SK Stat Attack: Top Stats from Barcelona, Arsenal and other Champions League Games
After another brilliant night of Champions League football where Barcelona and Arsenal hammered their opposition, PSG were held by Ludogerets and Dynamo Kyiv ripped apart Besiktas, here’s a lot at the best stats from the night
1 – Lionel Messi is the 1st player in Europe’s big 5 leagues to reach 20 goals in all competitions this season (in 18 apps)
51 - Lionel Messi has scored 51 goals in 51 Champions League games at the Camp Nou. WHAT. A. PLAYER
10 – Messi is the second player to score 10+ goals in a UCL groups stage after Cristiano Ronaldo (who has 11)
10 - FC Barcelona have finished top of their UCL group for the 10th consecutive season, the longest such run in the competition. They really have been the Kings of Europe over the past decade
450 – Lionel Messi has scored Barcelona’s 450th CL goal. Only Real Madrid (481) have scored more goals in the competition
549 – Lionel Messi played his 549th game for Barcelona tonight, joining Migueli in joint 4th in the club’s all-time appearances
993 - Barcelona have attempted 993 passes vs Borussia, a record in a single UCL game since 2003/2004. HOLY! What a number that is.
886 – They completed 886 of them.
66% – and had more than 2/3rds the possession!!! UFF!!
583 - Since data collection (03/04), no team has played as many passes in a CL first half as Barcelona today (583).
3 - Arda Turan is the third Turkish player to score a UCL hat-trick, but the first to do it for a non-Turkish team. He was bound to adapt to Barcelona sooner or later!
105 - Andres Iniesta has attempted 105 in the first half, Borussia Moenchengladbach combined completed 163. Anyone call for the King?
14 – Barcelona have won their last 14 UCL games at the Camp Nou (44 GF, 6 GA), all since Luis Enrique took charge. JUST LOOK AT THAT GOALS FOR COLUMN!
20 – Barca have scored their 20th CL goal this season, equalling the competition record of most goals scored in a group
4 – Including this season, Atlético have finished top of their group in all four of their UCL campaigns under Diego Simeone. Good coach, eh?
1 – Arsenal have won their CL group for the 1st time in 5 seasons
3 - Lucas Pérez is the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick in his first start in the UCL. And he did it for an English team. Nice!
33 – There were 33 passes before Lucas Perez's second goal v Basel, no goal in the UCL has seen more passes this season.
3 – Mesut Ozil has 3 assists this season in the UCL, as many as he had in his first 3 UCL campaigns. COMBINED!
23 - Since Mesut Ozil's Champions League debut, only Lionel Messi (24) and Cristiano Ronaldo (26) have provided more assists. OF COURSE THOSE TWO ARE NOS. 1 & 2
200 – Tonight’s game wass Arsene Wenger’s 200th in European competition as Arsenal Manager
25 – Edinson Cavani has now scored 25 goals in his last 24 appearances for club and country since August 28
6 - No Team that finished a CL group as last, has won on matchday 6 as high as Kiev today (6-0)
33 - Manuel Neuer keeps a clean sheet for the 33rd time in UCL (as many as Oliver Kahn) - German record! He is superb!
15 – Bayern Munich have won their 15th successive CL game at the Allianz Arena, extending their record home winning run in the competition
13 - Kelechi Iheanacho has scored 13 times in 18 starts for Manchester City.
19 - Tosin Adarabioyo is the youngest Manchester City player to start a Champions League game for the club. Pep believes in his young blood, doesn’t he?