Supercomputer Opta predicts Man City and Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final second leg chances – and picks surprising team to reach final, despite their mixed campaign

A supercomputer has given its predictions as to who will win the 2023-24 Champions League, with a club that has endured a roller coaster season tipped to qualify for the final.

Manchester City and Arsenal are the only English clubs left in the tournament, with Newcastle and Manchester United both eliminated in the group stage.

Pep Guardiola’s side welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening after securing a 3-3 draw against the La Liga giants at the Bernabeu last week.

Arsenal, meanwhile, face the undesirable task of defeating Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena to advance to the semi-finals after Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal secured a 2-2 draw at the Emirates last week.

Opta has now revealed both teams’ chances of reaching the semi-finals of the European tournament, with the statistics agency’s supercomputer tipping Mikel Arteta’s side to fail against Bayern away.

Real Madrid travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the quarter-final.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich played out a thrilling 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium last week.

The statistics agency estimates Arsenal have a 48 percent chance of reaching the semi-final, meaning their German opponents have a 52 percent advantage.

But despite being second favorite on Wednesday night, Opta says Arsenal have a better chance of winning the tournament with a probability of 8.3 percent, compared to Munich’s 7.7 percent – and that’s only ‘they are progressing.

Bayern are also in the midst of an injury crisis after Kingsley Coman suffered an adductor problem in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Cologne. In a statement, Bayern revealed that the France international would miss Wednesday’s match and be out for several weeks.

“Kingsley’s injury is extremely bitter as he starts a match today after a very long time,” Tuchel said. “It looked extremely painful on TV and it certainly won’t be enough for Wednesday.

“In the quarter-final you want to have several options to choose from. Maybe you have to play 120 minutes. It’s a big blow for us.

Pep Guardiola’s side are the favorites to regain their Champions League crown this season.

Meanwhile, back in England, City and Madrid will face off in a blockbuster showdown at the Etihad Stadium, with Guardiola’s side backed to repeat their exploits from last season. They have a 64.9 percent chance of beating Real Madrid, having won their last three home games against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Phil Foden was the star of the show in their previous meeting, with the Man City striker scoring an outstanding long-range effort to help his side draw level with Madrid 2-2, before Josko Gvardiol and Federico Valverde both scored to bring the score to 3. -3.

City are also being backed to repeat their exploits from last season and reach the Champions League final this year, but according to Opta they are likely to come up against a surprising opponent in the showpiece event.

Barcelona have endured a roller coaster season. They are currently second in La Liga, eight points behind rivals Madrid, and have had a difficult year by their standards, losing in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals to Athletic Bilbao, where they suffered a 4-2 defeat. They were also beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final while suffering big league defeats to Girona and Villarreal.

This has led many to question the work of their manager Xavi this season, who announced he would step down as coach of the club in January.

Barcelona are backed to reach the Champions League final this season by Opta

It comes amid the roller coaster of a season which saw Xavi announce he would be leaving the club.

Even in light of that, he has done wonders in Europe this season, and some have argued that Barcelona have become a different team since the former Spain international made the announcement. Amid their mixed form this season, they are surprisingly backed to reach the final this season, having beaten PSG in their opening quarter-final 3-2.

Opta believe the Blaugrana will face Guardiola’s side in the showpiece, and while Barcelona have an 18.4 percent chance of winning the coveted title, the stats agency estimates Man City have a 31.1 percent chance to retain his title.

Before the first leg against PSG, Barcelona had a 43% chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

They last won the title in 2015, which ironically was Xavi’s last game for the club as a player.

But what about their rival, Real Madrid? Well, the 2022 champions, if they qualify, have a 23.4 percent chance of winning the title.