Supercomputer reveals the easiest and toughest Champions League fixtures, with one English club receiving bad news

29/08/2025 07:26:00 GameGladiator

Opta’s supercomputer has just published a detailed analysis of the fixture difficulty for the 36 teams competing in this season’s Champions League group stage. The findings reveal that while Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool benefit, Newcastle falls into one of the toughest groups.

Arsenal and Tottenham gain substantial benefits

Arsenal stands out as the luckiest English club after the draw. According to Opta’s evaluation, the "Gunners" have one of the easiest schedules in the entire tournament. Mikel Arteta’s team only faces opponents of moderate strength such as Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, and especially Kairat Almaty – Kazakhstan’s champions, currently ranked 474th worldwide. Kairat’s inclusion significantly reduces Arsenal’s average opponent strength, placing them third among teams with the easiest fixtures.

Arsenal enjoys many advantages

Although they must still compete against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, overall, this is the most favorable group Arteta could hope for.

Tottenham also have reasons to be hopeful. The team coached by Thomas Frank – making his Champions League debut after 18 years of coaching – landed in a group that isn’t too challenging. The "Spurs" will face Dortmund, Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bodø/Glimt, all considered lighter opponents before the draw. Additionally, they have matches against PSG and Monaco, which are tougher but still within manageable limits. According to Opta, Tottenham ranks fourth among teams with the most favorable schedules.

Chelsea and Liverpool see promising prospects

Chelsea also have a relatively manageable schedule. Opponents like Ajax, Qarabag, and newcomers Pafos (Cyprus) offer "The Blues" chances to gather points before facing top teams such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Napoli.

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