Analyzing the UCL Dark Horses

If there is anything fans love about football, it is the underdog story.

The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League has quite a number of them: Real Sociedad, Lazio, PSV, Arsenal, Inter and Barcelona.

Yes. Barcelona.

The Catalan giants are five-time winners of Europe's elite competition but after back-to-back exits from the group stages, nobody thought they could come this far. Now they look like potential winners.

All the teams mentioned have played well but only four stand out as dark horses.

Which one of these teams could upset the balance of things? Let us take a look at their performances and rate the chances of any of these sides going all the way.

Barcelona

Kicking things off with Barcelona, who are no longer one of the best teams in the world. Their history is rich and it gives them an edge against many teams, however.

Their current squad is above average at best, which makes what Xavi Hernandez has been able to achieve with them all season almost a miracle.

Barcelona vs Napoli

Barcelona’s performance at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium was evidence that they were not in this season's competition to make up the numbers. They will welcome Napoli at the Estadio Lluis Companys on 12 March 2024 for their round of 16 return leg.

Fans are already grabbing Barcelona tickets as both clubs have officially sold out their tickets. Fans are connecting with trusted ticket resellers on the platform so that they can get a seat to one of the Blaugrana’s most important games this season.

Barcelona UCL chances: Verdict

Their run could easily come to an end in the quarter-finals but they will have made a statement by getting there in the first place. This means we are expecting them to progress past Napoli on 12 March. Their best finish in the tournament would be the semi-final, however, provided their quarter-final opponents are not Real Madrid or Manchester City.

Inter Milan

This season, the Nerazzurri are on the same trajectory that took them to the final of the 2022/23 Champions League where they lost to Manchester City.

Finishing second in their group and winning the first leg of their round of 16 tie has gotten their fans dreaming once again. This time around could be trickier, however.

Atlético vs Inter Milan

Atlético is a tournament team through and through. Diego Simeone has made a name for himself with his tournament exploits. Inter is also a tournament team, especially since Simone Inzaghi took the reins at the club.

After a 1- 0 San Siro victory, there are no spaces for slip-ups at the Civitas Metropolitano on 13 March 2024. You can catch the game live by purchasing tickets from seatsnet.com.

Inter UCL chances: Verdict

Inter Milan have shown more fight than Atléti have this season, which is why we predict that they will grab the quarter-final ticket from their fixture. Like Barcelona, we also think they will end up in the semi-final and exit the competition at that stage.

Arsenal

Arsenal have never won the tournament and their last appearance in the final of the competition was in 2006, when they lost out to Barcelona.

Mikel Arteta has managed to build a team that is similar to that one led by Arsenal Wenger and Thierry Henry it is almost impossible to see them lose to any opponent.

Arsenal vs FC Porto

The Gunners lost the first leg of their round of 16 tie away from home by a lone goal. This is what gives their fans confidence.

The Emirates has been a fortress this season and Porto will be lucky to escape with the quarter-final ticket from their tie. This tie is highly anticipated as the traffic for Arsenal vs Porto tickets on seatsnet.com is significant. Visit the website to connect with trusted ticket resellers and secure a seat to the action.

Arsenal UCL chances: Verdict

Arsenal will most likely scale past Porto in the round of 16 but could fall in the quarter-final. They are dark horses but history always plays a big role in the Champions League.

They will need consistent finishes in the quarter-final to build up the mindset that can take them to the final, like Manchester City.

However, this current edition looks like one that could come with a lot of unpredictability and if the Gunners can somehow replicate their domestic form on the continent, what is stopping them from going all the way?

Lazio

Lazio are in this conversation thanks to the campaign they have had. I Biancocelesti finished second in their group with a gritty style of play. Then they were drawn against Bayern Munich, who they stifled at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg of the round of 16. There is a story here and fans are gearing up to see it. How the story would play out is what remains unlikely but there is a prediction ahead of the game already.

Bayern Munich vs Lazio

The six-time Champions League winners have only been knocked out by a team considered to be a dark horse once in their history. This is why Bayern Munich vs Lazio tickets are very popular right now on seatsnet.com. Visit the platform to buy yours now.

This game will not produce any surprises but Lazio will make it entertaining enough for anyone who is live in the stadium.

Lazio UCL chances: Verdict

As alluded to earlier, I Biancocelesti stops at the round of 16 stage. They will take their performance into pre-season and build on it in anticipation for a new season.

Sadly, they may not be returning to the competition next season thanks to their current league standing, but it will greatly help them if they qualify for the UEFA Europa League or Europa Conference League.

Cover Credit - SoccerBible