The Champions League Draw: A Simulation Worth Looking At
The Champions League draw is just around the corner, and with the new format in place, fans are eagerly waiting to see how the groups will shape up. To give you a taste of what’s to come, we’ve decided to simulate the draw ourselves and share the results with you.
For the uninitiated, this season’s Champions League has an all-new format, with 36 teams instead of the traditional 32. The group stage has been scrapped, and teams will play each other in a league phase. There’s also country protection in place, meaning a team can only play a maximum of two opponents from the same league in the opening phase.
Our simulated draw was conducted using an AI supercomputer, and the results are quite fascinating. Let’s take a look at how some of the big teams did:
Liverpool’s Tough Test
The Reds got a tough draw, starting with a match against Europa League holders Atalanta. Their campaign is punctuated by two nightmare fixtures – Barcelona away and Bayern Munich at home. An away trip to Celtic would be a highlight for Reds supporters, though.
Arsenal’s Relatively Kind Draw
Arsenal kick off their campaign away at Sporting Lisbon, the team that knocked them out of the 2022/23 Europa League at the last 16 stage. While Juventus and Inter Milan are tough tests, the simulation has been relatively kind on the Gunners, with fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb, Sparta Prague, and Stuttgart.
Aston Villa’s Challenge
Aston Villa, returning to Europe’s top competition for the first time since the 1982/83 European Cup, have some tough tests in store. Unai Emery’s side start the league phase against AC Milan, before a trip to Inter Milan on matchweek four. Matchweek five sees them travel to Borussia Dortmund, before their campaign ends with another away fixture, this time at Monaco.
Manchester City’s Controversial Draw
Manchester City face Monaco in their opening fixture, before a trip to Bayern – Pep Guardiola’s former side. They then have a controversial tie against Spanish side Girona, who are also part of the City Football Group. The UEFA decision to allow two teams with the same ownership to compete in the same competition has raised eyebrows, but the Red Devils will have to navigate these tricky fixtures nonetheless.
Full Simulation
You can see the full simulation below. We’ve also provided some additional data and analysis to support our arguments. Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates and insights into the Champions League draw.
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While the simulation is just for fun, it gives us an idea of what to expect from the upcoming season. With the new format in place, we can expect some exciting matches and upsets along the way. Stay tuned for our full analysis and predictions for the Champions League campaign.
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