Showing posts with label UEFA - Champions League preview matches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UEFA - Champions League preview matches. Show all posts
Monday, April 2, 2012

03.04. (Tue) 20:45 Bayern Munchen - Olympique Marseille

Loïc Rémy et Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Loïc Rémy et Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)


PROBABLE LINEUPS



BAYERN MUNICH



Neuer
Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba
 Luiz Gustavo, Kroos
Robben, Muller, Ribery
Gomez



OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE


Mandanda Azpilicueta, Fanni, N'Koulou, Morel
  Cheyrou, M'Bia, Amalfitano
 Valbuena, Remy, A. Ayew
 

Bayern Munich will have to do without vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is serving a one-game suspension after picking up a yellow card in the first leg. Daniel Van Buyten is also sidelined after picking an injury against Borussia Monchengladbach in January.

Toni Kroos, Jerome Boateng, Luiz Gustavo and Thomas Muller will incur a suspension if they are booked on Tuesday.

For Olympique de Marseille, Steve Mandanda is set to return to the first team after serving his one-match ban for the first leg, but Souleymane Diawara will not be able to recover in time for the game against Bayern Munich.

Alou Diarra is suspended for the second leg, while Andre Ayew will have to once again play through the pain barrier as he is postponing surgery on his shoulder until the end of the season.

The Ghanaian will have to be careful not to pick a booking on Tuesday, together with Stephane M'Bia, Jeremy Morel and Morgan Amalfitano, as it will result in a ban for Olympique de Marseille's next game in the Champions League.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Bayern Munich have won their last nine home games in all competitions, scoring 32 and conceding four goals.
  • The Bavarians have committed 140 fouls in this season's edition of the Champions League; the most of any other team in the quarter-finals. 
  • Mario Gomez has scored 38 goals in his last 41 games for club and country.
  • Olympique de Marseille won in Germany this season, beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2.
  • Les Phoceens have lost three out of four European ties, in which they have suffered defeat in the first leg.
  • Didier Deschamps was part of the Juventus team that lost the 1998 Champions League final to Jupp Heynckes' Real Madrid.
Prediction
Bayern Munich have been in superb form at home in recent times, and with Olympique de Marseille having much bigger worries than the Champions League, it is hard to overlook the Bavarians as favourites.
Editor's Prediction
Bayern 2-0 Marseille

Champions League Opta Facts - Quarter-finals Second Legs


Bayern Munich v Marseille
• Marseille are now winless in nine consecutive games in all competitions.
• No team has ever managed to progress to the next round following a 0-2 home defeat in the first leg of a Champions League/European Cup knockout tie.
• Mario Gomez has scored on average a goal every 34 minutes at the Allianz Arena this season in the Champions League (10 goals in four appearances at home, excl. qualifier).
• Mario Gomez is only the second German player to score 11 goals in a single Champions League/European cup campaign, after Gerd Müller netted 12 goals in 1972/73.
• Only six teams have been eliminated despite winning away from home in the first leg of a Champions League/European Cup tie, one of them is Bayern Munich (last season v Inter Milan).
• None of Marseille's last four Champions League goals have come before the 85th minute.
• Bayern Munich have won 11 of their last 12 home games in the Champions League.
• Bayern Munich have won their last three Champions League encounters against French opposition, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
• Only Barcelona have scored as many first-half goals as Bayern Munich this season in the Champions League (13).

Barcelona v AC Milan
• In their trip to the Camp Nou earlier this season, AC Milan became only the third team in the Champions League era to score both in the first and 90th minute of a game (including injury time).
• The team drawing the first leg at home 0-0 have a 33% chance of progression in the Champions League/European Cup knockout stage (34 progressed and 64 were eliminated).
• However, AC Milan have always managed to progress to the next round following a 0-0 at the San Siro in the first leg in the Champions League/European Cup knockout stage (three different occasions).
• AC Milan are winless in their last six European encounters against Barcelona.
• The Rossoneri have won just four of their last 16 Champions League games.
• Lionel Messi has scored 30 goals in his last 26 appearances in the Champions League for Barcelona, and 49 overall in this competition.
• However, Messi has scored just one goal in his seven meetings against Italian opponents in the Champions League: from the penalty spot against AC Milan in the group stage this season.
• Xavi has completed 327 passes in his three appearances against AC Milan this season.
• Barcelona have completed more than twice as many passes as AC Milan in this season's Champions League (6608 to 3217).
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored five goals and delivered three assists in his seven Champions League appearances this season.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been caught offside more often than any other player in the competition this season (19).

Real Madrid v APOEL Nicosia
• Real Madrid have always progressed to the next round after winning away from home in the first leg in the knockout stage of the Champions League/European Cup.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has attempted more shots (53) this season in the Champions League than the entire APOEL team (52).
• The aggregate score between Real Madrid and Cypriot sides in European competition is 29-1 in favour of the Merengues.
• In the first leg, José Mourinho's side mustered 28 shots without reply from APOEL: the biggest differential in a single Champions League game this season.
• APOEL are the first-ever Cypriot side to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
• Excluding qualifiers, only one of the 21 matches between Cypriot and Spanish sides in Europe has ended in favour of the team from Cyprus: Anorthosis Famagusta won 2-0 at home vs Athletic Bilbao back in September 1994 in a UEFA Cup match.
• Real Madrid have averaged 4.25 goals scored per game at home in this Champions League campaign.
• Barcelona are the only team to have prevented Real Madrid from scoring in the last 14 Champions League fixtures at the Santiago Bernabéu.
• Karim Benzema is enjoying his most prolific Champions League campaign with seven goals.
• Including his five assists, the Frenchman has been directly involved in 44% of Real's 27 total goals, a higher ratio than Cristiano Ronaldo (29.6%, in light of six goals and two assists).

Chelsea v Benfica
• English sides have always progressed when winning the first leg away from home in the knockout stage of this competition (old and new formats).
• Despite attempting more than twice as many shots as Chelsea in the first leg (25 to 12), Benfica failed to score for the first time in this Champions League campaign.
• Benfica have failed to win any of their last five Champions League meetings against English opposition.
• Chelsea have won all of their four Champions League fixtures at home this season, scoring 14 goals in the process and conceding just one.
• Chelsea have conceded fewer goals at home than any other team in the Champions League this season (one).
• Chelsea have opened the scoring in each of their nine Champions League games this season.
• The Blues have now scored in 10 consecutive European matches for the first time in their history (excl. qualifiers).
• No player has assisted more goals in the Champions League this season than Benfica's Nicolas Gaitán (five, as many as Karim Benzema).
• Didier Drogba has scored five goals in his last five Champions League appearances.
• No side has scored a higher proportion of their goals in the first half of games than Benfica this season in the Champions League (67%, eight out of 12).
Tuesday, March 27, 2012

28.03. Najave meceva

Champions League, četvrtfinale, prvi mečevi
Milan - Barcelona
Domaćin obično može da se uzda u dva igrača, Ibrahimovića i T. Silvu. Najbolji odbrambeni igrač u Seriji A, Silva, neće igrati sutra a verovatno ni u revanšu. Njega je teško zameniti ali bi nekakva uteha trebala da bude što se Nesta vraća u postavu za ovu utakmicu. Robinjo je takođe na raspolaganju dok se Boateng već vratio u postavu proteklog vikenda. Van Bomel će biti suspendovan sutra dok je Abate povređen. Sedorf bi mogao da se nađe u startnoj postavi umesto Emanuelsona.
Barselona je otputovala u skoro kompletnom sastavu a nedostaje im samo Adriano. Alveš se vraća u postavu posle suspenzije i on će igrati u odbrani zajedno sa Pujolom.
Gvardiola je hteo da izbegne Milan u četvrtfinalu. Možda to ima veze sa njegovim komplikovanim odnosom sa Ibrahimovićem.
Po meni Barselona može samo da se plaši Real Madrida i Bajerna iz Minhena no bez sumnje je i Milan znao da pravi probleme Barseloni nekoliko puta ranije.
Poslednji put kada je Barselona igrala na San Siru oni su zabeležili pobedu od 3-2. Zašto i sutra ne bi bila pobeda sa jednim golom razlike (1-2) ili možda nerešeno sa golovima (1-1).

