TECHNICAL REPORT

2023/24
CONTENTS
4 6 12 18
INTRODUCTION THE FINAL WINNING TACTICAL
COACH: CARLO ANALYSIS
ANCELOTTI

34 36 38 40
TEAM OF AWARD GOALS OF GOALSCORING
THE SEASON WINNERS THE SEASON

46 48 52 54
BUILD-UP FINAL-THIRD PRESSING DEFENDING
PLAY ENTRIES IN THE FINAL CROSSES

58 62 66 68
SET PLAYS GOALKEEPING FITNESS COACHING
DRILLS

74 106
TEAM ROLL OF
PROFILES HONOUR

COVER
Real Madrid midfielder Jude
To view video of the screen grabs in
Bellingham tries to evade former this report as well as technical reports
Dortmund team-mate Mats
Hummels from all UEFA competitions, please visit
[Link]
 GROUP A GROUP B

FC Bayern FC Copenhagen Galatasaray AS Manchester Arsenal FC PSV Eindhoven RC Lens Sevilla FC

München (COP) (GAL) United FC (ARS) (PSV) (LEN) (SEV)
(BAY) (MUN)

GROUP C GROUP D

INTRODUCTION
The UEFA technical observers studied every match over the
Real Madrid CF
(RMA)

GROUP E
SSC Napoli
(NAP)
SC Braga
(BRA)
1. FC
Union Berlin
(UBE)
Real Sociedad
(RSO)

GROUP F
FC Internazionale
Milano
(INT)
SL Benfica
(BEN)
FC Salzburg
(SAL)

course of the season to identify the styles and strategies

favoured by Europe’s top clubs

This review of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season

provides a record of a campaign that spanned 125 matches
EYES ON THE ACTION
Club Atlético SS Lazio Feyenoord Celtic FC Borussia Paris Saint- AC Milan Newcastle
between the start of the group stage in September 2023 de Madrid (LAZ) (FEY) (CEL) Dortmund Germain (MIL) United FC
(ATM) (DOR) (PAR) (NEW)
and the final at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 June. As A total of 29 technical observers from 14 nations
a technical report, it assesses the action with the input of
contributed to this report: David Adams (WAL), Wayne
UEFA’s Technical Observers’ Panel and the support of UEFA’s
performance analysis team. Allison (ENG), Aljoša Asanović (CRO), Rafael Benítez (ESP),
A member of the observers’ group analysed every fixture from Packie Bonner (IRL), Justin Cochrane (ENG), Frank de Boer
Matchday 1 onwards to ensure in-depth coverage of the group
GROUP G GROUP H
(NED), Jean-François Domergue (FRA), Dušan Fitzel (CZE),
stage while, for the knockout rounds, there was an observer
Frans Hoek (NED), David James (ENG), Aitor Karanka (ESP),
present at every fixture. The resulting insights have provided the
substance for the talking points in the report, as well as informing Stefan Kuntz (GER), Dirk Kuyt (NED), Hans Leitert (AUT),
the assessment of the tactical approach of all 32 clubs. Claude Makélélé (FRA), Roberto Martínez (ESP), Ginés
With the trends that are identified and explored in the
Meléndez (ESP), Mixu Paatelainen (FIN), Marians Pahars
following pages, and the statistical analysis included in support,
UEFA aims to provide a meaningful tool for coaches across (LVA), Stipe Pletikosa (CRO), Peter Rudbæk (DEN), Willi
Europe. It will be made available to members of the coaching Ruttensteiner (AUT), Thomas Schaaf (GER), Ole Gunnar Manchester RB Leipzig BSC FK Crvena FC Barcelona FC Porto FC Shakhtar Royal Antwerp
family and will help inform coaches about the prevailing styles Solskjær (NOR), Gareth Southgate (ENG), Jaap Stam (NED), City FC (LEI) Young Boys zvezda (BAR) (POR) Donetsk FC
(MCI) (YB) (ZVE) (SHA) (ANT)
and strategies, as well as the qualities needed, at the elite end of
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (NED), Jack Wilshere (ENG).
European club football.

