Champions League league phase predicted as supercomputer tips Arsenal to finish BELOW Man Utd and enter dreaded playoffs

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE gets underway this week with some tasty fixtures. Footie fans around the world are already fiercely debating who will be crowned the winner of this season’s competition. The Champions League resumes this week Credit: GETTY Paris Saint-Germain have been tipped by many to defend their crown Credit: GETTY Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain are many people’s favourites to retain the trophy. Last season’s beaten finalists Arsenal have also been heavily tipped to go one better and win their first-ever European Cup. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! But a supercomputer thinks they could struggle to even make the last 16. A simulation of the new-look league phase run by British Gambler has the Gunners MISSING OUT on automatic qualification. It’s predicted the North Londoners will finish NINTH in the table and miss out on automatic qualification by a single point. The supercomputer stunningly has Manchester United finishing ABOVE Arsenal in sixth place. That’s despite the Red Devils not having played in Europe’s elite club competition in THREE SEASONS. The supercomputer’s prediction of Arsenal finishing in the play-off spots is truly stunning given that Mikel Arteta‘s side won ALL EIGHT of their league phase games last season. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS The Gunners have been predicted to enter the playoffs with their fellow Premier League sides, Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa. The trio have been estimated to finish 13th, 21st and 22nd, respectively. In the simulation, Italian and Spanish giants Inter Milan and Barcelona also miss out on automatic qualification, finishing 17th and 11th, respectively. Fifteen-time winners Real Madrid have been tipped to top the league phase table. And Turkish giants Galatasaray have been predicted to finish SECOND ahead of Bayern Munich, Real Betis, PSG, United, Sporting Lisbon and Borussia Dortmund, who, respectively and chronologically, round out the top eight. Villa and City will be the first Premier League sides in action in this round of fixtures, taking on Club Brugge and Porto, respectively, today. Arsenal and Liverpool will, respectively, take on Napoli and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. And Manchester United will welcome Azerbaijani side Sabah FC to Old Trafford on Thursday evening. Comment now