Marseille - Bayern Munich
Tokom ove depresivne sezone koju ima ekipa Marseja oni su zabeležili dve pobede nad Borusijom iz Dortmunda u okviru grupe u Ligi šampiona. Borusija je vodeća ekipa u Bundes ligi. Da li ekipa Marseja zna kako da igra protiv ekipa iz Nemačke lige? Ja imam jednostavno objašnjenje za to. Borusija iz Dortmunda je očajna u Evropi u poslednje dve sezone jer oni jednostavno nemaju dovoljno dobre igrače.
Uvek prisutni golman Marseja Mandanda će propustiti ovaj meč. Da li je to težak udarac za njih? Mislim da jeste jer njegova potencijalna zamena, Andrade ili Braciliano, nisu skoro uopšte branili u poslednje vreme. Izgleda da će Andrade braniti. Ovaj 33-ogodišnji Brazilac ove godine nije branio ni na jednom meču. Centralni odbrambeni igrač Diavara neće igrati do kraja sezone. Remi ima manju povredu a postoji mogućnost da Brandao igra u napadu od početka meča.
Bila je ovo teška nedelja za Bajern. Oni su odigrali 120 minuta u kupu protiv Borusije iz Menhengladbaha prošle nedelje a onda i meč sa Hanoverom za vikend. Oni su pobedili na oba meča a nijedan igrač se nije povredio. Švajnštajger će biti na klupi sutra.
Marsej zna kako da igra defanzivni fudbal a ovaj meč bi mogao da bude razočaravajući. Bajern bi bio zadovoljan ako bude 0-0 tako da oni neće po svaku cenu ići na pobedu u prvom meču.
Biće pobeda gostiju ili 0-0.
Monday, March 26, 2012

Champions League Opta Facts - QF First Legs - 27th-28th March


APOEL v Real Madrid
APOEL are the first-ever Cypriot side to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Jose Mourinho has lost just three of his last 33 matches as a coach in the Champions League, with all three defeats at the hands of Barcelona.
Real Madrid have suffered just one defeat in their last 21 matches in the Champions League (W15 D5).
Jose Mourinho's outfit have scored 24 goals in their eight games in the Champions League this season; an average of three a game.
Madrid have conceded only three goals in their last eight away games in the Champions League.
APOEL Nicosia have advanced to the quarter finals despite winning only three of their eight CL games this season.
The Cypriot side have netted just one goal in their last four games in the competition.
APOEL have made 125 fouls in the Champions League this season and have picked up 24 yellow cards; both more than any other side.
Iker Casillas has posted the best saves to shots percentage in the Champions League this season (91%).
Excluding qualifiers, only one of the 20 matches between Cypriot and Spanish sides in Europe have ended in favour of the team from Cyprus. A.Famagusta won 2-0 at home versus Athletic Bilbao back in September 1994 in a UEFA Cup match.

Marseille v Bayern Munich
Marseille have kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 14 Champions League matches (excl. quals).
The French side have won four and drawn one of their last five European matches against German opposition (excl. quals); including two wins over Borussia Dortmund this season in the CL.
Bayern won 7-0 against Basle in their last Champions League game; their biggest win in the competition (old & new format) since winning 9-0 against Omonia Nicosia in the 1973 European Cup.
The last time that Bayern faced French opposition in the Champions League was back in the 2009/10 semi-finals, when they defeated Lyon 4-0 on aggregate.
This is the furthest that Marseille have gone on the Champions League since winning the competition in 1992/93.
On the last two occasions that a German side have reached the Champions League quarter final stage (Bayern in 2009/10 and Schalke in 2010/11); they have progressed to the semis.
Four of the five goals that Marseille have scored in their last three Champions League games have arrived in the final five minutes of the game.
Bayern striker Mario Gomez has scored 18 goals in his last 13 Champions League appearances for Bayern (excl. quals); netting three hat-tricks (2 x 3 goals, 1 x 4 goals) in that period.
Only Lionel Messi (12) has scored more goals in the Champions League than Mario Gomez (10) this season.
Marseille have fired in the most crosses from open play in the Champions League this season (173).

Benfica v Chelsea
Since 2003/04, Chelsea have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League more times than any other side (Barcelona 6).
By winning 4-1 at home to Napoli in the second leg of their CL last 16 tie, Chelsea became only the third English club to lose a European Cup first leg tie by two or more goals & still progress (Man Utd 1957 & Leeds 1992).
The Blues have scored in nine successive European matches for the first time in their history (excl. qualifiers).
Chelsea have not won any of their last five Champions League away games, losing three and drawing two.
Benfica have failed to find the net in just one of their last 17 matches in European competition (excl. qualifiers).
No player has assisted more goals in the Champions League this season than Benfica's Nicolas Gaitán (5).
Benfica have lost just one of their last eight European home games (excl. quals) against English opposition.
Chelsea have faced Portuguese opposition only six times in the Champions League, all six of which have come against FC Porto. Their record in these games is W4, D1, L1 and they've scored in each match.
Didier Drogba has scored four goals Chelsea's last four Champions League matches.
No side has scored a higher proportion of their goals in the first half of Champions League games this season than Benfica (67%).

Milan v Barcelona
The last occasion that Barcelona lost a Champions League knockout tie came against Italian opposition. They lost 3-1 at the San Siro against Inter Milan in the 2009-10 semi final first leg, before winning 1-0 at home in the second leg.
Since losing that tie, Barcelona have scored 60 goals in 21 games in the Champions League and have lost just once (v Arsenal in Feb 2011).
AC Milan have won only four of their last 15 Champions League games.
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last five meetings with AC Milan, winning three and drawing two of these games.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in five of his last six appearances in the Champions League, as well as providing three assists in this period.
Barcelona have taken more penalties than any other team in the Champions League this season (three).
There have been five penalties awarded in the eight AC Milan games in the Champions League this season (three conceded, two won).
Barcelona have averaged 74.3% possession in their games so far this season - the next best team have averaged 62.6%.
Lionel Messi has scored 30 goals in his last 25 appearances in the Champions League for Barcelona.
AC Milan have won possession with 85% of their tackles in the Champions League this season; a higher proportion than any other team.
Monday, March 12, 2012

Champions League Opta Facts - 13-14 March


Internazionale - Marseille
Marseille have beaten Inter by the same scoreline of 1-0 in each of their three meetings (the previous two games in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup quarter-final).
Marseille are the only team with a 100% record against Inter Milan in European competition (excluding qualifiers).
Marseille have never scored more than once in their 15 encounters against Italian opposition in Europe (excluding Intertoto Cup).
Inter have failed to win their last three Champions League games (one draw, two defeats).
The Nerazzurri have won just one of their last five Champions League home games, losing four times.
Marseille are the only team to have won a Champions League game this season after going two goals behind (following their crucial 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund).
Inter have won four and lost seven of their last 12 Champions League matches.
Marseille have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 Champions League games.
Four out of OM's last five Champions League goals have come from dead-ball situations.
Marseille have won four of their last six Champions League games on the road (one draw, one defeat).
Inter's last four Champions League goals have been scored by four different Argentine players (Samuel, Milito, Álvarez and Cambiasso).
Andre Ayew has scored 50% of Marseille's Champions League goals this season (four out of eight).
Marseille have recorded the worst shooting accuracy amongst teams who have qualified for the Last 16, hitting the target with just 37% of their attempts.

Bayern Munich - Basel
Bayern had won the first four meetings between these two sides before Basel won the 1st leg by 1-0.
Basel are unbeaten in four Champions League games (one draw followed by three consecutive wins), thus setting a new club record.
Bayern have won ten of their last 11 Champions League home matches.
In the 1st leg Basel kept a clean sheet for the 1st time in this Champions League season, they had been the only team to reach the Last 16 without a clean sheet.
Bayern have never lost both legs of a knockout round in the European Cup/Champions League.
Basel are the first Swiss side to reach the knock out stage in the Champions League era.
Bayern's Franck Ribery and Basel's Xherdan Shaqiri have been fouled more often than any other players in this season's Champions League (23 times each).
Nine of Bayern's 11 goals have been netted in the first half, the highest proportion in the Champions League this season (82%).
The 1st leg win was Basel's first win against German opposition in Europe (two draws, four defeats).
Basel have lost just one of their last eight matches in Europe, winning each of the last three.
Alexander Frei has netted eight goals in just 12 Champions League appearances (excluding qualifiers).
Mario Gomez has scored 14 goals in his last 12 Champions League appearances (excluding qualifiers).

Real Madrid - CSKA Moscow
Real Madrid have qualified to the Champions League knockout stage for the 15th consecutive season, currently the longest run.
The Russian side have never lost a European match against Spanish opposition, winning three and drawing three.
This is only CSKA's second appearance in the Last 16 of the Champions League. In 2009/10 they eliminated a Spanish side - FC Sevilla - winning the 2nd leg 2-1 on the road after a 1-1 home draw.
After an away draw in the 1st leg of a knockout round, Real have progressed in 11 out of 12 cases in the history of the European Cup. In 1991 though, Spartak Moscow eliminated Madrid with a 3-1 away win at the Bernabeu following a goalless draw in Russia.
Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 20 Champions League games, but the draw in the 1st leg was the 1st game they failed to win this season - after 18 points and a +17 goal difference in the group stage, the best Champions League group stage performance in history.
All three goals Madrid have conceded in Champions League this season have come in the last 10 minutes of play.
Real haven't conceded a first-half goal in their last 21 Champions League games.
CSKA are unbeaten in Champions League away games this season (one win, two draws), but they failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 Champions League away fixtures.
Real have won eight of their last nine Champions League home games.
Madrid have kept five clean sheets in their seven Champions League matches this season (more than any other side).
Real Madrid have kept 13 clean sheets in 19 Champions League games under Jose Mourinho.
Jose Mourinho has lost just three of his last 32 matches as a coach in the Champions League, with all three defeats at the hands of Barcelona.
50% of CSKA Moscow's Champions League goals this season have been scored by Seydou Doumbia (five out of 10).