4 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 5

THE FINAL

MASTERFUL
Dani Carvajal climbs
highest to head in a
Toni Kroos corner

MADRID
TRIUMPH AGAIN
Real Madrid had to weather a
first-half storm from Borussia
Dortmund but a tactical switch and
their set-piece threat ultimately
proved decisive at Wembley

Under Wembley’s giant arch, there was history made – and

repeated – on the evening of 1 June 2024. Real Madrid and Carlo
Ancelotti were the ones making it, writing a fresh chapter of their
European Cup story with their 15th triumph in this competition.
For Madrid, it was a sixth UEFA Champions League victory in
the last 11 seasons alone; for Ancelotti, his record-breaking fifth
as a coach. Two of his players – Dani Carvajal and Luka Modrić –
emulated the great Paco Gento in playing in a sixth final victory for
the club while Toni Kroos won his fifth final in a Madrid shirt. With
his contribution to Bayern München’s victorious campaign in 2013,
Kroos has six winners’ medals in all, as does Nacho, though this
was only the second appearance in a final for the long-time Madrid
squad member.
Yet if the record books belonged to Los Blancos, Borussia
Dortmund’s role should not be overlooked. “We’re back in town
to steal the crown” read a banner displayed by their magnificent
supporters before kick-off – the “back” a reference to their
previous final appearance at Wembley in 2013. That night in north
London had ended in disappointment and so would this, though
the outcome was no reflection on an excellent game plan by their
coach Edin Terzić, whose players executed it impressively in the
first half.
As the analysis highlights, BVB had the better of the first period
before Madrid found a way to win, as they did so often during a
campaign they ended unbeaten, thanks to a tactical adjustment after
the restart and the set-piece threat which brought Carvajal’s opening
goal before Vinícius Júnior added a touch of gloss to the scoreline.

6 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 7

THE FINAL

Summing up Dortmund’s attacking efforts, Terzić said afterwards:

“We were always dangerous in terms of ball possession – if we
BVB’S THREAT IN BEHIND built up with four, if we built up with three – and we’ve been very
The first half was a tale of near-misses by Terzić’s team as they dangerous on counterattacks but we couldn’t manage to score and
accumulated eight shots to Madrid’s two – and an xG (Expected that was the key to why we didn’t manage to win the game.”
Goals) tally of 1.88 to their opponents’ 0.07. Key to their attacking Finally, Dortmund’s desire to get forward in that first period
efforts was their threat in behind the Madrid defensive line and is captured in this image which shows them break forward from
they so nearly capitalised more than once on the speed of Karim Madrid’s only corner of the half – a 6v3 counterattack which even
Adeyemi, a winger who achieved the competition’s top speed of included Hummels, a centre-back racing into the opposition half.
37.6km/h on the Wembley baize.
The focus of this first image is the build-up to Adeyemi’s one-on-one
with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after 21 minutes. Dortmund
varied between a 4+1 and 3+2 build-up over the course of the match
but in this instance, it was the former – with a 3v2 overload further
upfield, in the centre of the pitch.

Eduardo Camavinga shields the

ball from Emre Can (main picture);
Rodrygo (below) shifted to the
right wing in the second half
Dortmund flood forward to launch a 6v3 counter
following Real Madrid’s only first-half corner

