The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League has reached a thrilling point in its league stage, the second iteration of this new format that replaced the traditional group stage in 2024. With 48 teams now in contention, this season’s competition is proving to be an intense battle of Europe’s finest, with some massive clubs on the brink of securing their place in the knockout rounds. As we approach the final stages of the 2025/26 Champions League, the anticipation is mounting, and a supercomputer has made its predictions on where each team will finish in the standings.
The defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), led by Luis Enrique, are aiming to retain their title, but there are plenty of other top clubs, such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, who will be looking to dethrone them. With plenty of surprises already in this season’s tournament, such as Atalanta‘s rise and Ajax’s struggles, it’s clear this year’s competition will be full of twists and turns.
In this article, we will break down the predicted Champions League table, as forecasted by Opta’s Expected Points and Position data, and analyze which teams are likely to qualify for the knockout rounds, and which ones will fall short.
Eliminated Teams: 36th to 25th
As always, the Champions League is a ruthless competition, and some big-name clubs are on course to miss out on progressing to the knockout stage. According to Opta’s predictions, several traditional European heavyweights could be in danger of crashing out, including Ajax, who have four Champions League titles to their name. Despite their pedigree, they are projected to finish in 33rd place. Villarreal and Bodo/Glimt, both of whom have been impressive in recent years, are also predicted to miss out.
Meanwhile, teams like Slavia Prague, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Athletic Club are all expected to fall short, struggling in what has been a tough league phase. In a surprising twist, Pafos, who have been performing above expectations, are predicted to miss out on the playoff spot by the narrowest of margins.
Predicted Champions League Table – 36th to 25th
| Position | Team | Expected Points |
|---|---|---|
| 36th | Kairat | 1.81 |
| 35th | Bodo/Glimt | 4.17 |
| 34th | Villarreal | 4.25 |
| 33rd | Ajax | 4.65 |
| 32nd | Slavia Prague | 5.06 |
| 31st | Eintracht Frankfurt | 6.74 |
| 30th | Athletic Club | 7.20 |
| 29th | Club Brugge | 7.51 |
| 28th | Olympiacos | 7.82 |
| 27th | USG (Union Saint-Gilloise) | 7.93 |
| 26th | Pafos | 8.01 |
| 25th | Copenhagen | 8.13 |
Play-Off Teams: 24th to 9th
Teams finishing between 16th and 9th will qualify for the Champions League play-offs as seeded teams, meaning they will play the second leg of their respective ties at home. According to Opta’s prediction, Benfica led by José Mourinho, will scrape through in 24th place. Antonio Conte’s Napoli and PSV Eindhoven are also predicted to make it to the next stage, alongside surprise packages like Qarabag, who have been a revelation this season.
Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur are projected to finish mid-table, securing their places in the play-offs, but they will have a tough battle ahead. Barcelona, despite their struggles in the league phase, are still expected to qualify, though they will fall just short of the top spots.
Predicted Champions League Table – 24th to 9th
| Position | Team | Expected Points |
|---|---|---|
| 24th | Benfica | 8.46 |
| 23rd | Qarabag | 8.64 |
| 22nd | PSV Eindhoven | 9.83 |
| 21st | Napoli | 10.35 |
| 20th | Galatasaray | 10.71 |
| 19th | Monaco | 11.03 |
| 18th | Marseille | 11.52 |
| 17th | Juventus | 11.79 |
| 16th | Bayer Leverkusen | 12.30 |
| 15th | Sporting CP | 12.49 |
| 14th | Newcastle United | 12.68 |
| 13th | Chelsea | 13.62 |
| 12th | Borussia Dortmund | 13.84 |
| 11th | Tottenham Hotspur | 13.90 |
| 10th | Inter Milan | 14.25 |
| 9th | Barcelona | 14.50 |
Automatic Qualifiers: 8th to 1st
Now, we move to the top eight, where automatic qualification for the Champions League Round of 16 is secured. The top eight teams will bypass the play-offs and directly enter the knockout rounds, a privilege that comes with finishing high in the league phase.
At eighth place, Real Madrid are just hanging on by a thread after a disappointing home loss to Manchester City. Atletico Madrid are in seventh, with their strong performances in the group stage propelling them to a guaranteed spot in the next round. Liverpool are projected to finish in sixth, proving that their ability to perform on the European stage remains undiminished, despite a rocky domestic campaign.
In fifth place, Atalanta have impressed with solid victories and resilience in their matches, while Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), despite strong showings, are predicted to finish in fourth. Bayern Munich, with a few stumbles this season, are forecasted to finish in second place. The Gunners are leading the way, however, with an unbeaten record in the league phase, and Arsenal are projected to finish in first place.
Predicted Champions League Table – 8th to 1st
| Position | Team | Expected Points |
|---|---|---|
| 8th | Real Madrid | 15.66 |
| 7th | Atletico Madrid | 15.84 |
| 6th | Liverpool | 15.99 |
| 5th | Atalanta | 16.07 |
| 4th | Paris Saint-Germain | 16.63 |
| 3rd | Manchester City | 17.43 |
| 2nd | Bayern Munich | 19.20 |
| 1st | Arsenal | 22.46 |
Who Will Reach the Final?
With the 2025/26 Champions League heading toward its thrilling conclusion, the competition is heating up. Arsenal, having displayed exceptional form throughout the league phase, is currently the frontrunner, followed closely by Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, will look to build on their momentum and make a deep run, while Liverpool, Atalanta, and Real Madrid will all have their eyes set on the ultimate prize.
As always, the Champions League is unpredictable, and while the top teams have been identified by the supercomputer, the knockout stages are where anything can happen. With so many quality sides still in the mix, the 2025/26 Champions League promises to deliver more drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments as teams battle for Europe’s most coveted trophy.
