Champions League predicted league phase table: where the bookies expect Aston Villa, Arsenal and Man City to finish

Aston Villa marked their return to Europe’s elite competition with an emphatic 3-0 victory at the home of Swiss champions BSC Young Boys.

Goal from midfield trio Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana ensured Aston Villa fans a night to remember in their first Champions League outing in 41 years, leaving Unai Emery’s side in a commanding fourth place position at the end of matchday one.

Aston Villa boss Emery will have ambitions of getting as far as possible in this year’s European adventure, and over the course of the next seven games, his team, along with the rest of Europe’s elite will battle to secure a place in the top eight to ensure automatic progression into the last 16.

The 1982 winners take on the likes of Bayern Munich, Bologna, Club Brugge, Juventus, RB Leipzig, AS Monaco and Celtic in a host of glamour ties during the league phase. 

But where do the bookmakers expect Aston Villa to finish at the end of the league phase in January, and do they think the team will have enough to progress to the next phase of the competition after a promising start? Here’s all you need to know (courtesy of odds from SkyBet)

Champions League predicted league phase table

According to the bookmakers, defending champions Real Madrid are the favourites to secure top spot in the league phase, with both Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Liverpool providing close opposition.

Premier League runners-up Arsenal, Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen and Spanish side Atletico Madrid are expected to make up the top eight, with Barcelona and Inter Milan both narrowly missing out.

Aston Villa are expected to finish in around 11th place, above the likes of French champions Paris Saint Germain, Italian heavyweights Juventus and Portuguese champions Sporting CP.

If Aston Villa finish between 9th and 24th in the league stage, they will take part in a two legged play-off to reach the last 16 of the competition.

Here is the full predicted table at the end of matchday one based on odds from SkyBet. (odds correct as of 21 September)

Top 8 teams (automatically through to round of 16)

• Real Madrid - 2/9
• Manchester City - 1/4
• Bayern Munich - 2/5
• Liverpool - 4/9
• Arsenal - 4/6
• Dortmund - 8/11
• Bayer Leverkusen - 8/11
• Atletico Madrid - 5/6

Places 9th to 24th (Two legged play-off to reach round of 16)

• Barcelona - 1/1
• Inter Milan - 6/4
• Aston Villa - 6/4
• Paris Saint Germain - 15/8
• Juventus - 5/2
• Sporting CP - 7/2
• AS Monaco - 4/1
• AC Milan - 6/1
• Benfica - 6/1
• Atalanta - 7/1
• Celtic - 7/1
• Stuttgart - 9/1
• PSV Eindhoven - 9/1
• RB Leipzig - 10/1
• Girona - 22/1
• Brest - 22/1

Places 24th to 36th (Eliminated in the league phase)

• Sparta Prague - 22/1
• Lille - 33/1
• Shakhtar Donetsk - 33/1
• Bologna - 40/1
• Feyenoord - 40/1
• Club Brugge - 40/1
• RB Salzburg - 50/1
• Sturm Graz - 66/1
• Dinamo Zabreg - 150/1
• Young Boys - 200/1
• Red Star Belgrade - 250/1
• Slovan Bratislava - 500/1