Champions League group phase predicted by supercomputer with Man Utd have a nightmare after horror draw

MANCHESTER UNITED have been tipped to agonisingly miss out on the top eight of the Champions League league phase. But three Premier League sides are backed to avoid the dreaded extra play-off round. Man Utd have been tipped to agonisingly miss out on a top eight spot Credit: Getty Michael Carrick is set for his first full Champions League campaign as boss Credit: Shutterstock Editorial This year’s League Phase draw was conducted by Uefa bigwigs in Monaco, with Man Utd landing the likes of Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. Boffins and brainiacs over at Football Ranked have crunched the numbers to predict the outcome. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! And they reckon that United will finish NINTH – one place outside the much-coveted top eight that secures comfortable passage straight to the round of 16. In addition to Bayern and Atleti, Michael Carrick‘s men will also take on Sporting CP, Roma, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Como and Sabah. Football Ranked projects the Red Devils to earn 14.1 points from these matches… only enough to finish ninth. In both seasons since the Champions League was revamped, it has required 16 points to finish top eight. If United do come ninth, they will be drawn in a play-off against either the team that places 23rd or 24th. In Football Ranked’s simulation, this would mean a two-legged dust-up with either Lens or Lille – guaranteeing a trip to France’s North East. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Aston Villa, following a turbulent summer to say the least, are still tipped to come 10th. This would see them take on the other of Lens or Lille. The other three English clubs are all backed to secure safe progression. Arsenal, who have glamour ties with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to come, place second on 17.6 xPoints – only behind the German giants. Arsenal are backed for safe progression in second Credit: Getty Aston Villa are predicted to finish 10th in the League Phase Credit: Alamy Two-time reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are third, ahead of Manchester City in fourth on 16.9 xPoints. Then come Real Madrid and Inter Milan – before Liverpool in seventh and Barcelona in eighth. Big sides to miss out on the top eight include; Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Atletico Madrid, who are all the way down in 19th. The clubs to be eliminated for good include Spanish sides Real Betis and Villarreal, Istanbul giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray and Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk, who will be playing their home matches at Stamford Bridge. Comment now