From an educational perspective, the UEFA observers agreed that

such moments need to be chosen carefully by defenders. “I found it
fascinating that Hummels felt free to go,” said Martínez. “For young
Dortmund’s 3v2 overload in the middle of the players you have to explain that it can’t be every time but if you see the
pitch helps create a chance for Karim Adeyemi
opportunity why not? As a centre-half, why not open your legs and go
into the final third?”
As noted by the UEFA technical observers, centre-back Mats
Hummels was able to carry the ball forward without pressure before
threading a wonderful pass beyond Madrid’s high line, for Adeyemi to
break on to. He left Carvajal flat-footed as he ran across him on the
MADRID FIND BETTER BALANCE
inside, while Antonio Rüdiger was taken out entirely by the precision Madrid succeeded in gaining more control in central areas in the
of Hummels’ through ball. As Frank de Boer said admiringly though: second half following a tactical adjustment by Ancelotti, with Fede
“Sometimes it is just the quality of pass.” Valverde coming inside and Rodrygo staying more on the right. Real Madrid’s defensive balance in the second
half having made a tactical tweak at the break
According to Aitor Karanka, “Dortmund had the confidence As Ancelotti explained: “We didn’t have enough balance to deal
and the intensity in the first half” and Adeyemi had another good well with the transitions. We lost a lot of balls in the opponents’ half
opportunity from a quick attack following a turnover. Julian Brandt’s and we weren’t well positioned. To fix this, we decided to change the Afterwards Dortmund striker Füllkrug acknowledged Madrid’s
pass sent the winger breaking into space again behind Madrid’s system, to have more concentration in the centre of the field. We’d composure on the ball, saying that they were “always calm if the
defence but, as with his prior opportunity, Adeyemi’s first touch took started with Valverde on the right and then put Rodrygo [there] to game wasn’t as they wanted”. Yet if the vastly experienced Kroos
him wider of goal and his ensuing angled shot was saved by Courtois. allow us to have Valverde with [Eduardo] Camavinga and Kroos.” was crucial to that sense of calm – with more touches (108) and
The UEFA technical observers at Wembley noted that it was not Dortmund, as the technical observers identified, had been well set more line-breaking passes (20) than any other player – Rafael Benítez
just down the left that BVB were asking questions. Midfielder Marcel up defensively with Niclas Füllkrug, Brandt, Sabitzer and Emre Can remarked that Madrid’s midfield offered more than controlled
Sabitzer and winger Jadon Sancho “created so many problems” in a diamond shape, well-positioned to press, and with support on possession. They also had energy in the centre of the field. Over
on the right according to Roberto Martínez, the pair often working either side from the wingers. Yet as this image shows, Madrid now the course of the contest, Camavinga ran 11.01km and Valverde
with full-back Julian Ryerson to achieve overloads against Kroos and had better balance behind the ball themselves, with Valverde getting 10.72km, totals surpassed only by the Dortmund trio of Sabitzer
Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy. closer to Kroos and Camavinga in a midfield trio. (11.18km), Füllkrug (11.14km) and Ryerson (11.04km).

8 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 9

THE FINAL

MATCH STATISTICS
Toni Kroos delivers
a free-kick into the
Dortmund penalty area

DORTMUND 0-2 REAL MADRID

KOBEL 1 1 COURTOIS
SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2024
RYERSON 26 Wembley Stadium, London
2 CARVAJAL

HUMMELS 15 GOALS
6 NACHO
0-1 Carvajal 74, 0-2 Vinícius Júnior 83
SCHLOTTERBECK 4
REFEREE 22 RÜDIGER
MAATSEN 22 Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
17 MENDY
CAN
23
21 Malen 80 15 VALVERDE

SABITZER 20 KROOS
8
10 Modrić 85
ADEYEMI
27
11 Reus 72
12 CAMAVINGA
BRANDT
19
9 Haller 80 BELLINGHAM
5
14 Joselu 85
SANCHO
10 RODRYGO
43 Bynoe-Gittens 87 11 3 Militão 90+1
14 FÜLLKRUG 14 VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR
One set-piece trend cited by the observers during this campaign 7
17 Vázquez 90+4
was for teams to have as many as six players attacking corners.
MADRID’S SET-PIECE MENACE Madrid had five when their first goal came, but Kroos’ quality ensured
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
“You see how we lost the momentum of the game through a set it was enough. “It is great for Real Madrid how they attacked the near MEYER 33
piece,” said Terzić of the final’s opening goal, scored by Carvajal post,” said Benítez. “That was clearly a plan – put the ball there, with 13 LUNIN
from a Kroos corner. It was Madrid’s fourth strike from a corner this good pace and bodies so you don’t even need to block. The main LOTKA 35
25 ARRIZABALAGA
season – a total matched only by neighbours Atlético de Madrid thing is to put the ball there with a good delivery.” DORTMUND MADRID
SÜLE 25
and Paris Saint-Germain. 4 ALABA
0 GOALS 2
According to UEFA’s observers, Madrid had already provided ÖZCAN 6
warnings of their set-play threat, notably when Carvajal headed 46 POSSESSION (%) 54 20 GARCÍA
over four minutes after the restart from another Kroos delivery. NMECHA 8 13 TOTAL ATTEMPTS 13
“Toni Kroos’ ball was pretty much the same ball every 3 ON TARGET 6 18 TCHOUAMÉNI
time,” said David James. “It was put in the same place and it WOLF 17 7 OFF TARGET 5
19 CEBALLOS
was consistent.” That place was the near post, where Madrid
WÄTJEN 38 2 BLOCKED 3
accumulated bodies. And it was another inswinging kick by Kroos,
1 WOODWORK 0 21 DÍAZ
his fifth of the second period, which brought the breakthrough
MOUKOKO 18 9 CORNERS 8
from Carvajal, scoring only his second goal in the competition, 24 ARDA GÜLER
almost nine years after his first. From a defensive perspective, the 3 YELLOW CARDS 1
observers highlighted the fact the Madrid full-back had been left 0 RED CARDS 0
free to move into space by his marker, Ian Maatsen, leaving that Completed 410 PASSES ATTEMPTED 549
earlier warning unheeded. Ultimately, though, it was the quality Not completed
COACH 353 PASSES COMPLETED 504 COACH
of the ball from Kroos, on his final Madrid appearance, that they
wished to underline. Real Madrid’s corner destinations from the left, aimed towards the front post EDIN TERZIĆ 111.9 km DISTANCE COVERED 108.2 km CARLO ANCELOTTI

10 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 11

WINNING COACH

Reflecting on his record-

extending fifth Champions
League triumph as a manager,
Carlo Ancelotti discusses
the importance of team
spirit, tactical tweaks and
the magic of the Bernabéu

“My relationship with the Champions League is amazing.”

You would expect to hear nothing less from the man who
stands alone as the most successful coach in the history of
the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. That man is Carlo
Ancelotti and with Real Madrid’s Wembley victory over Borussia
Dortmund, he achieved his fifth Champions League triumph as
a coach, having followed up two successes with AC Milan (2003,
2007) with three won with Madrid (2014, 2022, 2024).
Throw in his two European Cup final wins as a Milan player
and it is fair to say the 65-year-old Italian has a unique
relationship with this competition. Yet for all that rich personal
history, he keeps his eye firmly focused on the here and now.
On the back of his latest success, Ancelotti shares his thoughts
on the campaign just finished, reflecting on the impact of
players such as Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Dani
Carvajal and offering his perspective on some of the biggest
challenges overcome by his side – including the ties against
Manchester City, Bayern München and Dortmund.

‘QUALITY Carlo Ancelotti revels in the

AND SPIRIT’
moment after winning a record fifth
Champions League title as a coach

12 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 13

WINNING COACH

Ancelotti shares an
embrace with Toni Kroos,
who retired at the top

On Vinícius Júnior specifically, how important was his

switch from the left wing towards a more central role?
[With] Vinícius, [we needed him] to play less wide – not
just attack down the sides, but to play less wide – and he
did that very well.

Could you talk about the impact of Jude Bellingham and

how he was able to settle so quickly and so successfully?
He’s a modern player, a huge talent. He has this quality of
being a really dynamic player. This allows him to really help
the squad when he doesn’t have the ball and also to have a
lot of time to go into the box at the right moment. Having
a central midfielder who can enter the box brings added
“ I BELIEVE IT IS A MIXTURE value. It’s certainly really important for a team. He had an
extraordinary first part of the season.
OF MAGIC, QUALITY, TEAM
AWARENESS, A GREAT To stay with Bellingham, he started the season at the
head of the diamond in midfield, then he played further
CONNECTION WITH THE forward, then he played off to the left. What was the
thinking behind these adjustments?
STADIUM AND FANS" He adapted very well because he naturally prefers to play in
the centre or on the left. We changed his defensive position a
bit after the first part [of the season], making him move more
towards the left-hand side to relieve Vinícius of his defensive
This was the first campaign since striker Karim Benzema’s duties a bit. But, as I said, he managed to adapt very easily,
departure. Could you describe how you changed things in because he is so dynamic.
attack to compensate for his absence?
Ancelotti is lifted high Now the dust has settled on your Champions League After Benzema’s departure, I thought that we had enough To cite another key player, right-back Dani Carvajal made
into the sky by his players
during the celebrations triumph, how do you reflect overall on last season’s quality to fill the gap – with the arrival of [Jude] Bellingham, a big contribution from an attacking point of view, with
campaign in Europe and the keys to your success? obviously, but especially with the addition of Brahim [Díaz] six goals in all competitions. How important is it to have
It was a great season in general, in La Liga and especially from Milan and Joselu, who brought a sense of structure full-backs like him who can support the attack?
in the Champions League. We started really well, winning that we were lacking, as a tall and powerful centre-forward. The interesting thing is that Carvajal has scored a lot of goals
all our games in the group stages, and then afterwards, we Joselu helped us a lot during the season and also in the from set pieces. He is not very tall, but he knows how to
obviously had some difficulties in the knockout stages, as Champions League, scoring in the semi-final against Bayern time his run. He’s lively in the penalty area, especially when
always. I suppose you could say it was an uneven but well- Munich. We thought about changing [the system] a bit, we have a corner. He has scored a lot of goals, including a
executed Champions League season for us. The key to the but with the calibre of the forwards we had – with Vinícius, very important one in the final against Borussia Dortmund.
success was the campaign overall – the individual qualities of Rodrygo, Bellingham, Brahim, and then, towards the end, We discovered this strength that he has this year. It doesn’t
the players throughout the season and the great team spirit Arda Güler who contributed too, especially in the league – matter how tall you are as a player; what counts is your
that allowed us to show not only our quality but also the right we realised we had enough quality and didn’t need to buy a liveliness and how you react in the box when there’s a corner.
spirit in difficult moments. traditional centre-forward. Carvajal exemplifies these qualities.

14 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 15

WINNING COACH

Celebrating with the

trophy he has the most
special connection with

Staying with set plays, with that Carvajal goal in the final,
Madrid ended up joint first in the competition for goals
from corners, with four. On top of that, you conceded only
one goal from 78 corners faced in 2023/24. How much
work goes into your set-piece preparation and what role
does your son Davide play in this?
It’s something we work on a lot, especially with the analysis
where we use videos. We don’t have a lot of time to work
on it on the pitch. It’s hard to recreate the conditions of a
real match on the training pitch because the opposition [in
training] aren’t as strong and aggressive as the opposition in
a game. But we have worked on it a lot and the work has paid
off. I have to say that Davide and also Francesco [Mauri] have
done a great job. We have scored a lot of goals in the league
and in the Champions League and conceded very few. From a
defensive point of view, we defend zonally, with a few blocks,
and this has allowed us to be quite solid.

If we can go back to individual players for a moment and

ask you about Toni Kroos’ last season, how much did it help
you, as a coach, having a player like him out on the pitch?
It’s very important for many reasons – for his experience, for
his ability to manage the team’s possession and the tempo
of the game. It’s a pity that he’s stopped playing, but this is
what he wanted, and we obviously respect his decision. It
shows the courage of the man because I believe it’s very hard
to decide to stop when you are at the top. We have to replace Could you tell us about your memories of the final,
him in a different way, because you won’t find another player including the decision you made to start Thibaut Courtois
of the same quality as Kroos. It goes without saying that we’ll in goal for the first time in the whole European campaign?
need to play in a different way.
Ancelotti is all smiles with Antonio
Rüdiger(left) and Vinícius Júnior (right);
issuing instructions to Jude Bellingham
"EVEN THOUGH WE WERE We prepared well for the final, with total dedication and
(bottom left)
CONSIDERED FAVOURITES, WE calm. Even though public opinion considered us to be
favourites, we prepared as we would for any match – [with]
PREPARED FOR THE FINAL AS an awareness of what we needed to do and an even greater
awareness of the team we were to face, and the intensity
WE WOULD FOR ANY MATCH" Borussia Dortmund could play with. And then we had to
select the players. The truth is we didn’t know whether
To shift the focus to specific games, Gareth Southgate [Andriy] Lunin would play, because he’d had a virus the week
was our observer for your quarter-final at Manchester before the final, and he wasn’t fit to play. And Courtois had
City and he praised your team’s compact shape and the already been fully fit for a month since his injury.
players’ positional awareness that night. What were the To name another observer, Roberto Martínez spoke about
specific instructions from yourself to help your team ‘the craziness of the Bernabéu’ after your late semi- Finally, after your team survived a few scares in the
survive the pressure from City? final comeback against Bayern. How important is the first half, you made a tactical adjustment at half-time,
Defending like that isn’t something we came up with during Bernabéu factor and how do you regard the emotional bringing Fede Valverde into a more central position. What
that particular match. In that match, we were more under and psychological elements of your comebacks there in was your thinking?
pressure because of City’s quality, but we did work on the recent seasons? We started the game with a 4-4-2, but then we struggled
defensive aspect throughout the year, especially after we lost It’s very important. The first time it happened, they said it a little bit – the central positions were vulnerable, and so
against Atlético de Madrid in the championship [a 3-1 league only happens once in a while. But it happens all the time we thought about closing the centre a little bit. Instead of
defeat last September]. We changed a few things, we helped with us, and I believe it is a mixture of magic, quality, team playing with two central midfielders, we decided to play with
the two central defenders more, trying to move them across awareness, a great connection with the stadium and the three. I have to say this worked well. We were more balanced
a little bit. That match represented all this work coming fans. Yes, it’s a bit of everything, it’s not just one thing. But it and we gave Borussia Dortmund fewer opportunities to
together, but the team played very well defensively all year – happens quite often, and I think it will happen again because counterattack. And I think that after 60 minutes of the
especially after we lost against Atlético, as I said. this magic, this connection exists and it’s even stronger. game, we had full control of the match.