Chelsea - Napoli
The Blues have won just three of their seven Champions League matches this season despite having taken the lead in all seven games.
Chelsea have won all three home games though, scoring 10 goals without reply.
However, the Londoners have failed to score in each of their last three Champions League home games in the knockout stages.
For the 1st time since 1966 (four straight wins in the Fairs Cup) have Napoli won three consecutive games in European competition.
Both sides have scored in each of their seven Champions League games this season.
Napoli have the best conversion rate in this season's Champions League, scoring with 22% of their shots.
Six of the seven goals Napoli have shipped this term in the Champions League have been conceded in the first half.
The Blues have drawn Italian opposition in two of the last three seasons at this stage, beating Juventus in 2008/09 and losing to Inter in 2009/10.
Didier Drogba has scored four goals in his last four Champions League appearances, but failed to score in the 1st leg.
Edinson Cavani (five goals, two assists) had a hand in seven of Napoli's 13 Champions League goals this season, including all three goals in the 1st leg.
Sunday, March 4, 2012

Champions League Opta Facts Last 16 2nd Leg 6-7 March 2012


Arsenal v AC Milan
No side in Champions League history have ever come back from four goals down after the 1st leg of a knockout round. The last side to do this in European competition was Real Madrid in 1985 against Borussia Mönchengladbach (1-5 A, 4-0 H).
Milan exited the Champions League in 2003/04 at the quarter-final stage despite beating Deportivo 4-1 in the 1st leg, losing the 2nd leg 4-0 - the only side in Champions League history to be eliminated in a knockout round after winning the 1st leg with a three-goal difference.
The 4-0 defeat in the 1st leg was Arsenal's heaviest defeat ever in European competition.
In seven two-legged ties and one final (excluding the Super Cup), no Italian side has ever eliminated Arsenal in a knockout competition.
In each of the previous five meetings between Arsenal and AC Milan (incl. European Super Cup), at least one has team failed to score. Both previous meetings in London have ended goalless.
Milan have been knocked out by English clubs in the Last-16 stage of their last three Champions League participations and have failed to score in five of the six matches played in those ties.
Milan are unbeaten in their last five Champions League away matches, drawing the last four.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League home games, winning 10 of them.
Arsenal have lost their last two Champions League games, but they have never lost three games in a row in the history of this competition.
Arsenal boast the highest shooting accuracy percentage in the 2011/12 Champions League, with 64% of their attempts on target.
Of all 16 sides that reached the knockout stages, only APOEL (39) have attempted fewer shots than Arsenal (64, incl. blocked).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has found the net in all of his five Champions League appearances this season. He scored a brace in his only club visit to the Emirates, with Barcelona in March 2010.

Benfica - Zenit St Petersburg
Zenit St Petersburg are the first Russian club from a city other than Moscow to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Zenit are unbeaten in six Champions League games, thus equaling the Russian record set by Spartak Moscow in 1995/96.
Benfica have won just one of their last four Champions League games, a 1-0 home victory over Romanian side Galati.
The Portuguese side are unbeaten in seven home games in Europe (excluding qualifiers), winning five of them.
Zenit have failed to win any of their last four Champions League away games (two draws, two defeats), but secured a goalless draw at Portuguese side Porto FC in the group stage.
Benfica have scored at least one goal in each of their 11 games in Europe this season (including qualifiers).
The Lisbon side have scored the opening goal in each of their seven Champions League games this season.
Benfica have committed more fouls than any other side in this Champions League (113).
Zenit have won three and drawn one of their four games against Portuguese opposition in Europe, including taking four points against Porto in this season's group stage.
Zenit's Portuguese winger Danny has created more chances for team mates than any other player in the Champions League this season (21).
Benfica's Nicolas Gaitán has delivered the most assists in the 2011/12 Champions League (five).

Barcelona - Bayer Leverkusen
These sides have met on seven occasions in European competition, with Barcelona winning the last four encounters.
Only two teams in Champions League history have reached the next round after losing the 1st leg of a knockout round at home (Ajax in 1995/96 and Internazionale last season).
The Blaugrana have allowed their opponents just 11 shots on target in this season's competition, less than any other team.
Bayer have scored four headed goals this Champions League season, more than any other team.
Barcelona have dominated possession in all of their 45 Champions League matches under Pep Guardiola's management.
The Blaugrana have scored in each of their last 28 Champions League games (70 goals in total).
Leverkusen are without a win in their last 11 away games in the Champions League, losing eight of these. Their last win was a 2-0 victory at Maccabi Haifa back in October 2002.
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 13 Champions League games, winning 11 of them.
Leverkusen have only kept six clean sheets in their last 43 Champions League matches.
Barcelona have recorded the highest ball possession percentage (74%) and the highest passing accuracy (91%) in this season's competition.
Starting with his goal in the 2009 final, Lionel Messi has scored 28 goals in his last 29 Champions League starts, including seven in six this season.
Liverpool were the last side to dump Barcelona out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League, back in the 2006/07 season.

APOEL - Lyon
This is the first appearance by a Cypriot club in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
APOEL have picked up more cards (21 yellows) than any other side in this Champions League season.
The Cypriot champions have allowed their opponents more shots on target against them (48) than any of the other teams who made the Last 16.
They also had fewer shots than any other Champions League side this season (39, including blocked).
Lyon are unbeaten in their last three Champions League matches, winning the last two.
APOEL have failed to score in each of their last three Champions League games.
Lyon have failed to win each of their last eight away games in the knockout stages of the Champions League, losing six of them (including the last three).
Lyon have failed to score in five of their last eight Champions League matches.
APOEL have lost each of their three previous games against French opposition in Europe (two defeats v PSG in the 1993/94 Cup Winners' Cup prior to the 1st leg of this Champions League).
Five of APOEL's six Champions League goals this season have been scored by Brazilians Aílton Almeida (three) and Gustavo Manduca (two).
Bafetimbi Gomis has scored 50% of Lyon's Champions League goals this term (five out of 10).
Monday, February 20, 2012

Champions League Opta Facts - 21-22 February


CSKA Moscow - Real Madrid
Real Madrid topped Group D with 18 points and a +17 goal difference, the best Champions League Group Stage performance in history.
Real Madrid have qualified to the Champions League knockout stage for the 15th consecutive season, currently the longest run.
CSKA have lost three of their last four European matches on home soil.
The Russian club have never lost a European match against Spanish opposition, winning three and drawing two.
Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 19 Champions League games and won all six so far this season.
Madrid have kept five clean sheets in their six Champions League matches this season (more than any other team) and in all three away games.
Real Madrid have kept 13 clean sheets in 18 Champions League games under Jose Mourinho.
After winning none of their first seven European games away in Russia, Real Madrid have won the last two trips.
Jose Mourinho has lost just three of his last 31 matches as a coach in the Champions League, with all three defeats at the hands of Barcelona.
Real Madrid's José Callejón has scored a brace in each of his two Champions League starts; the former Espanyol player has converted 83% of his shots this term in Europe.
56% of CSKA Moscow's Champions League goals this season have been scored by Seydou Doumbia (five out of nine).
Iker Casillas was the only goalkeeper with a 100% save percentage in this season's Champions League Group Stage, keeping a clean sheet in all of his five appearances.

Napoli - Chelsea
Chelsea's only win in 10 European away matches on Italian soil came against Lazio in November 2003 (4-0).
The Blues have won just three of their six Champions League matches this season despite having taken the lead in all six games.
Chelsea fired in the most shots on target in the 2011/12 Champions League Group Stage (54).
Napoli had the best conversion rate in the Group Stage, scoring with 22% of their shots.
All four of the goals Chelsea have conceded this season in the Champions League have come in the second half.
Five of the six goals Napoli have shipped this term in the Champions League have been conceded in the first half.
No English club have ever won at Napoli in European competition (two draws and two defeats).
The Blues have drawn Italian opposition in two of the last three seasons at this stage, beating Juventus in 2008/09 and losing to Inter in 2009/10.
Chelsea haven't won back to back Champions League games since November 2010.
The Londoners have won just one of their last six Champions League away games and none of the last four.
Didier Drogba has scored four goals in his last three Champions League appearances.
No goalkeeper has managed to save a shot on target from Napoli striker Edinson Cavani this season in the Champions League (four goals in as many shots on target).

Marseille -Internazionale
Inter and Marseille met in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup quarter-final, with the French team winning both legs 1-0.
Marseille have never scored more than once in their 14 encounters against Italian opposition in Europe (excluding Intertoto Cup).
Marseille are the only team to have won a Champions League game this season after going two goals down (following their crucial 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund).
Inter have won four and lost six of their last 11 Champions League matches.
Marseille's record against Italian sides is even, with five wins, five defeats and four draws in 14 games.
Inter's last four Champions League goals have been scored by four different Argentine players (Samuel, Milito, Álvarez and Cambiasso).
After four clean sheets in a row on home soil in the Champions League, Marseille have suffered two consecutive 1-0 defeats at Stade Vélodrome.
Marseille posted the worst shooting accuracy of the teams who qualified for the Last 16, hitting the target with just 38% of their attempts.
Internazionale scored more goals from corners than any other side this season in the Champions League Group Stage (three).

