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Supercomputer Forecasts Final Champions League League Phase Standings

As the 2026/27 Champions League season approaches with all league phase opponents confirmed, a supercomputer has run simulations to predict how the initial stage of the tournament might unfold.

Paris Saint-Germain remain favorites to secure a third straight European crown but face strong rivals like Premier League champions Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.

The league phase now in its third year since UEFA revamped the format before 2024/25 carries high stakes—each result could drastically shape teams' journeys. Football Ranked's analysts combined stats, fixture difficulty, and thousands of simulations to deliver a forecast of the final table.

Teams Predicted at the Bottom (36-28)

Azerbaijan's Sabah FK appear destined to struggle, facing their first-ever Champions League campaign against the toughest opponents in the competition. Analysts expect them to finish last with only 2.9 points.

  • 36. Sabah: 2.9 points
  • 35. Slovan Bratislava: 3.7 points
  • 34. Shakhtar Donetsk: 4.9 points (playing home games at Chelsea)
  • 33. LASK: 5.6 points
  • 32. Slavia Prague: 5.7 points
  • 31. Viking FK: 5.9 points
  • 30. Feyenoord: 6.9 points
  • 29. AEK Athens: 7.9 points
  • 28. Galatasaray: 8.5 points

Norway’s Viking FK hope to emulate the recent success of Bodo/Glimt and sneak into the knockout rounds, predicted to finish just behind Feyenoord and AEK Athens. Turkish giants Galatasaray remain unpredictable, capable of both dominant wins and heavy defeats.

Mid-Lower Table (27-19)

Villarreal, Club Brugge, and Real Betis are expected to fall short of automatic knockout qualification, narrowly missing out on playoff spots.

  • 27. Villarreal: 9.0 points
  • 26. Club Brugge: 9.3 points
  • 25. Real Betis: 9.6 points
  • 24. Lille: 9.6 points
  • 23. RC Lens: 9.6 points
  • 22. Bodo/Glimt: 10.0 points
  • 21. RB Leipzig: 10.6 points
  • 20. Fenerbahce: 10.8 points
  • 19. Atletico Madrid: 10.9 points

RC Lens could face a tense finale against Slavia Prague after finishing level on points with Lille and Real Betis. Atletico Madrid, semi-finalists last year, may find this season more difficult, predicted to end 19th.

Mid-Table (18-10)

Como stands out with their inspiring rise under former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas, predicted to collect 11 points. Porto and PSV are close behind, while Serie A’s Roma and Napoli hold strong positions, buoyed by stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund.

  • 18. Como: 11.0 points
  • 17. Porto: 11.0 points
  • 16. PSV: 11.3 points
  • 15. Sporting CP: 11.7 points
  • 14. Roma: 12.0 points
  • 13. Napoli: 12.5 points
  • 12. Borussia Dortmund: 13.2 points
  • 11. VfB Stuttgart: 13.3 points
  • 10. Aston Villa: 14.0 points

Stuttgart narrowly miss the top 10 despite facing relatively easier opponents. Aston Villa, Europa League holders, would likely welcome a 10th-place finish after a rough domestic start.

Top Teams (9-1)

Manchester United, returning to Europe’s elite, are tipped to finish 9th, just outside automatic knockout spots, meaning extra playoff matches for manager Michael Carrick.

Barcelona and Liverpool claim places inside the top eight, while Inter Milan are predicted sixth, eyeing another shot at the title after two recent final losses.

Real Madrid rank fifth, showing improvement under Jose Mourinho compared to last season. Manchester City look set to continue their dominance with an expected 16.9 points.

Paris Saint-Germain come third with 17.1 points, close behind leaders Bayern Munich who top the table with 18.9 points. Arsenal, last season’s leaders, are expected to finish second with 17.7 points.

  • 9. Manchester United: 14.1 points
  • 8. Barcelona: 14.8 points
  • 7. Liverpool: 15.4 points
  • 6. Inter Milan: 16.2 points
  • 5. Real Madrid: 16.5 points
  • 4. Manchester City: 16.9 points
  • 3. Paris Saint-Germain: 17.1 points
  • 2. Arsenal: 17.7 points
  • 1. Bayern Munich: 18.9 points

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