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Why winning your group is key to Champions League glory

| 01.11.2016

As things stand, Arsenal and Leicester City are perhaps more in the running to win the Champions League than they actually think they are. Why? Because they occupy spots which generally produce the champions of the biggest competition in club football.

In short, you’ve got a much greater chance of winning the Champions League if you topped your group.

Just a quick look back at the last six seasons emphasises this, with only one side that finished as runner-up in their group even featuring in a final during that time.

In fact, each of last year’s final four finished top of their respective groups, while five of the eight sides that finished second-place were booted out of the competition in the Round of 16.

That means Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester mustn’t rest on their laurels at the top of their group right now.

The Foxes are already five points ahead of their opponents in group G, and they could be tempted to take their foot off the pedal in their final three games so as to place more emphasis on climbing up the Premier League table.

But if they are to stand any chance of pulling off a European shock which would undoubtedly be on par with their domestic success last season, the history books are saying they have to keep hold of that top spot.

As for the Gunners, this is fairly unfamiliar territory in which they currently find themselves, having failed to finish in first-place in their group in any of their last four European campaigns.

So that’s why they haven’t won it in that time, then!
OR
Perhaps that’s the only reason they haven’t won the cup in that time, then… (This one’s better)

Arsene Wenger’s men are in action tonight against Ludogorets, where they’re 2/5 to win, while Leicester (12/5) are up against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday evening.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Alex Apati

Alex has been with the Ladbrokes PR team since 2017 having previously worked for the news department. From sparring with Peter Fury to talking interviews on the Duke and Duchess' baby names, he's covered a range of sports and novelty events.

A frustrated West Brom fan who is no stranger to an oche, Alex is originally from Dudley, although he's worked hard to rid himself of the Black Country twang.