The first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 has concluded, following a round filled with excitement and surprising results that have upended the calculations of several major clubs. This stage witnessed unexpected and resounding victories, alongside closely contested matches that will remain open until the decisive second legs.
Several teams are now very close to securing their place in the quarterfinals. Leading the pack is Bayern Munich, who have practically secured their progression after a stunning 6-1 win over Atalanta, delivering one of the most impressive performances of the tournament this season.
Related topics
Paris Saint-Germain are also on the verge of advancing after their thrilling 5-2 victory over Chelsea, while Real Madrid enter the second leg with a significant advantage following their emphatic 3-0 win against Manchester City, one of the biggest surprises of this round.
In another match, Bodø/Glimt achieved a positive result against Sporting Lisbon, but the Norwegian side will face a tough test away from home in the return leg, especially given their generally poor away form.
Atletico Madrid enters the second leg with high confidence after their thrilling 5-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, giving them a clear advantage before traveling to England.
However, some ties remain wide open. Arsenal secured a valuable away draw against Bayer Leverkusen in a match marred by controversial refereeing decisions, including a dubious penalty, leaving the tie to be decided in the return leg in London.
A similar scenario unfolded for Barcelona, who snatched a late equalizer thanks to a penalty converted by young star Lamine Yamal, keeping their European hopes alive.
The most surprising result, however, was Liverpool’s away defeat to Galatasaray, leaving the English side with a difficult task in the return leg at Anfield if they are to progress in the competition.
Based on these results, Opta’s supercomputer has updated its predictions for the teams most likely to win the UEFA Champions League title this season.
According to the statistical calculations, Bayern Munich tops the list of favorites to win the tournament with a 26.34% chance, following their strong performance in the first leg.
Arsenal comes in second with a 22.07% chance of winning the title, a trophy the London club is aiming to win for the first time in its history.
Barcelona occupies third place among the favorites with a 12.10% chance, although the team still faces a tough test in the second leg.
Paris Saint-Germain’s chances are 10.17%, while Real Madrid’s chances have increased to 8.34% after their impressive victory over Manchester City.
Atletico Madrid follows with a 6.14% chance, then Liverpool with 4.64%.
At the bottom of the list of contenders are Manchester City with 2.27%, followed by Bodø/Glimt with 2.15%, and finally Sporting Lisbon with 0.50%.
With the second-leg matches approaching, the competition remains wide open and could see further surprises that might reshape the landscape of contenders for Europe’s most prestigious club title.
