Champions League: AI Predicts Final League Phase Table

Amid the chaos of the domestic football seasons being in full swing and the wheels still turning on the summer transfer window, the Champions League is back – and it’s back with a bang. Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain will be hoping to retain their glory this season; others will be hot on their tail.

As of the start of 2024/25, there were a myriad of high-profile changes to how Europe’s top table operated and worked, most notably the addition of the league phase. All 36, expanded from 32, teams will face eight opponents and then be ranked accordingly.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League is the 71st season of Europe’s premier club football tournament organised by UEFA.

Those in the top eight were given automatic passage into the competition’s knockout rounds, those that finished between ninth and 24th competed in play-offs for the final eight spots and those who finished between 25th and 36th were instantly dismissed.

And now that all 36 sides are aware of their first eight fixtures – let’s take a look at what AI has predicted will happen come the end of the league phase – from the table toppers to those that will be evacuating the competition at the earliest convenience.

36-25 – Eliminated Teams

Kicking things off are one of the minnows participating in this season’s iteration of the Champions League: Karait Almaty and then are closely followed by Cypriot side Pafos, who have announced the signing of David Luiz over the summer. They are expected to pick up just two points from their eight matches.

Atalanta, under Gian Piero Gasperini, were the dark horses in Europe but the same cannot be said under the watchful eye of Ivan Juric, whose side lost their curtain-raiser 4-0. Albeit predicted to finish above Stade Brestois, the Italian side are expected to pick up just three points from their eight-match league phase.

Shakhtar Donetsk Bodo/Glimt are projected to follow in 32nd and 31st, respectively, while Villarreal – who qualified via a fifth-placed finish in La Liga last season – are also predicted to perform poorly under boss Marcelino Garcia Toral.

Elsewhere, Slavia Prague and Celtic – two gargantuan clubs from their respective countries – are both expected to finish on seven points. Marseille and Olympiacos managed to better the aforementioned duo’s points tally, but it’s not enough to see them secure passage, or at least secure a play-off place.

24-9 – Playoff Places

As mentioned earlier, not finishing inside the top eight is not all doom and gloom for those who finish between 24th and ninth as they will lock horns for the final nine spots. One of those is Newcastle United, who are becoming a regular at Europe’s top table.

Eddie Howe‘s Magpies have proved to be a formidable European force beforehand but, this time around, AI have predicted them to muster just nine points from the league phase, seeing them just crack a place in the play-off spots. PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray are just ahead on 10 points.

Having sacked Erik ten Hag just weeks into the 2025/26 campaign, Bayer Leverkusen chiefs will be hoping his early dismissal is worth it. In terms of where they’ll finish in the Champions League, AI has predicted 20th with 11 points. Just ahead of them are Porto on 12 points.

Napoli, despite the engine room combination of Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne, will have to settle for a play-off spot in AI’s prediction, with their tally of 12 points seeing them finish just behind that of Club Brugge, who stunned AS Monaco in their curtain-raiser.

Eintracht Frankfurt, who will miss the talismanic nature of now-Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike, will finish ahead of the Belgian side merely on goal difference. They, too, are predicted to finish with 13 points, which is one less than Juventus and Benfica.

By virtue of winning last season’s Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur are in with a chance of impressing at the top table – but a 15-point tally will see them finish in 13th, just behind the likes of Sporting CP on goal difference.

Chelsea, the reigning Club World Cup winners, are up next as Enzo Maresca and Co have been predicted to rack up 16 points, the same number as Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are expected to finish the league phase with 17 points.

8-1 – Automatic Progression

Predictably, all eight teams are among those with a chance of winning the competition. Pipping Diego Simeone’s side to the final spot for teams that automatically progress are Christian Chivu’s Inter Milan, who boast a formidable two-striker partnership of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thruam.

After spending heaps of money in the summer transfer window, Arne Slot-led Liverpool are predicted to perform against the continent’s crème da le crème – and they’ve been predicted to finish with a points tally of 18 and a goal difference of +11.

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, who boast the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in their ranks and, on goal difference, pip the Premier League champions. The Spanish side are expected to earn 18 points over their first eight games, which is the same tally as the Harry Kane-inspired Bayern Munich.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal – one of the biggest clubs to never win the Champions League and will, therefore, be hoping for trophies this season, and Real Madrid, the record winners of the competition (15) follow on 19 and 20 points, respectively.

Making light work of their league phase are, predictably, the reigning champions of the competition. PSG will enter as the team to beat and AI is under the impression that they will earn 21 points – which equates to seven out of eight wins – in the league phase. At the summit, however, is Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.