
Opta give Villa near one-in-three chance of Champions League semis
The Opta supercomputer has produced new predictions for the remainder of the Champions League before the quarter-final stage gets under way on Tuesday.The model estimates the probability of each match outcome by using betting market odds and the Opta Power Rankings, external.Favourites heading into the last 16, Liverpool were eliminated by Paris St-Germain, with Barcelona now leading the way - emerging victorious in 23.9% of simulations.The computer has given Aston Villa a 28.7% chance of progressing past PSG and reaching the semi-finals, and just a 3.7% chance of winning the competition - the second-lowest of the eight teams remaining above Borussia Dortmund's 1.5%.Villa's semi-final opponents, however, win the Champions League for the first time in their history in 19.3% of simulations - the second-highest behind Barcelona.PSG clinched a fourth straight Ligue 1 title on Saturday and remain unbeaten domestically.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
36 minutes ago
- Metro
When does the transfer window reopen and why has it closed?
This summer's transfer dealings have been split into two windows, with the first now closed. There was a scaled down Deadline Day on Tuesday as the transfer window closed for the first time at 7pm UK time. Plenty of deals have already been done in the Premier League, with Manchester City especially busy having spent over £60m on Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Chelsea have already made a splash as well, beating a number of rivals to bring in Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. Premier League champions Liverpool have also been swift in replacing the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold by signing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. The Reds have also let back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher depart for Brentford, where Mark Flekken has left for Leverkusen. The first transfer window opened on June 1, but deals can now not be done again, but only for a few days. The transfer window swings open again on Monday June 16 and will remain open until Deadline Day on Monday September 1. It will be a different Deadline Day to normal, though, as the window closes at 7pm UK time rather than the usual 11pm. The revamped Club World Cup has changed things this summer, with the tournament in America getting underway on June 15. The first transfer window was known as an 'exceptional registration period' as it was there to allow clubs involved in the competition to bring in players before the tournament. As FIFA's rules state that calendar year transfer windows cannot exceed 16 weeks, there had to be a break of a few days where it was closed. While the exceptional registration period was there to help the teams involved in the Club World Cup, all Premier League sides could use it. Antonio Cordero – Malaga to Newcastle Caoimhin Kelleher – Liverpool to Brentford Dario Essugo – Sporting to Chelsea Estevao Willian – Palmeiras to Chelesa Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool Liam Delap – Ipswich Town to Chelsea We're delighted to announce the signing of Rayan Cherki ✍️🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 10, 2025 Mamadou Sarr – Strasbourg to Chelsea Marcus Bettinelli – Chelsea to Man City Matheus Cunha – Wolves to Man Utd Rayan Ait-Nouri – Wolves to Man City Rayan Cherki – Lyon to Man City Cherki was a late signing before the window closed, arriving at the Etihad for £31m. More Trending 'This is a dream for me. Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special,' he said. 'I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep and his backroom staff. 'Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace. 'I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future. I can't wait to show City fans what I can do.' MORE: Liverpool hero's agent speaks out on rumoured return to Anfield MORE: Son Heung-min casts doubt over Tottenham future with response to Spurs exit link MORE: Chelsea submit new offer for Jamie Gittens as Borussia Dortmund respond


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Rayan Cherki signs for Manchester City on five-year deal
The 21-year-old moves after an impressive season with Lyon in which he scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists in 40 appearances. He also made an eye-catching debut for France last week when he came off the bench and scored in a 5-4 Nations League loss to Spain. Cherki has put pen to paper on a five-year deal which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. We're delighted to announce the signing of Rayan Cherki ✍️🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 10, 2025 He said: 'This is a dream for me. Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special. 'I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep (Guardiola) and his backroom staff. 'Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace. 'I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future. I can't wait to show City fans what I can do.' His arrival comes on the same day City completed a deal for Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and follows the £31.3million capture of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves on Monday. All three deals have been completed in time for the players to be registered for the group stages of the Club World Cup this month. Director of football Hugo Viana said: 'We're very happy to have Rayan at City. We want to bring top talent to the club, and he falls into that category. 'He's a player our scouts have watched for a long time, and we have all been impressed with his skill and creativity. I am convinced our fans will be excited to see him play. 'There's no doubt that he's now in the best place possible to develop further under Pep's guidance and I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction.' City's latest transfer activity continues an overhaul of the squad that began with the January signings of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis. Further deals are also possible as the club respond to a disappointing season in which they failed to mount a strong Premier League title defence and exited the Champions League before the last 16. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has been heavily linked with a move to City from AC Milan as Guardiola looks to bolster his midfield options following this summer's departure of Kevin De Bruyne. In further business, City have installed former Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders as Guardiola's new number two. The Dutchman, who served under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, was available after being sacked as manager at Red Bull Salzburg last December. His appointment coincides with that of James French as set-piece coach. French has been working at Liverpool for the past 13 years.


Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Rayan Cherki signs for Manchester City on five-year deal
The 21-year-old moves after an impressive season with Lyon in which he scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists in 40 appearances. He also made an eye-catching debut for France last week when he came off the bench and scored in a 5-4 Nations League loss to Spain. Cherki has put pen to paper on a five-year deal which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. We're delighted to announce the signing of Rayan Cherki ✍️🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 10, 2025 He said: 'This is a dream for me. Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special. 'I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep (Guardiola) and his backroom staff. 'Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace. 'I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future. I can't wait to show City fans what I can do.' His arrival comes on the same day City completed a deal for Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and follows the £31.3million capture of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves on Monday. Rayan Ait-Nouri, right, was signed from Wolves on Monday (Martin Rickett/PA) All three deals have been completed in time for the players to be registered for the group stages of the Club World Cup this month. Director of football Hugo Viana said: 'We're very happy to have Rayan at City. We want to bring top talent to the club, and he falls into that category. 'He's a player our scouts have watched for a long time, and we have all been impressed with his skill and creativity. I am convinced our fans will be excited to see him play. 'There's no doubt that he's now in the best place possible to develop further under Pep's guidance and I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction.' City's latest transfer activity continues an overhaul of the squad that began with the January signings of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis. Tijjani Reijnders has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City (Bradley Collyer/PA) Further deals are also possible as the club respond to a disappointing season in which they failed to mount a strong Premier League title defence and exited the Champions League before the last 16. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has been heavily linked with a move to City from AC Milan as Guardiola looks to bolster his midfield options following this summer's departure of Kevin De Bruyne. In further business, City have installed former Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders as Guardiola's new number two. The Dutchman, who served under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, was available after being sacked as manager at Red Bull Salzburg last December. His appointment coincides with that of James French as set-piece coach. French has been working at Liverpool for the past 13 years.