Basel - Bayern Munich
Basel conceded more goals than any other the other teams who qualified for the Last 16 (10).
Basel are the first Swiss side to reach the knock out stage in the Champions League era.
The Swiss side are the only team in the Last 16 yet to keep a clean sheet in this season's competition.
Franck Ribery was fouled more often than any other player in the Champions League Group Stage (23).
Nine of the 11 goals Bayern have scored have been netted in the first half, the highest proportion of any team in the Group Stage this season (82%).
Basel have scored three goals on counter attacks this season, more than any other side in the Champions League Group Stage.
Bayern have played five matches against Swiss sides in Europe, winning four, including a win home and away against Basel in the 20010-11 Champions League Group Stage.
FC Basel have won none and lost four of their six European games against German opposition.
Basel have lost just one of their last seven matches in Europe.
Alexander Frei has netted eight goals in just 11 Champions League appearances (excluding qualifiers).
Sunday, February 12, 2012

UEFA Champions League Opta Facts - 14-15 February


Lyon - APOEL
This is the first appearance of a Cypriot club in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
APOEL picked up more cards (19 yellows) than any other team who have qualified for the Last 16 this season.
The Cypriot champions allowed their opponents more shots on target against them (43) than any of the other teams who made the Last 16.
They also had fewer shots than any other side in the group stages of the Champions League this season (38).
Lyon have failed to win any of their last five Champions League knockout stage matches.
APOEL have only once before drawn a French team in European competition (excluding qualifiers) losing home and away to Paris St Germain in the 1993-94 Cup Winners Cup.
APOEL have only lost one of their last eight Champions League games, but have drawn five of the other seven.
APOEL won their first ever away match in Europe (in 1963), but have lost 25 and drawn nine of the 34 road trips since in all European competitions (excluding qualifiers).
Lyon have failed to score in five of their last seven Champions League matches.
The French side have lost just three of their last 20 Champions League home games, two against Bayern and one versus Real Madrid.
Five of APOEL's six Champions League goals this season have been scored by Brazilians Aílton Almeida (three) and Gustavo Manduca (two).
Bafetimbi Gomis has scored 56% of Lyon's Champions League goals this term (five out of nine), only three players have posted a higher percentage this season.

Bayer Leverkusen - Barcelona
Barcelona scored 20 goals in this season's Champions League Group Stage, equaling the all-time record set by Manchester United in 1998/99.
These sides have met on six occasions in European competition, Barcelona winning the last three encounters.
The Blaugrana allowed their opponents just seven shots on target in the Group Stage, fewer than any other team.
Barcelona have dominated possession in all of their 44 Champions League matches under Pep Guardiola's management.
Leverkusen have only kept six clean sheets in their last 42 Champions League matches.
Barcelona could become the first away team to win more than once at the BayArena in the Champions League.
Starting with his goal in the 2009 final, Lionel Messi has scored 27 goals in his last 28 Champions League starts, including six in five this season.
Bayer Leverkusen picked-up seven points from losing positions this season in the Champions League Group Stage, more than any other team.
Liverpool are the last side to dump Barcelona out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League, back in the 2006/07 season.

Zenit St Petersburg - Benfica
Zenit St Petersburg are the first Russian club from a city other than Moscow to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Zenit posted the worst conversion rate of those that qualified for the last 16, scoring with just 9% of their shots.
Benfica committed more fouls than any other the other team who have qualified for the Last 16 (101).
Zenit have lost just two of their last 30 home games in European competition, excluding qualifiers.
Their draw against APOEL on Matchday 5 ended a run of nine straight home wins for the Russian side in European competition.
Zenit have won two and drawn one of their three games against Portuguese opposition in Europe, including four points against Porto in this season's group stage.
Benfica were one of only three unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League Group Stage, alongside Spain's giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
None of the six knockout matches involving Benfica in the Champions League era have produced more than two goals.
Benfica have lost just one of eight European matches against Russian opposition.
Zenit's Portuguese winger Danny has created more chances for team mates than any other player in the Champions League this season (21).
Benfica's Nicolás Gaitán has the most assists in the 2011/12 Champions League (five).

AC Milan - Arsenal
In eight two-legged ties and one final (excluding the Super Cup), no Italian side have ever eliminated Arsenal in a knockout competition.
Arsenal have played Milan once in the Champions League before, drawing 0-0 at home and winning 2-0 away in the San Siro.
Arsenal have won both of their two Champions League games at the San Siro, beating Inter 5-1 and Milan 2-0.
Milan defeated Arsenal in the 1994 Super Cup, drawing 0-0 at Highbury and winning 2-0 at the San Siro.
Milan have been knocked out by English clubs in the Last 16 Stage of their last three Champions League participations and have failed to score in five of the six matches played in those ties.
Milan have won only four of their last 19 Champions League matches (W4 D9 L6), these wins have come against Auxerre (twice), Viktoria Plzen and BATE Borisov.
Arsenal had the most accurate shooting in the 2011/12 Group Stage, with 66% of their attempts on target.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has found the net in all of his four Champions League appearances this season. He scored a brace in his only club visit to the Emirates, with Barcelona in March 2010.
Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has made more tackles than any other player this season in the Champions League (33).
Monday, October 31, 2011

Champions League Opta Facts - November 1-2


Group A

Bayern Munich v Napoli

Bayern have failed to scored in only one of their last 20 Champions League games, the 2009/10 final against Inter.
In their last 11 CL games, Bayern have found the net 24 times (an average of 2.2 goals per game).
Of their last 11 CL games, Bayern have won eight (two losses, one draw). But those three winless games have all come against Italian opposition (2-3 v Roma in November 2010, 2-3 v Inter in last season's round of 16, and this season's 1-1 draw at Napoli).
At home, Bayern have won eight of their last nine CL games (one loss).
Mario Gomez has scored 10 goals in his last nine CL games.
Gomez' last three CL goals have come in Munich's Allianz Arena, but 10 of his 14 goals overall in the Champions League have come away from home.
Following their 1-1 draw at Napoli, the Italians are now unbeaten against Bayern in all of their three meetings (two draws, one win).
Four of Bayern's last five CL losses have come against teams from Italy, including their last three.
Napoli have never won on German soil. Overall, they are winless in eight games against German opposition (three losses, five draws), and have lost the latest two.

Villarreal v Manchester City

In the first leg against Villarreal, Manchester City celebrated their first ever win in the Champions League.
After this season's three CL matchdays, 2006 semifinalists Villarreal are still without a single point in the table.
Villarreal hitman Giuseppe Rossi has now gone over nine hours without finding the net (563 minutes of play) - his last goal has come in the 2008/09 season, in the round of 16 against Panathinaikos (penalty).
The Spaniards have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 CL games.
Almost a quarter of Villarreal's CL games (6 of 25) have been scoreless draws.
The Yellow Submarine have won only one of their last ten CL games (four draws, five losses).
The Citizens haven't won any of their last five away games in European competition (two draws, three losses) - their last victory on foreign soil came in September 2010 at Red Bull Salzburg.
Man City have failed to score in their last three away games in European competition - they haven't found the net away from home in 283 minutes of European football.
In their rather brief CL history, Villarreal have faced English teams nine times already and have failed to win one (six draws, three losses).

Group B

Trabzonspor v CSKA Moscow

The Russians have lost only one of their last six away games in European competition, qualifiers excluded (three wins, two draws).
Moscow have kept a clean sheet in only one of their last 21 CL games - their 3-0 against Trabzonspor in the first leg.
At home, Trabzonspor have lost only one of their last seven games in European competition (excl. qualifiers) (three wins, three draws).
CSKA have lost only one of their seven European Cup/CL meetings with Turkish teams (four wins, two draws).
Only Napoli (4) have fired fewer shots on target than Trabzonspor (5).
Moscow's Seydou Doumbia has scored 11 goals in his last ten games in European competition for CSKA (four goals in the Europa League, three goals in EL qualification, four in the CL). With his four CL goals this season, he is the leading goalscorer.
The Russians have a dream duo in their attack: Vagner Love (one goal, two assists) and Seydou Doumbia (four goals) have had a hand in five of Moscow's last six CL goals.

Inter Milan v Lille

In the first leg, Lille and Inter met for the first time in a competitive game - the Italians had the upper hand at Lille (1-0).
Lille have won only one of their last eight games in European competition (four draws, three losses).
Inter have lost all of their last three CL home games (0-1 vs Bayern, 2-5 vs Schalke and 0-1 vs Trabzonspor) - this is a record for the Italian outfit.
Against French opposition, Inter have won only one of their last seven games in European competition (three draws, three losses) - that was the first leg at Lille.
Lille have five wins in nine meetings with teams from Italy, qualifiers included (one draw, three losses).
Lille have kept a clean sheet in five of their seven games against Italian teams in UEFA club competitions.
A bad omen for the French outfit: 82% of all teams that gained only two points from the first three CL group games were eliminated from that competition at the end of the group stage.
In 2010/11, Inter Milan survived the CL group stage for the seventh season in a row.

Group C

Manchester United v Otelul Galati

The first leg, which was the first meeting between the two teams, was won by Man Utd (2-0).
In European competition (incl. qualifiers), the English outfit has won all three meetings with teams from Romania.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last nine CL home games (six wins, three draws).
Galati are still waiting for their first point in CL play. They have lost four of their last five European games, qualifiers included.
Wayne Rooney is the leading English goal scorer in the Champions League (26 goals).
Ryan Giggs was 37 years and 289 days old when he scored in Lisbon, increasing his own record for the oldest goal scorer in CL history by 141 days.
Giggs has found the net in 16 of his 17 CL seasons - the only season in which the Welshman didn't score was 2007/08 (in spite of his nine appearances that season). No other player has scored at least once in so many different CL seasons.
In the first leg in Galati, the Red Devils managed to keep a clean sheet after conceding eight goals in their last four CL games.

