With the Champions League group stage at an end and the 16 teams that will go through to the knock-out stages decided, AS takes a look at some of the stats from the 2018-19 competition so far.
Lewandowski leads the way
The Bayern Munich striker is currently top of the scoring charts after six games, finding the net eight times in the group stage to place himself in the running to end the season as the Champions League’s most lethal marksman. Barcelona’s Leo Messi is second on six goals, with Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Dusan Tadic (Ajax), Moussa Marega (Porto), Edin Dzeko (Roma), Neymar (PSG) and Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) all on five.
Milan Borjan the busiest keeper
The Red Star Belgrade number one had a bittersweet group stage, making more saves than any other keeper with 39 ahead of Jeroen Zoet (PSV, 37) and Samir Handanovic (Inter, 32). However, the Canada international also conceded more than any keeper in the group phase with 17.
Neymar’s fleet feet
The PSG forward’s ability to go past a defender was on show throughout the opening stage, with the Brazilian completing 32 dribbles. The closest players to Neymar on the list are Lucas Moura and Raheem Sterling (20) with Philippe Coutinho the highest-placed LaLiga player on 16.
Kroos control
The German’s famous passing accuracy did not desert him even if Real endured a not entirely smooth group phase. Kroos completed 503 passes over six games with an accuracy rate of 95.1 percent. The midfielder was joined on the podium by two defenders: Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte (474) and Dortmund’s Manuel Akanji (442).
Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, business as usual
The Juventus forward and his former club continue to have something in common; no side or player took more shots in the group stage. Santiago Solari’s side attempted 120 shots on goal, three more than Barcelona and nine more than Manchester City. Ronaldo had a pop on 28 occasions, one more than Tottenham’s Harry Kane and three more than Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech.
Valencia, Young Boys on opposite ends of the fouls
Marcelino’s side, who were eliminated but qualified for the Europa League ahead of the Swiss club, were the most-fouled team in the group stage with 108, followed by PSG, Barcelona, Galatasaray and Ajax on 91. Young Boys were the side who dished out the most fouls with 109, ahead of Tottenham (98) and Porto (94).
Four unbeaten sides
Only Barcelona, Porto, Bayern Munich and Lyon of the 32 competitors went through the group stages without tasting defeat. Porto pickedup the most points of any side with 16, only dropping points in their opening game against Schalke. Barça and Bayern ended on 14 points after each drawing two games of their six while Lyon advanced with the lowest points total of any of the 16 qualified sides, picking up just eight in Group F after one win and five draws to finish five points behind Manchester City.
Four sides without a win
On the other end of the scale, Monaco, PSV, AEK and Hoffenheim all exited the tournament at the first hurdle without winning a single game. AEK failed to earn a point in Group E and scored just twice, with Monaco, semi-finalists two seasons ago, finishing bottom of Group A with one point and two goals scored.
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