A supercomputer has predicted Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have slim chances of winning the Champions League this season, despite their respective acquisitions of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Messi, 34, arrived in the French capital in the summer to complete a sensational free transfer to PSG after Barcelona’s contract offer was scuppered.
The addition of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad is expected to bolster PSG’s long-running pursuit to lift the Champions League trophy.
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Meanwhile, Ronaldo made his shock exit from Juventus in the summer and completed a blockbuster return to United.
The 36-year-old Portuguese superstar, who scored twice on his second United debut on Saturday, has lifted Europe’s top-tier club prize five times in his legendary career.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fell short of lifting his first major piece of silverware as United boss last season after his side’s defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League final.
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However, FiveThirtyEight’s supercomputer has now predicted that United should do better than PSG in the Champions League, but neither side will win the competition.
The supercomputer has suggested that United have a 52 per cent chance of finishing top of Group F, which features Atalanta, Villarreal and Young Boys.
United have a 79 per cent chance of reaching the round of 16, but only a 45 per cent chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
The Red Devils’ odds of continuing to progress in the Champions League drop to 22 per cent for the semi-finals and 10 per cent for going all the way to the final.
United’s five per cent chance of winning the Champions League puts them ahead of PSG, with the Ligue 1 side only scoring a three per cent chance of capturing the trophy.
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PSG are in Group A alongside Club Brugge, RB Leipzig and defending Premier League champions Manchester City.
The Parisian-based club have a 20 per cent chance of finishing top of Group A, having been dwarfed by City’s whopping 63 per cent score.
PSG are predicted a 57 per cent chance of reaching the last 16, with a 31 per cent chance of making the quarter-finals and a 16 per cent chance of reaching the semi-finals.
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City, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in last season’s Champions League final, are the favourites to win UEFA’s elite club competition in the current campaign.
United will travel to the Wankdorf in Switzerland for their opening Champions League clash against Young Boys on Tuesday.
PSG’s Champions League campaign will begin at the Jan Breydel in Belgium against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Featured Image Credit: PA/20th Century FoxTopics: Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Premier League, Ligue 1, France, England, Football, UEFA, Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi