Ahead of the return of the Champions League this evening, Opta have used their supercomputer to predict the favourites of the competition and we will look at how the Bundesliga teams will fair.
Returning to the Champions League for the first time in 14 years, VfB Stuttgart are predicted to finish 18th in the league phase which would mean they qualify for the playoff round. Stuttgart then has a 48% chance of reaching the round of 16.
However, after that VfB’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals drops to 18.2% then semi-finals (5.9), final (1.7), winners (0.6). In their last time in the Champions League, Stuttgart reached the round of 16.
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are predicted to finish 11th and 10th meaning they will also enter the playoff round. Dortmund have a higher chance of reaching the round of 16 (71.1%) than RB Leipzig (63.5%). The pair then once again have similar chances to reach the quarter-finals with Dortmund (35.4%) edging Leipzig (32%).
Despite reaching last season’s final, Dortmund only have a 5.7% chance, while Leipzig have a slightly better chance (6%).
Bayern Munich, whose stadium the Allianz Arena will host the final, are predicted to finish 8th guaranteeing them a place in the round of 16, it has also been calculated that they have been given the second easiest draw. They then have a 44.1% chance of reaching the quarter-finals, a 21.4% chance of reaching the semi-finals and a 9.3% chance of reaching the final in their own stadium.
Bayern then have a 4.1% chance to win the competition, the last time the Allianz hosted the final they also reached the final but lost to Chelsea on penalties after dominating the English side for the majority of the game.
Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen, who Opta also predicted to win the Bundesliga once again, are predicted to finish 5th, also guaranteeing them a ticket straight into the round of 16. Die Werkself then have a 44.4% chance of reaching the quarter-finals, a 23% chance of reaching the semi-finals, an 11.1% of making the final and a 5.4% chance of winning the whole competition.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