Benfica v Basel

Basel haven't won a point or scored a goal in five games against Portuguese teams in UEFA club competitions (excl. qualifiers).
Basel have won only one of their last ten CL away games (three draws, six losses).
Benfica have lost only one of their last six CL home games (three wins, two draws).
For the first time since 1991/92, Benfica have won two away games in a row in Europe's biggest club competition (then European Cup, now Champions League).
On matchday 3, the Portuguese record champions kept a clean sheet for the second time in a row. In the 6 CL games before, Benfica had conceded 13 goals, and at least two in five of those games.
Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan had three assists in this season's three CL games, the most of all players.
Alexander Frei (three goals) and his namesake Fabian (two) have scored all of Basel's Champions League goals this term.
The Portuguese outfit have found the net in each of their CL games 2011/12, and scored twice in their 2-0 win at Basel - they have managed to net more than once in just one of their last 11 CL away games (2-1 at Donetsk in December 2007).

Group D

Ajax Amsterdam v Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo have won only one of their seven CL away games - and that win was at Amsterdam! On 25/11/1998, the Croats won 1-0 in their group meeting.
Amsterdam have won the last three European meetings between the two teams.
Zagreb is one of three teams in this season's Champions League that haven't gained a point yet. In the competition's history, this has happened to a team 46 times before, and only one of those teams made it to the next round (Newcastle United in 2002/03).
Ajax have lost only one of their last seven CL home games (three wins, three draws). But that defeat was a clear one - the Dutch outfit lost 0-4 to Real Madrid in November 2010.
Ajax haven't found the net in their last two CL home games - they have never gone three at home without scoring.
The Croats haven't won any of their last six CL games, losing five of them (one draw).
Zagreb is the only team apart from Genk that has yet to score in this season's competition. If they go one more without scoring, it would be a club record.
Only Porto have received more yellow cards (11) than the Croats have (10, like Napoli), while Ajax have received the fewest (1).

Lyon v Real Madrid

Lyon have won only one of their last ten CL games against Spanish opposition (five draws, four losses) - In February 2010 they won 1-0 against Real.
Lyon have won three of their four CL home games against the Merengues (one draw).
Real are the only team in this season's Champions League that has won all three of their group games, and they are also the only team that has yet to concede a goal (8-0 goals total).
The French outfit has won only one of their last eight CL games (four losses, three draws) - on matchday 2 they won 2-0 against Dinamo Zagreb.
At home, the Lyonnais have fared much better: They have lost only one of their last 12 CL home games (seven wins, four draws) - that was in the second leg of the semifinals 2009/10, when they lost 0-3 against Bayern.
Real Madrid have lost only one of their last 16 CL games (11 wins, four draws) - that was in April 2011 against Barcelona (0-2).
Madrid have conceded only six goals in their last 15 CL games.
Karim Benzema has scored the most of his goals against French opposition (6).

Group E

Genk v Chelsea

Chelsea have won the last four European meetings with Belgian teams, conceding no goals at all in those games. In Belgium, however, the Blues' record is negative (one win, two losses).
Genk have won none of their last 13 games in European competitions (excl. qualifiers) - they have only managed six draws and have lost seven.
Just like 2002/03, when they had qualified for the CL for the first time, the Belgian outfit has failed to score in their first three group games.
Genk have won none of their nine CL games so far, although they did manage five draws.
Four of the last six CL games involving Genk have been draws.
Chelsea's 5-0 win in the first leg was the Blues' biggest margin of victory in their CL history (they also beat Galatasaray 5-0 in October 1999).
Only Barcelona (nine times) have scored more goals than Chelsea (eight), and only Real Madrid (0) have conceded fewer goals than the Londoners (1).

Valencia v Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen are winless in their last nine CL away games (seven losses, two draws). Their last victory on foreign soil was in Haifa (2-0) on 01/10/2002.
Valencia have won only one of their last 15 meetings with German teams. Eight of those games resulted in draws, six were Valencia losses.
The Spaniards have won none of their last six CL games (four draws, two losses).
Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno has made 21 saves in the first three games, more than any other keeper.
Valencia have conceded more than one goal in only two of their last 13 CL games, but both of those games were against German teams (this season's 1-2 at Leverkusen and last season's 1-3 at Schalke in the round of 16).
This is Valencia's worst start ever to a CL campaign.
In 1997/98 and in 2004/05, Leverkusen also had gained six points from the first three group games. In both cases they ended up first or second in the table.

Group F

Borussia Dortmund v Olympiakos

Borussia have won only one of their last eight games in European competitions (3-0 against Karpaty Lviv in last season's Europa League), drawing four and losing three.
However, the German champions have lost only one of their last 11 CL home games (five wins, five draws).
Olympiakos are winless in their last six CL away games, losing five of those games (one draw).
In those six away games, Olympiakos failed to score on four occasions and managed only two goals overall. In five of the six games, however, they conceded at least two goals.
Dortmund have never had to a worse start in to a CL season. Another loss would all but end their chances of qualifying for the round of 16.
The Greeks have lost four of their last five CL games. The only win, though, came in the first leg against Dortmund (3-1).
Dortmund's chances of qualifying for the next round have fallen dramatically: Only 9% of all teams to have gained only one point from their first three group games ended up first or second in the table.
Olympiakos have won the last four meetings with German teams in UEFA club competitions, scoring 13 goals and conceding only two in those games.

Arsenal v Marseille

Marseille have lost six of their last eight CL games against English teams (one win, one draw).
Arsenal have lost only two of their 17 games against French opposition in European competitions (nine wins, six draws).
Marseille have won their last three CL away games in the group stages, keeping a clean sheet in all of those games (goal difference 11-0).
The Gunners have lost only one of their last 35 CL home games (1-3 in the semifinals 2008/09 against Manchester United). They won 25 of the remaining 34 (nine draws).
The French outfit has kept a clean sheet in seven of their last nine European games (excl. qualifiers).
A win would secure Arsenal a place in the round of 16.
In their last ten home games (of which they won nine and drawn one), Arsenal have scored an average of 3.3 goals per game.
Arsenal midfielder Alexandre Song has already won 18 tackles, by far the most of all players in the competition.

Group G

APOEL Nicosia v Porto

Porto and Nicosia are facing each other for the fourth time in two years now. In this season's first leg, the Cypriots gained their first point at Porto (having lost two before).
APOEL are winless in five European games against Portuguese opposition, losing four (one draw).
Nicosia are winless in their last 33 away games in European competitions (excl. qualifiers), but have drawn five of their last six.
The Cypriots have lost only one of their last 10 European games, qualifiers included.
In the first leg, referee Antony Gautier handed out 11 yellow cards. This has happened only once in the CL - in the first leg of the 2006/07 round of 16 game between Lyon and Roma.
Porto have fired 65 shots, ranking first ahead of favourites Real (64) and Barcelona (63) in this category.
APOEL has already gained five points, two more than in their entire 2009/10 campaign. This record is also the best ever start for a Cyprian team in the CL.
Hulk has had a hand in at least one goal in each of his team's CL games this season - something that only Lionel Messi, David Villa, Alan Dzagoev and Nicolas Gaitan have managed apart from the Brazilian.

Zenit St Petersburg v Shakhtar Donetsk

The last time Donetsk had a worse record after three group games than now (two points) was in 2006/07. That season they ended up third in the table and entered the UEFA Cup - just like Zenit did in 2008/09.
Zenit have gained three more points from their first three games than in 2008/09 when they first played in the CL - that season they didn't manage a win until matchday 4.
Shakhtar are winless in their last five CL games - a club record -, having lost three of those games (two draws).
Zenit's win against Porto on matchday 2 was only the second CL victory for the Russian outfit (they have drawn three and lost four apart from that).
Before the first leg between the two teams, Shakhtar had faced a team from Russia only once in European competitions (excl. qualifiers). That was in March 2009, when they eliminated CSKA Moscow (0-1 A, 2-0 H) in the UEFA Cup round of 16.
All four Shakhtar goals this season were scored by Brazilians (two by Luiz Adriano, one each by Jadson and Willian). The only two assists on those goals were also provided by Brazilian players (Jadson and Teixeira).
In the first leg, Zenit fired 23 shots - a number bettered only by Real (in their 1-0 win at Zagreb on matchday 1) in an away game of this season's competition.

Group H

Viktoria Plzeň v Barcelona

In their 0-2 defeat at Camp Nou in the first leg, Viktoria was the first team in this season's CL that did not fire a single shot during the entire game.
With a win at Plzen, Pep Guardiola's team would guarantee qualification for the round of 16 if Milan manage at least a draw in the group's other game on matchday 4.
Barcelona have found the net at least once in each of their last 24 CL games - the last CL team to keep a clean sheet against the Catalans was Rubin Kazan in November 2009.
Victor Valdes has made just one save in three Champions League games this season.
Barcelona's overall record in the CL against Czech opposition is now six wins, one draw and two losses.
Lionel Messi, who assisted on Andres Iniesta's 1-0 in the first leg, has had a hand in 51 goals in his 60 CL appearances (39 goals, 12 assists).

