Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Goals flowed in the
Champions League this week, with the tournament favourites showing their strengths and flaws. Arsenal, the favourites to lift the trophy, took an hour to break down Lille, while Bayern Munich were held 3-3 by little-known Norwegians, Viking. Barcelona had to fight back to win away at Galatasaray, and PSG were the big winners against Manchester City on Wednesday night, despite losing the shot count.
The xG Files is a statistical series following key UCL teams.
Gunners leave it late, but get the job done
Arsenal (1.85xG) 3-0 (0.38xG) Lille
Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm early on, but turned on the power in seven second half minutes, scoring three times. The result highlighted the gulf in class between them and most of their European counterparts, and reminded everyone why they are the favourites to lift the crown in May.
Lille barely troubled David Raya in goal as shown by the visual above. The Gunners are the only team yet to concede a goal this season, thanks to their aggressive approach and defending from the front. Both Arsenal’s opponents have registered Under 0.5 goals so far in their games.
265 - high turnovers for Arsenal, more than all teams
9 - high turnovers leading to a shot for Arsenal, more than all teams
48 - average metres from goal that Arsenal press, the highest in the league
Bayern Munich battle against Norwegian champions
Viking (0,56xG) 3-3 (3.51xG) Bayern Munich
Harry Kane's second-half brace spared Bayern Munich’s blushes against Viking FC. The hosts took an early lead against the German champions, and against the run of play, went 2-0 up before the break. Kane’s clinical finishing brought Bayern back level, and Luis Diaz made it 3-2. However, Michael Olise’s red card revived the Norwegians, who rescued a point late on.
25 - shots for Bayern in this game, as many as they generated on Matchday 1
50 - shots for Bayern in the UCL this season (only Inter (51) have more)
Possession-obsessed Barca fight back to win
Galatasaray (0.42xG) 1-4 (2.83xG) Barcelona
Despite going a goal down, Barcelona fought back on Tuesday, running out 4-1 winners. They kept their cool in a hostile atmosphere, and were rewarded for it. Barca’s goals came from four different players, but it was Lamine Yamal’s double assist that stole the show.
Barca were dominant, as the visual shows, creating 10 big chances and attempting nearly 700 passes, starving their hosts of possession.
1485 - passes attempted by Barca in the UCL, more than all teams (2 matchdays)
93% - pass accuracy for Barca, 1st in the UCL
56 - sequences of 10+ passes by Barca, also 1st
Parisians overcome City in Game of the Week
Man City (2.57xG) 2-4 (1.83xG) PSG
City were the favourites among the bookmakers before the game, but within half an hour, the Parisians had blown them away with three goals. While City won the second half (2-1), the lead proved too big for them to overcome.
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City led on a few fronts, creating more chances and generating a higher xG. However, most of this came when PSG were comfortably ahead. Over 5.5 goals landed for those who were brave enough. PSG look like they are the most potent attack in Europe, making their games ones for goal backers to watch.
24 - shots on target for PSG in the UCL this season, more than all teams
10 - goals for PSG in the UCL this season, more than all teams
6.4 - xG created by PSG in the UCL this season, more than all teams
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