Opta's supercomputer has predicted that Manchester City is the favorite to win the Champions League with a 25% chance, followed by Real Madrid at 18.2% and Inter Milan at 10.9%. Arsenal ranks fourth with a 6.3% chance, while Liverpool and Bayern Munich follow closely behind. In terms of qualifying for the knockout stage, teams need at least 17 points for a guaranteed top-eight finish, with 16 points likely to be sufficient in 98% of simulations. Notably, VfB Stuttgart is projected to finish 18th, while Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are forecasted to enter the playoff round. The new 'Swiss model' format begins with Liverpool facing AC Milan and Aston Villa returning to Europe's elite against Young Boys. Celtic is expected to claim the final playoff spot based on the simulations.