4th Real Madrid, 2nd Man City… 5 favorites to win the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is by far the most prestigious cup competition in Europe. Featuring 32 of the continent’s best teams, the UEFA Champions League promises to be outstanding individual performances, exciting matches and lots of drama.
Last season, the most decorated team in the competition’s history, Real Madrid, won the ‘old big ear’, marking their 14th Champions League triumph. This season, Real Madrid have progressed to the last 16 without difficulty and are intent on defending their European crown once more. However, the task will not be easy, as many challengers lick their flesh to dethrone them.
With the round of 16 a month away, US website FiveThirtyEight has used statistics to predict the likely winner of this season’s UEFA Champions League. We’ll see under who it is.
Without further ado, let’s find out the top five statistics for winning the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
#5 Paris Saint-Germain – 6% chance.
FiveThirtyEight gives French giants Paris Saint-Germain a 6% chance of winning the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League. Considering their form this season and the number of game winners they have, they may feel hit hard by that number.
Under Christophe Galtier, PSG have lost just once this season, and their first loss of the 2022-23 season came against Lens on Sunday 1 January. They have won 14 of 17 matches (two draws, one defeat) in Ligue 1, once in the Coupe de France, and four times in the six Champions League group stages (two draws).
As for the most successful players, they have a formidable trident formed by Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. Together they have scored 49 goals in all competitions this season.
PSG finished in second place in Group H, behind Benfica, which set them up against Bayern Munich in the last 16. If they manage to overcome these hurdles, they can hope to go all the way and win their first ever UEFA Champions League.
#4 Real Madrid – 7% chance.
Defending champions Real Madrid have only a 7% chance of retaining their UEFA Champions League crown, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Los Blancos, who beat PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool to win their 14th Champions League last season, have not been at their best this season. They currently find themselves three points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga after 16 league matches and have suffered defeat in the Champions League as well. Their only defeat in Group F came on 25 October against RB Leipzig (3-2). They have won four games and tied in Group F.
In February and March, Los Blancos will face last season’s runners-up Liverpool in the round of 16. If they don’t mend their ways, the English giants could do a very poor job in the pre-quarter-finals.
#3 Liverpool – 7% chance.
Six-time European champions Liverpool are also given a 7% chance of winning this season’s UEFA Champions League. Given their lackluster performance this season, they can hardly blame FiveThirtyEight for a lack of confidence.
In the 2022-23 Premier League season, the Merseysiders have won just eight of their 17 matches, losing five and drawing four. This bad bait put last season’s Premier League runners-up in sixth place in the standings. In addition, they were knocked out of the EFL Cup and had to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup to progress.
In the Champions League too, they failed to top their group, finishing behind Napoli in Group A. They will face injured Real Madrid in the last 16 of the 2022-23 Champions League and will have to award points of honor to put their best foot forward. asset.
#2 Manchester City – 22% chance.
According to FiveThirtyEight, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have a 22% chance of winning their first Champions League at the end of the 2022-23 season. The Cityzens were knocked out by Real Madrid last season and will be looking to go even further by qualifying for the final this season.
City, which currently sits in second place in the Premier League standings, has been very successful this season. Their passing was perfect, they created chances at will and, thanks to Erling Haaland, they also scored for fun.
The Mancunians won four games and drew two to win Champions League Group G with 14 points, five clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Given the many talented players they have, City are very favored to win the Round of 16 match against RB Leipzig.
#1 Bayern Munich – 25% chance.
FiveThirtyEight estimates that Bayern Munich has a 25% chance of winning the UEFA Champions League this season. The six-time European champions will equal AC Milan’s record of seven titles if they manage to lift the trophy at the end of the season.
Bayern Munich had a rocky start to the Bundesliga season, with three draws and one defeat in August and September. Since then, he has stabilized and established himself as one of the leaders in the title race. Julian Nagelsmann’s side have collected 34 points from 15 matches, putting them four points above second-placed SC Freiburg.
Bayern also won all six of their Group C matches to qualify as group winners, eight points clear of second-placed Inter Milan. Despite performing brilliantly in Group C, Bayern must face one of the strongest teams in Europe, PSG, in the round of 16.
It will be interesting to see if they can use their European experience to beat the Parisians, as they did in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final (1-0 win).
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