Paris Saint-Germain are the heavy favorites to win this season’s Champions League title with just two games left before the trophy is awarded.
The midweek Champions League knockout action was quite impressive, wasn’t it?
Two thrilling semi-final first legs captured the attention of global audiences as Arsenal faced Paris Saint-Germain and Inter clashed with Barcelona. Both matches showcased the best of European football and set the stage for exciting second legs next week.
All four teams still have realistic hopes of winning the championship, and the Opta supercomputer has made its predictions for this season’s most likely winner.
PSG showed their class with a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. The Parisian team dominated the game, especially in the first half, and took the lead with a brilliant goal from Ousmane Dembele. Their performance in London has made them the frontrunners to win the tournament, with Opta giving them a 41.9% chance of lifting the trophy.
Their semi-final opponents, Arsenal, are now considered the underdogs of the competition. Before Tuesday’s match, they had a 31.3% chance of winning the Champions League, but that has now dropped to just 12.1%. The Gunners need to overcome a one-goal deficit in the second leg in Paris to reach the final, where they would face either Inter or Barcelona.
The semi-final on Wednesday was a thrilling encounter. Inter took the lead twice in their 3-3 draw in Barcelona, and despite relinquishing their advantage, they will be satisfied with the result. With home advantage in the second leg, the atmosphere at San Siro will be intense for Barcelona’s visit. The Italian team, who last won the competition in 2009/10, have a 20.2% chance of ending their European drought.
Barcelona may not have the strongest defense in the competition, but they possess a potent attacking force. Lamine Yamal shined in the first leg, while Raphinha also displayed his brilliance. The team is confident heading to Milan and knows they can outscore any opponent on their day – which happens quite frequently. They are favorites to advance but have a 25.8% chance of winning the title.
|
Club |
Chances of winning the Champions League |
|---|---|
|
PSG |
41.9% |
|
Barcelona |
25.8% |
|
Inter |
20.2% |
|
Arsenal |
12.1% |