Records Galore: Manchester City Emerges Victorious in Thrilling Champions League Season

 Records Galore: Manchester City Emerges Victorious in Thrilling Champions League Season

Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker of Manchester City FC pose for a photo with the trophy during the award ceremony following the UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City FC and FC Internazionale. Manchester City FC won 1-0 over FC(Getty)

The previous season of the Champions League was full of records. After 11 years, a new champion has emerged in European club football's top competition. Manchester City won the coveted trophy, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final held in Istanbul. Radri scored the only goal of the match, securing the victory for City. This goal has made all the difference in the final.

Not only in the decisive match but also throughout the season, the team that scored more goals has mostly emerged victorious. Draws or point-sharing scenarios have occurred less frequently on the field. UEFA's Department of Tactics and statistical analysis provided this information after studying the entire season. The governing body of European Football employed 26 individuals for this purpose, and UEFA published comprehensive reports for all 24 seasons based on their findings.

UEFA revealed that multiple observers were present in each match of the group stage. From the knockout stage onwards, there was only one observer. They assessed the strategies of the 32 clubs and prepared reports accordingly.

According to the reports, in the previous season, out of 125 matches (from the group stage to the final), at least one goal was scored in 117 matches, which accounts for 93.60 percent. In 88 matches or 75.21 percent, the team that scored first went on to win, leaving the field with satisfaction. Only 90 percent of the teams drew or lost.

Pakhi Bonar, a member of the observer team, believes that in the previous season, the first goal played a crucial psychological role for the scoring teams. "It (the first goal) boosted the confidence of the team. The players played freely and confidently without pressure, sticking to their natural game."

Conversely, in the latest season, teams that scored early goals faced more pressure. Their plans had to be coordinated to bring about parity. The opposite has also happened. It means that while trying to find goals, the teams that initially fell behind have scored more.

In the 2022-23 season's group stage, 304 goals were scored, averaging 3.17 goals per match. This is more than seven goals higher than the 2021-22 season.