Manchester City have been placed as favourites to win the Champions League, according to data experts - who also claim rivals United have less than one per cent chance of lifting the trophy.

The knockout stages for the competition begin this week with the round of 16 commencing on Tuesday night and data group FiveThirtyEight have come up with their own formula to work out who will be champions in May.

The group claims United are not favourites to win their first knockout round tie with Atletico Madrid, which starts next week, but their journey to the Saint Petersburg final has little chance of even if Ralf Rangnick's side do progress to the quarter-finals.

Pep Guardiola's City, who were beaten finalists in last year's final against Chelsea, have a 25 per cent chance of going one step further this season, according to the data.

The Premier League leaders face Sporting Lisbon in the last-16 first-leg on Tuesday, with the data group claiming City have a 92 per cent chance of progressing to the next round.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, who face Inter Milan in their last-16 clash which starts on Wednesday, are deemed as third favourites with a 15 per cent chance of winning the Champions League, with German giants Bayern Munich behind City in the data tally.

Meanwhile, Dutch giants Ajax - who face Benfica in the first knockout round - are a surprise pick for fourth favourites, even though they have not won the competition since 1995.

The closest Ajax have come to appearing in a Champions League final is when they reached the last four in 2019, losing to that year's beaten finalists Tottenham, but they have a 26 per cent chance of completing that accomplishment this term.

Ajax's 13 per cent chance of winning the trophy puts them ahead of reigning champions Chelsea, Lionel Messi's PSG and 13-time winners Real Madrid. Erik ten Hag's side have the competition's top scorer in their squad in Sebastian Haller.

Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea went all the way last season but the data predicts it has less than a 50 per cent chance of reaching the semi-final stage, even though they are 90 per cent likely to beat Lille and reach the quarter-finals.
Liverpool also are not backed to reach the last four this season, with a 46 per cent chance they will not make that stage, with only City and Bayern Munich odds-on to get to the last four.

Real Madrid and PSG are less than 75 per cent likely to make it to that same stage, though both teams - who are top of their respective divisions in Spain and France, play each other in the last-16 stage of the competition.

And alongside Rangnick's United, the only other teams with a less than one per cent chance of winning Europe's premier club competition are Juventus, Red Bull Salzburg, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Lille

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10514821/Man-United-1-chance-winning-Champions-League-City-favourites-say-stats-group.html

Lalasticlala
Seun
mynd44

The undeniable G.O.A.T, who wan compare? Infact who dey murmur?
The amount of criticism wey this man dey collect ehn, if na dwarf dey collect am, him for don go commit suicide..lol
Make Atl Madrid watch out oo.

I believe Champion league isn’t about favorites. Who taught chelsea would win last season and 2012 when people were talking about Real madrid man city Bayern and almighty Manchester United, Anyways city will never win a UCL. I won't be surprised if Manchester United win the championship league this season


Lalasticlala

Front page for what??

Lalasticlala oya now

Neimar:
Front page for what??

Comrade lower your voice abeg. Na Lala babe.

Man City have the strongest squad. But somehow, they'll still not win it. Maybe na spiritual problem.

obembet:
I believe Champion league isn’t about favorites. Who taught chelsea would win last season and 2012 when people were talking about Real madrid man city Bayern and almighty Manchester United, Anyways city will never win a UCL. I won't be surprised if Manchester United win the championship league this season


Lalasticlala

small small na.
Man utd win this season UCL? Well it's football, anything can happen

Lalasticlala

the last 10 seasons...the UCL are hardly won but favorites... chelsea won it last season wen city were clear favorites.. the stats even placed ajax ahead of PSG...wonderful

silverlinen:
The undeniable G.O.A.T, who wan compare? Infact who dey murmur?
The amount of criticism wey this man dey collect ehn, if na dwarf dey collect am, him for don go commit suicide..lol
Make Atl Madrid watch out oo.

lolz....mk athletico watch out for this finished man.u dt cnt win the likes of Burnley n Southampton in d league..
ur cr7 was in juve against a lowly rated Porto n was caged in both legs not scoring bt u still believe only him can do wonders against an organized athletico abi??

obembet:
I believe Champion league isn’t about favorites. Who taught chelsea would win last season and 2012 when people were talking about Real madrid man city Bayern and almighty Manchester United, Anyways city will never win a UCL. I won't be surprised if Manchester United win the championship league this season


Lalasticlala

impossible is nothing...all clubs stand a chance bt u saying united can win it also means dt ajax or even athletico can win it too...its football

WibusJaga:
Man City have the strongest squad. But somehow, they'll still not win it. Maybe na spiritual problem.

I swear...dey av been on form for seasons bt luck no jus de dier side..bt i wish city or PSG wins it dis time..

paulolee:

lolz....mk athletico watch out for this finished man.u dt cnt win the likes of Burnley n Southampton in d league..
ur cr7 was in juve against a lowly rated Porto n was caged in both legs not scoring bt u still believe only him can do wonders against an organized athletico abi??

Lol...guy you're the most biased person I've ever come across.
That same season, wasn't it this same finished man that knocked Atl Madrid out with an hat trick?
Guy why you dey like this?
Better stop this hatred before you die oo.
And by the way, your Messi is being seriously caged at Psg oo...you no reason that one.

Seun
mynd44

PSG, Man City or Liverpool.

Man United should go fight on how to qualify for UCL next season rather than disgracing themselves and trying to rub shoulder with the big boys through "yeye" propaganda. No body rates Man Yooo again.

They're dead and buried by Barcelona through Pep Guardiola since 2011 UCL final