BATE Borisov v AC Milan

Borisov have won none of their nine CL games (four draws, five losses).
Of the five European meetings with teams from Italy, BATE have lost three and drawn two, scoring two goals and conceding 10 in the process (qualifiers excluded).
When BATE first played in the CL in 2008/09, they ended up last in the table despite having gained two points from their first three group games (they have gained only one point now).
Borisov's Marko Simic has collected two yellow cards - he will be suspended automatically if he gets another one.
Milan's European record against Borisov (their only opponent from Belarus) is flawless: They won three of three, scoring eight goals and conceding none.
In the first leg, Milan fired considerably more shots (28) than they had in their first two games combined (20).
Twice before in their CL history, the Italian outfit have gained seven points from their first three group games - they ended up first in the table on both occasions.
Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired ten shots in the first leg against BATE - only Barca's Lionel Messi has had more in one game (11, on matchday two at Borisov).
Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Champions League Opta Stats September 27-28

Group A
Bayern Munich - Manchester City

Only one English club has managed to beat Bayern Munich on their own patch: Norwich City won 2-1 at the Olympic stadium in the UEFA Cup back in October 1993.
Manchester City's only victory in Germany against a German club was back in November 2008 (2-0 v Schalke in the UEFA Cup).
City' record against German clubs is perfectly balanced with three wins, three defeats and a draw.
Bayern Munich have won seven of their last eight Champions League games at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich have scored in each of their last eight home games in the Champions League - the last team that stopped them from scoring at the Allianz Arena were Bordeaux in November 2009.
Only Barcelona (705) completed more passes than Manchester City (541) on matchday one.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Napoli - Villarreal

Napoli and Villarreal met in the last 16 of the Europa league last season - the game ended 0-0 in the San Paolo but Villarreal won the return leg 2-1 at the Madrigal courtesy of goals from Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi.
No Spanish side has ever won at the San Paolo.
Napoli's only defeat in seven European Cup/Champions League games came against Real Madrid, back in September 1987 (2-0 at the Bernabeu).
Villarreal have never won in Italy (qualifiers included), losing four of their seven away games and drawing three.
The Yellow Submarines have also never scored more than one goal in their seven away trips against Italians sides.
Three of the last four games in European competition at the San Paolo have ended 0-0.
Napoli haven't conceded a single goal at home in their last five games in European competition.
Edinson Cavani has scored eight goals in 11 games in European competition with Napoli (seven in Europa League, one in Champions League).


Group B

CSKA Moscow - Inter Milan

CSKA Moscow have lost all four of their competitive encounters with Inter Milan - they met in the group stages of the Champions League in 2007/08 and in the quarter-finals in 2009/10 when Inter went on to win the trophy.
Inter Milan have lost six of their last eight Champions League games.
CSKA Moscow have not kept a clean sheet in their last 19 Champions League games.
The last time Inter Milan kept a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League was against CSKA Moscow in April 2010.
CSKA have only won two of their last nine Champions League home games.
Seydou Doumbia has scored nine goals in eight games in European competition with CSKA Moscow (seven goals in the Europa League, two in the Champions League).
Javier Zanetti was the oldest player to appear on matchday one this season, at the age of 38 years and one month.

Trabzonspor - Lille

Trabzonspor have played French teams on four occasions, winning three times and losing once.
The only French side to beat Trabzonspor are Toulouse in the Europa League play-offs back in August 2009.
Lille's only encounter with a Turkish side came in the last 16 of the Europa League in February 2010 when they met Fenerbahce. The French side won 2-1 at home before drawing 1-1 in Istanbul.
Only Chelsea (12) had more shots on target than Lille (11) on matchday one of the Champions League.
Trabzonspor only had one shot on target on matchday one against Inter Milan and converted it.
Lille were caught offside seven times on matchday one against CSKA Moscow, only Real Madrid were caught offside as many times.
Only one of Moussa Sow's five shots on matchday one was on target - his goal.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Group C

Manchester Utd - Basel

Manchester Utd met Basel in the second group stage of the 2002/03 Champions League - United won 3-1 in Switzerland before drawing 1-1 at Old Trafford.
Manchester Utd have only lost one of their last 32 Champions League games at Old Trafford, that was against Besiktas in November 2009.
Basel have never won in England in seven games in European competition. However, both of their Champions League away games in England have ended in a 1-1 draw (against Liverpool and Manchester Utd).
Only two Swiss sides have ever managed to win in England in European competition: Grasshoppers Zürich at West Brom in the 1981/82 UEFA Cup and Lucerne at Tottenham Hotspur in the 1995 Intertoto Cup.
Manchester Utd only attempted four shots on matchday one against Benfica, no side attempted fewer.
Ryan Giggs has been directly involved in seven of Manchester Utd's last 12 Champions League goals, scoring twice and delivering five assists.
Wayne Rooney has failed to score in his last five Champions League games at Old Trafford.

Otelul Galati - Benfica

Romanian sides have only won eight of 55 Champions League games (since 1992/93).
Benfica have won only two of their 21 away games in the Champions League (against Liverpool and Shakhtar Donetsk).
Nevertheless, Benfica are unbeaten in Romania in European competition (two wins, three draws).
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.
Oscar Cardozo has scored 12 goals in his last 20 starts in European competition for Benfica.
The only member of the Otelul Galati squad to have played Champions League football before this season was Sorin Frunză - he made five appearances for fellow Romanian side Unirea Urziceni in the 2009/10 group stages.

Group D

Lyon - Dinamo Zagreb

Lyon have won none of their last six Champions League games (three draws, three defeats) - it equals their longest drought in the competition (from November 2006 to October 2007).
Dinamo Zagreb are the last Croatian club to beat a French opponent - it was against Auxerre in the Cup Winners Cup back in 1994. Since then, French teams are unbeaten in six competitive games against Croatian counterparts.
Lyon have only lost two of their last 17 home games in the Champions League - both defeats were against Bayern Munich.
Dinamo Zagreb's last away game in the Champions League group stages was also in France, back in November 1999 - they drew 2-2 in Marseille.
No goalkeeper made more saves than Zagreb's Ivan Kelava on matchday one (10).
Zagreb midfielder Mateo Kovacic was the youngest player to appear on matchday one this season, at the age of 17 years and four months.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Real Madrid - Ajax Amsterdam

Real Madrid have only failed to score once in their last 14 Champions League games.
Real Madrid have won their last four games at home in the group stages without conceding a single goal.
Real Madrid and Ajax have played each other eight times previously, with Ajax winning four games and Real three.
Both sides met in the Champions League group stages last season, with Real Madrid winning both games and scoring six goals to Ajax's none on aggregate.
Real Madrid had 56 shots in their two games against Ajax last season (including 35 at the Bernabeu) to the Dutch side's 18.
Ajax have lost all of their last four competitive encounters against Spanish sides, conceding 11 goals in the process.
Ajax were the only side who didn't pick up a booking on matchday one.
Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen was one of only two players to complete more than 100 passes on matchday one: he completed 117 while Barcelona's Xavi completed 134.

Group E

Valencia - Chelsea

Chelsea are unbeaten in their four encounters with Valencia (two wins, two draws). They met Valencia in the Champions League quarter-finals in April 2007 and in the group stages in 2007/08.
Chelsea have won both of their trips to the Mestalla, each time thanks to a 2-1 scoreline.
Chelsea have lost none of their last six Champions League away games in Spain (two wins, four draws).
Valencia have won only two of their last nine Champions League games at the Mestalla.
They've lost all of their last three home Champions League games against English opposition (twice against Chelsea, once against Man Utd).
Chelsea had the most shots on target on matchday one: 12 against Bayer Leverkusen.
Fernando Torres already leads the assists chart: he set up both Chelsea goals against Leverkusen on matchday one.
Unai Emery (39 years old) and Andre Villas-Boas (33) are part of a group of three managers who are under 40 in this season's Champions League, alongside BATE Borisov's Viktor Gontcharenko (34).

Bayer Leverkusen - Genk

Genk haven't won a single game in the Champions League to date: five draws and two defeats.
Bayer Leverkusen have lost 11 of their last 16 Champions League games.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in their three encounters with Belgian sides (two wins, one draw).
Qualifiers excluded, Genk have won none of their last 11 games in European competition (five defeats, six draws).
Genk completed only 158 passes on matchday one, the lowest total of all 32 sides in the competition.
No goalkeeper made more saves than Leverkusen's Bernd Leno on matchday one (10).
Bayer Leverkusen had the most players from one nationality in their starting line-up on matchday one: 10 Germans.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Group F

Arsenal - Olympiakos

Arsenal haven't lost at home in the Champions League to a non-English side since September 2003 (0-3 v Inter Milan).
Arsenal have won 19 of their last 23 home games in the group stages of the Champions League - their last defeat being that 3-0 reverse against Inter.
Arsenal and Olympiakos met in the group stages of the Champions League two seasons ago, with the Gunners winning 2-0 at the Emirates but losing 1-0 away.
Olympiakos have lost all five of their away trips to England in the Champions League, conceding 15 goals and scoring only one in the process.
In fact, in 32 trips to England by Greek clubs, only one has managed to come back with a win: AEK Athens against Derby County in the 1976/77 UEFA Cup.
Alex Song made more tackles than any other player on matchday one (12).
Robin van Persie has scored eight goals in his last 10 Champions League games at the Emirates Stadium.

