Arsenal have been installed as the favourites to win the Champions League following Friday's draw, which handed them a favourable path to the final. Data company Opta have given Mikel Arteta's side a 27 per cent chance of lifting the trophy for the first time in their history, almost double that of second-favourites Bayern Munich.
The Gunners will face Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with the winner of Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon awaiting in the quarter-finals. Their semi-final opponent would be one of Tottenham, Newcastle, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. Having topped the Champions League table, Arsenal will enjoy home advantage in the second leg of each knockout tie.
Opta's model also gives Liverpool a 14 per cent chance, Manchester City 10 per cent, and Barcelona seven per cent. Real Madrid, the 15-time champions, have been given just a two per cent chance after being drawn against City. Tottenham rank lowest among English sides at one per cent.
Reacting to the draw, Arteta said: 'We are really excited. Fighting on four fronts and the way the team is consistently performing gives us a lot of hope and positive thoughts about what is coming. But we can only focus on the present.'
This year's final will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, 30 May. Paris Saint-Germain are the defending champions, having beaten Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 final.
