With just one round of games remaining in the Champions League group stages, it’s time to assess each English teams’ chances of being the eventual winners of the competition.
Manchester City
The reigning champions of the Premier League and current leaders Manchester City have progressed into the Champions League knockout stages following a 2-2 draw with Lyon on Tuesday night at the Groupama stadium.
With one game to spare Pep Guardiola’s side have made it comfortably through to the last 16 and look on course to top their group with a fixture at home to fourth placed Hoffenheim coming up.
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The centurions are favourites to win the competition, however have looked shaky at times, particularly in the two games against Lyon, who are the first side to beat them this season and did it in their own backyard.
The Citizens will be hoping they can bring their fantastic league form into the Champions League and avoid another upset like last season in which they were beaten by Liverpool in the quarter final in both legs. It is undeniable that City are one of the best teams in Europe and have the best chance out of any English side of winning the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Manchester United
It’s been a rollercoaster Champions League campaign for three time champions Manchester United, who will want to try and forget their shocking start to the Premier League.
After a victory at Juventus, Jose Mourinho’s men scraped into the knockout rounds following a 1-0 win over bottom of the table Young Boys thanks to a last minute winner. The Red Devils have looked underwhelming throughout the competition and will struggle in the next round if they are drawn against a team of high stature, including the likes of Barcelona or PSG.
Last year saw them crash out in the round of 16 to a very average Sevilla side, and United have hardly improved this season, therefore their chances of being the eventual champions of Europe look very slim.
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Liverpool
After last year’s eventual disappointment as Liverpool fell at the final hurdle with a 3-1 loss in the Champions League final against Real Madrid, Jurgen Klopp’s men were hoping to go one better this time and try and win the competition for the first time in over 10 years, especially after making some significant improvements to their squad over summer which have propelled them to second in the Premier League table.
However following three away losses in the group their Champions League hopes hang by a thread, and they must beat Napoli 1-0 or by two clear goals to make it into the knockout stages.
Their chances of claiming a sixth Champions League crown look very slim, and even if they do make it through to the last 16 they are likely to crumble in the away leg against a top team, even if they are able to oust them at home.
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Tottenham and the Champions League aren’t usually a combination that goes very well.
The North London side have never won the competition, and face an uphill task of making the knockout stages, needing a victory at the Nou Camp against Barcelona to secure progression into the next round. An away loss to Inter Milan followed by dropped points away to PSV have left Pochettino’s side with very little hope of winning the competition.
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