli should also reach the next stage.

Any side that finish between 16th and ninth in the table qualifies for the play-offs as a seeded team, which ensures that they will play the second leg at home. English duo Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are, according to Opta, projected to finish 15th and 16th respectively.

Bayer Leverkusen, who recorded a brilliant 2-0 victory over Manchester City in November, are also predicted to do enough to reach at least the play-off stage, as are Sporting CP and Atalanta.

Spanish champions Barcelona are struggling in the league phase and still need to pick up some points if they are to make the playoffs. Opta think they will manage to qualify with ease, but they are set to miss out on the top eight.

Also set to miss out on the top eight are Liverpool. The Reds topped the league phase last season but, after shock defeats to PSV and Galatsaray, may have to go through the playoffs to book their spot in the last 16.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are also expected to narrowly miss out on a coveted spot in the top eight.

Automatic Qualifiers – 8th to 1st

In eighth place on Opta’s predicted table, a position that would ensure an automatic pass to the round of 16, is Niko Kovač’s Borussia Dortmund.

Ahead of Der BVB in seventh are Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who recorded a sensational 3-0 victory over Barcelona in November.

Manchester City’s winning run in the Champions League came to an end in November. They had won all four of their matches to start the campaign but fell to a surprise 2-0 defeat to Leverkusen in November after Guardiola made mass changes to his starting XI.

Defending champions Paris-Saint Germain smashed six past Tottenham in week five, and they are now predicted to finish in 3rd place, two spots in front of Inter Milan, who they destroyed 5-0 in last season’s final.

Sandwiched in between last year’s finalists are Real Madrid, who are looking to win their 16th Champions League title this season.

Bayern Munich are projected to place second in the table. The German giants’ unbeaten streak in the competition came to an end in week five as they were beaten by Arsenal. Despite the defeat, Vincent Kompany’s side are expected to qualify with ease.

The only unbeaten side left in the competition are the Gunners, who have won all five of their league phase matches. The north London side, bidding to become champions of Europe for the first time in their history, are expected to top the league phase by a distance.