Marseille - Borussia Dortmund

Marseille have kept clean sheets in six of their last seven Champions League games.
Marseille have won their last five Champions League group stage games.
Marseille have won three of their four encounters at home against German clubs in European competition. The only German club to beat Marseille on their own patch are Carl Zeiss Jena back in the 1975/76 UEFA Cup.
Marseille last faced German opposition in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup when they played Werder Bremen. They won 4-3 on aggregate.
Borussia Dortmund have won none of their last five encounters with French clubs in European competition (two defeats, three draws).
Dortmund's only victory in France came back in the 1996/97 Champions League campaign when they won 1-0 at Auxerre in the quarter finals.
Borussia Dortmund have kept only one clean sheet in their last 13 away games in the Champions League.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Group G

Zenit St Petersburg - Porto

Porto are unbeaten against Russian opposition, winning six of their eight encounters in European competition.
Zenit have only won one of their seven games in the Champions League group stages, a 2-0 win away at BATE Borisov in November 2008.
Zenit have met Portuguese opposition on three occasions, beating Guimaraes 2-1 in the UEFA Cup in October 2005. They also met Nacional in the 2009/10 Europa League play-offs, losing 4-3 in Portugal and drawing 1-1 at home.
Since last season, Porto have won 13 of their 16 games in European competition.
Porto had 29 shots on matchday one against Shakhtar, more than any other side. However, 17 of those were off target (including three off the woodwork).
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Shakhtar Donetsk - APOEL Nicosia

APOEL's win against Zenit St Petersburg on matchday one was their first in the Champions League. It was also only their second win in the last 34 games in European competition (qualifiers excluded).
Shakhtar have won their last four home games in the Champions League group stages.
Shakhtar have only failed to score once in their last 13 Champions League outings, that was against Barcelona in the quarter-finals last season.
APOEL's only competitive meeting with a Ukrainian side dates back to the 1973/74 European Cup. The were knocked out 3-0 on aggregate in the first round by Zorya Luhansk (then part of the Soviet Union).
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

Group H

BATE Borisov - Barcelona

If Barcelona find the nets in Belarus, they will establish a new record of scoring in 23 consecutive games in the Champions League. They are currently level with Bayern Munich, who netted in 22 straight games from November 1998 to March 2000.
BATE have failed to win any of their seven Champions League games, drawing four and losing three, whilst failing to score in four of those games.
BATE have lost all four of their competitive encounters with Spanish opposition, conceding nine goals and scoring only one in the process.
Since 2009, Barcelona have won only four of their 15 away games in the Champions League.
Barcelona's last two defeats in the Champions League group stages have been against sides from the former Soviet Union (Shakhtar Donetsk and Rubin Kazan).
Since last season, Lionel Messi has been directly involved in 16 goals in 14 Champions League games, that's 12 goals and four assists.
Xavi only missed four of his 138 passes against AC Milan on matchday one.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.

AC Milan - Viktoria Plzeň

AC Milan have won only two of their last 14 Champions League games, both against Auxerre.
Ac Milan have lost five of their last nine home games in the Champions League and have only kept one clean sheet in those nine games.
AC Milan have won their four home games in European competition against Czech sides (three against Sparta Prague, one against Slovan Liberec).
The only Czech side to beat AC Milan were Slovan Liberec back in the 2002/03 Champions League play-offs.
Czech sides have conceded 11 goals in four trips to Italy in the Champions League.
Alessandro Nesta completed all 28 of his passes on matchday one against Barcelona.
Alexandre Pato scored the first goal of this season's competition, netting after 24 seconds against Barcelona, the fifth fastest goal in the history of the Champions League (since 1992/93).
Among players in this season's Champions League, Clarence Seedorf is the most decorated in the competition, having won it four times.
This will be the first competitive encounter between these two sides.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Udinese v Arsenal - Opta Facts - 24 August


Last week's first leg at the Emirates was the only previous meeting between these two sides.

Arsenal have lost only five of their 26 previous meetings with Italian opposition in Europe, and have conceded only one goal in the last seven occasions they have faced an Italian side.

Arsenal will visit Udinese after having failed to score in their two opening Premier League fixtures; the last time this happened to the Gunners was 42 years ago, back in the 1969/70 campaign.

Arsenal have won all nine legs of their five Champions League Qualifying matches to date, including the reverse fixture with Udinese, conceding only two goals in the process.

Udinese have lost three of their last four European games, drawing one.

However, at home they are unbeaten in their last five games (four wins and a draw).

Arsenal's last eight European games away from home have seen them lose six times, and win two; though one of these wins did come at this stage last season at Celtic (2-0).

Last Tuesday at the Emirates, Udinese attempted 18 shots, six more than Arsenal, but hit the target only three times

Eight of these shots were attempted by Antonio Di Natale, who has been the Serie A top-scorer in the past two seasons (29 goals scored in 2009-10 and 28 last term).

Overall, Di Natale has been the most prolific Serie A scorer over the last five seasons with 97 goals in 160 games.
Friday, May 27, 2011

Champions League Final Opta Stats


Barcelona - Manchester United
* Manchester Utd are the only unbeaten side in the Champions League this season (nine wins, three draws).
* Barcelona's only defeat in the Champions League this season was in London, when they lost 2-1 at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium last February.
* Barcelona are the best attacking side in this season's competition with 27 goals while Manchester Utd possess the best defence with four goals conceded in 12 games.
* Barcelona are the only side to have completed more than 90% of passes in the Champions League this season (90.9%), whilst Xavi and Sergio Busquets are the only players to have completed more than 1,000 passes (1,103 and 1,035 respectively).
* None of Manchester Utd's 18 goals in the Champions League this season have been headers.
* Barcelona have never failed to score in their last 20 Champions League games. The last side to stop them from finding the net were Rubin Kazan in November 2009.
* Barcelona were the last side to lift the Champions League trophy at Wembley when they won it in 1992 (1-0 v Sampdoria, after extra-time).
* This will be the 11th meeting between Barcelona and Manchester Utd, in all competitions. The record is perfectly balanced with three wins each and four draws.
* Their last meeting dates back to the 2009 Champions League final with Barcelona winning 2-0 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
* Their 10 previous meetings have seen a grand total of 31 goals, an average of 3.1 per game.
* This is the seventh time Barcelona have reached the final of the Champions League/European Cup, including three in the last six editions. They have won it three times and finished runners-up three times.
* Manchester Utd have reached their third Champions League final in the last four seasons. Their overall record in the Champions League/European Cup final is three wins and one defeat. The only side to beat them in the final are Barcelona, in 2009.
* If Barcelona beat Manchester Utd at Wembley, Spain will overtake Italy in terms of most Champions League/European Cup trophies. At the moment, they are tied on 12 trophies each, with England a close third (11).
* If Alex Ferguson lifts the trophy at Wembley, he will join Bob Paisley as the most decorated manager in the history of the Champions League/European Cup with three wins.
* Alex Ferguson is the third manager to lead a team to four Champions League/European Cup finals (1999, 2008, 2009, 2011), after Miguel Muñoz and Marcello Lippi.
* Lionel Messi is the top scorer this season in the Champions League with 11 goals. If he keeps hold of top spot, he would become the first player to win it outright in three consecutive seasons in the history of the European Cup. He is already Barcelona's leading scorer in the history of the competition (36 goals).
* Edwin Van der Sar has the best saves-to-shots ratio in the Champions League this season, having saved 31 of 35 shots faced.
* Van der Sar will become the oldest player to win the Champions League/European Cup if Manchester Utd are victorious. The oldest player to feature in the final will still be Juventus 'keeper Dino Zoff: he was 41 years and 86 days old when he played Hamburg in the 1983 final (lost 0-1).
* Dimitar Berbatov has failed to score in his last 1134 minutes of action in the Champions League. His last goal in the competition dates back to October 2008 (v Celtic).

Monday, April 25, 2011

Champions League Opta Facts - Semi-finals First Legs - 26th to 27th April


FC Schalke 04 - Manchester United
Schalke 04 and Manchester United will clash for the first time ever in a competitive match.
United have conceded just three goals in the competition this season, less than every other team except Real Madrid, who have conceded also conceded three.
The Red Devils are yet to concede a single goal away from home in the Champions League this season.
Schalke are unbeaten in nine Champions League games (seven wins, two draws).
Manchester have lost just one of their last 22 away games in the Champions League (14 wins, seven draws).
Schalke have won all five home games in this season's Champions League.
United are unbeaten in 11 Champions League games (eight wins, three draws), but their last defeat came on German soil, when they went down 2-1 at Bayern Munich just over a year ago.
Raul is currently the Champions League's all-time top-scorer with 71 goals, he is also the only Schalke outfield player to have feature in all 10 of their CL games this season.
United have netted only 12 goals in 10 Champions League games this season, the worst goalscoring record amongst the four semi-finalists.
Ryan Giggs has assisted each of United's last four goals in this competition.
Only Manchester United and Real Madrid are still unbeaten this season in the Champions League.

