Supercomputer names English clubs who’ll drop out of Champions League top eight

All 36 teams are in action in the Champions League on Wednesday night in a bumper instalment of European fixtures

Two English clubs are predicted to drop out of the Champions League top eight and be forced to play an extra knockout stage of the competition. The league phase of Europe’s elite tournament comes to a close on Wednesday night, with all 36 teams kicking off at 8pm.

Only Arsenal and Bayern Munich have guaranteed their place in the last-16, with six more places up for grabs. As things stand, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, PSG, Newcastle United and Chelsea occupy the top eight places and a guaranteed bye through to the last 16.

However, Opta’s supercomputer believes Eddie Howe’s Newcastle and Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea will drop out of the top eight and into the knockout play-off places on Wednesday night. The Magpies face the tricky test of taking on reigning champions PSG in Paris, while the Blues head to Napoli.

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The Italian side are currently outside of the play-off places, in 25th place, while PSG are in sixth. The Blues are predicted to drop to 11th from eighth, while the Toon are expected to drop all the way to 13th.

That would spell bad news for both Chelsea and Newcastle, who would have to play two additional games in February and miss out on a guaranteed share of the prize pot by reaching the last 16.

The Blues would be forced to play seven games in February if they drop into the play-offs, while the situation would be worse for the Magpies, who could have as many as eight games to play.

Opta is predicting Arsenal to finish in top spot (with 23.65 points), Bayern Munich in second (17.51 points), Liverpool in third (17.51 points), Real Madrid in fourth (16.85 points), Spurs in fifth (15.75 points), Barcelona in sixth (15.48 points), Man City in seventh (15.36 points) and Ateltico Madrid in eighth (15.28).

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Nevertheless, the prediction is good news for Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City, who are expected to join Arsenal in the last 16.

If the aforementioned sides qualify for the top eight, they’ll be given a favourable home tie in the second leg of the last 16, while Arsenal will also be given a home tie in the quarter and semi-final stages of the competition if they make it through.

Man City are predicted to beat Galatasaray and secure their place in the top eight, but have the most work to do given they’re currently 11th.

Liverpool are being tipped to get the job done against Azerbaijani side Qarabag, while Spurs take on Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, who have already been eliminated from the competition.

Arsenal are the only team with a 100 per cent win record in this year’s tournament and are being backed to continue that rich vein of form against FC Kairat who are bottom of the league phase.

The Gunners’ impressive form in the competition has them as the favourites to win the Champions League in Budapest in May, having conceded just two goals in seven games.

Opta has given them a 27.64 per cent chance of winning the competition, while Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich are the second favourites on 15.47 per cent.