Real Madrid - FC Barcelona
These teams have met in the Champions League just once before. In the 2001/02 semi-final Real won the first leg 2-0 at the Camp Nou and reached the final after a 1-1 draw at home.
Real have won their five Champions League home games this season and haven't conceded a single goal in any of them.
Real Madrid are the only side to have opened the scoring in each of their 10 Champions League games this season.
Barca have lost just one of their last 11 Champions League games (eight wins, two draws).
Since 2009, Barcelona have won only three of their 14 away games the Champions League.
The Catalans have won two of their last three away games in the Champions League (one defeat).
Real are unbeaten in eleven Champions League matches (eight wins, three draws).
Five players have been sent off in the last five meetings between these two sides in all competitions (four for Real and one for Barca).
Real are one of only two sides still unbeaten this season in the Champions League (the other is Manchester United).
The merengues and the blaugrana share the best attacking record of the competition this season, each scoring 24 goals.
Seven of the eight players who have completed the most passes in the Champions League this season play for Barcelona, the only exception is Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso (third) who has completed 656.
Mesut Özil has delivered the most assists in the Champions League this season (seven).
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Champions League Opta Facts - Last 16 1st Leg

AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur

* Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored four goals in five Champions League starts for Milan.
* Spurs have already played once at the San Siro this season, losing 4-3 to Inter in the Group Stage.
* Spurs and Milan met in the 1971-72 UEFA Cup semi-final where Tottenham won the home leg and drew away to progress to the final.
* Tottenham have scored a joint-competition-high 18 goals in the Champions League this season.
* Harry Redknapp's side scored with 28% of their goal attempts, the best percentage in the competition.
* Milan have the worst disciplinary record in the Champions League picking up 17 Yellow Cards.
* Milan drew the first two, won the next pair and have lost the last two home matches in the Champions League against English opposition.
* Milan have won none of their last five matches in European competition against English opposition.
* Peter Crouch has scored three goals from just five shots on target in the Champions League this season.
* Spurs have lost two and drawn one of their three trips to Italy in European competition.
* Milan have been knocked out at this stage by an English team in the last two seasons.

Valencia v Schalke 04

* Valencia have played Schalke four times in European competition, drawing both of the home games at the Mestalla.
* Valencia have drawn seven of the last 10 matches played against German opposition including the last three in a row.
* Valencia have only won four of their last 17 Champions League matches.
* The Spaniards have only won one of their last 12 European games against German opponents, but that was a 1-0 away victory against Schalke in the 2007-08 Champions League.
* Schalke have not won any of their last seven European games against Spanish opposition, failing to score in six of those matches.
* Schalke have only conceded seven goals in their last 13 Champions League matches and not more than one in any of those fixtures.
* Schalke have scored 14, but failed to score in eight of their last 14 Champions League games.
* Schalke had failed to score in their previous six Champions League away games prior to beating Benfica in their last away match of the Group Stage.
* Valencia have not beaten any of the three German sides to visit the Mestalla in the Champions League.
* Only three teams scored more goals than Valencia (15) in the Group Stage.

AS Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk

* Shakhtar won 103 fouls in the Group Stage, more than any other team.
* Roma are the only one of the teams qualified for the Last 16 who have not kept a clean sheet in the Champions League this season.
* Eduardo has scored three goals from just six shots in the competition so far.
* Six of the seven shots attempted by Luiz Adriano have been on target and three have resulted in goals.
* Roma have won five of their last six Champions League home matches.
* Shakhtar have only scored in one half of each of their six matches in the Champions League this season.
* Roma were drawn against Shakhtar in the 2006-07 Champions League Group Stage, winning at home and losing away.
* Roma have won three and lost three of their six Champions League games against Ukrainian teams, failing to score in all three defeats.
* Shakhtar have won only two and lost 10 of their 12 matches in European against Italian teams, but one of those was against Roma.
* Shakhtar have lost all six away European games in Italy, conceding four or more in each of the last four.
* Marco Borriello has scored in four of his last five Champions League appearances.

Arsenal v Barcelona

* Arsenal have scored a joint-competition-high 18 goals in the Champions League this season.
* Arsenal and Barcelona have been drawn together three times in Europe, the 1999-2000 Group Stage, the 2006 final and last season's quarter final, with Arsenal winning none and losing three of the five games.
* There have been red cards in three of the five matches between Barcelona and Arsenal.
* No team from continental Europe has won away at Arsenal in the Champions League since Inter beat the Gunners 3-0 in September 2003 - a run of 36 games with the only defeats coming against English sides (Chelsea and Manchester Utd).
* Only two teams (Barcelona and Manchester United have scored more than once in 33 Champions League games at the Emirates, with 21 sides failing to score at all.
* Arsenal have won penalties in eight of their last 11 Champions league games at the Emirates Stadium and each of their last five.
* Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Champions League games.
* Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals in his last 11 Champions League starts including four in one game against Arsenal.
* Arsenal hit the target with 63% of their shots in the Group Stage, the highest percentage in the competition.
* Barcelona had the tightest defence in the group stage, allowing their opponents just eight shots on target against them.
* Marouane Chamakh has scored three goals from just six shots in Europe this season.
* Barcelona have made the semi-finals of the Champions League in the last three seasons.

FC København v Chelsea

* Nicolas Anelka has scored five goals from just seven shots on target in the Champions League this season.
* Anelka has scored eight times in his last 10 Champions League starts.
* FC København posted the worst shooting accuracy figures of any of the teams who qualified for the Last 16, hitting the target with just 29% of their shots.
* The Danish side met Chelsea in the 1998-99 Cup Winners Cup, drawing at Stamford Bridge and then losing 0-1 at home.
* Chelsea have only won two of their last 15 Champions League away games in the knockout stages.
* Chelsea have kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 Champions League games in the knockout phase.
* FC København have won four and drawn two of their six Champions League home games.
* FC København have only won one of their six European matches against English opposition.
* Chelsea have drawn Danish opposition twice winning three games and losing none of the four legs.
* Three of København's seven goals in the Champions League so far have come from shots from outside the box.

Olympique Lyonnais v Real Madrid

* Real Madrid fired in 52 shots on target, more than any other team in the Group Stage.
* Lyon were caught offside 30 times in the Group Stage, more often than any other team.
* Xabi Alonso created 19 goalscoring chances for his team-mates, more than any other player in the Champions League this season.
* Real Madrid fired in 107 attempts (excluding blocked efforts) in the group stage, more than any other team, though Lyon fired in the second-highest tally of 88.
* Lyon and Real have been drawn against each other three times in the Champions League, with the French side winning all three home games and drawing all three at the Bernabeu.
* Real Madrid have not scored in any of their three previous trips to Stade Garland.
* Cristiano Ronaldo has fired in 16 shots on target, more than any other player in this season's Champions League.
* Karim Benzema has scored 16 goals in 23 Champions League starts for Real Madrid and previous club Lyon.
* Only Manchester United (1) have conceded fewer goals than Real Madrid in this season's Champions League.
* Real have lost just one of their last 11 Champions League matches, but that was away at Lyon.
* Real Madrid have been knocked out at this stage in each of the last six campaigns, including by Lyon last season.
* However, the last time they made it to the quarter-finals was also the last time before this season that they went unbeaten in the group stages (2003/04).

Marseille v Manchester United

* Manchester United have the worst conversion rate of all the teams who have made the Last 16 of the Champions League scoring with just 10% of their chances.
* United have lost just one of their last 20 Champions League away games, winning nine of the last 10.
* Sir Alex Ferguson's side have the best defensive record in the competition having conceded just one goal in the Group Stage.
* Marseille have kept clean sheets in their last four Champions league matches.
* Marseille have played English opposition 10 times in the Champions league and all four of their wins have been 1-0 successes.
* Marseille have only scored six goals in their 10 Champions League games against English opposition and never more than once in a match.
* United and Marseille drew each other in the 1999-2000 1st Group Stage with both sides winning their home games by a single-goal margin.
* Man Utd had fewer players shown cards in the Group Stage (3) than any other team.
* United have only lost two of their 24 European matches against French opposition.
* Only one French team (Lyon in 2004) has ever scored more than one goal against Man Utd in European competition.

Internazionale v Bayern München

* Samuel Eto'o has scored seven goals from just 10 shots on target in the Champions League.
* Mario Gomez has scored six goals from just eight shots on target.
* Inter met Bayern in the 2010 Champions League final, with the Italian side winning 2-0.
* Bayern have won both of their European matches against Inter at the San Siro.
* The five meetings between Bayern and Inter have seen two wins apiece, one draw and both sides scoring six goals in total.
* Inter are unbeaten in their last 10 Champions League games at San Siro, winning the last seven in a row.
* Inter have only won two of their last eight Champions League matches against German opposition.
* Bayern have won seven and lost two of their last nine Champions League games, but the two defeats were against Italian sides.
* Bayern have only won two out of 10 Champions league away games against Italian sides.
* Only Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur scored more goals than Bayern in the Group Stage.
* Bayern's last three Champions League defeats away from home have all been by a 2-3 scoreline.