16 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 17

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

TACTICAL
GROUP STAGE
The trend of coaches creating structures to gain a numerical
advantage in attacking areas was evident in the 2023/24 group

ANALYSIS
stage. For UEFA’s technical observers, the ways in which Bayern
A detailed study of key München, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund set up were all
matches on the road to worth highlighting as notable examples, and the observers also
shone a light on the challenge that centre-backs increasingly
Wembley highlighted the
face in defending space against mobile attacking units.
main trends and talking points Jamal Musial breaks
through the lines

from across the season

FLUID BAYERN’S FALSE NINES
Bayern began the group stage with a bang – a 4-3 home win over
Manchester United in which their attacking set-up caught the eye of
UEFA’s observers with Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala both operating
as No10s.
The image here, viewable in a clip in the online report, shows how
Kane would drop deep and help the flow of play to the wingers, Leroy
Sané and Serge Gnabry, who between them accounted for more than
half of Bayern’s progressions in the attacking third (27% each).

Kane and Musiala operate as No10s

Musiala did likewise, and both in this match and in the return fixture
he also showed the ability to pick the ball up in deep areas and carry
it forward. To quote Kane, by exploiting his speed and agility, Musiala
“drives with the ball and plays a good final ball”. Bayern coach Thomas
Tuchel’s wish to utilise these strengths was underlined at one point
in the sides’ meeting in Manchester when he was seen instructing
Musiala to fall back and collect the ball from his centre-back.
From Manchester United’s point of view, the fact Bayern’s central
Bayern’s false nine’s against Manchester United (MD1) attackers were dropping back gave their centre-backs a dilemma
over when to push up. “It was very clever, as playing with false nines
created confusion and stretched United’s central defenders,” said
Roberto Martínez.
Similarly, for Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, the holding
midfielders responsible for protecting the space in front of the
defenders in Munich, they had to decide whether to zonally mark
Kane and Musiala or push up closer to Bruno Fernandes. When they
got that decision wrong, Bayern – with Leon Goretzka and Joshua
Kimmich forming a box with the two No10s – could create overloads.
On this aspect, Martínez reflected: “Generally there are more
coaches working on trying to give a structure to their team to get
numerical advantages to score goals.” In Bayern’s case, he added,
they were particularly productive in this contest when one of their
full-backs got into the final third to ensure an overload against the
Jamal Musiala’s positional play and individual brilliance United back four.

“ Jamal and I played more as No10s and we allowed the

wingers to almost play one-v-one against the full-backs.”
Bayern München forward
Harry Kane on the ball HARRY KANE | BAYERN FORWARD
against Manchester United

18 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 19

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

BELLINGHAM TAKES CENTRE STAGE

Jude Bellingham scored in his first four appearances in the
Champions League for Real Madrid and his role (and goal) in the 3-2
Group C win at Napoli on Matchday 2 caught the eye of observer Ole
Gunnar Solskjær.
Bellingham’s goal (right), viewable online, begins with the build-
up. First, he makes a run towards the space behind Napoli's defence,
stretching them. Eduardo Camavinga elects to pass backwards at
this point rather than to Bellingham because he has stretched the
defence. The Englishman is then able to drop back into clear space in
the centre of the pitch. He looks forward, then back and can see he
Bellingham’s positioning and spatial awareness
is perfectly placed to get the ball from Camavinga and drive forward
– and duly shows the strength, speed and skill to evade five Napoli
players before shooting low and hard into the corner.
Napoli’s players had begun that match with the instruction to
get tight to the Madrid forwards when they dropped between the
lines. However, the home defenders were wary of the pace of those
Jude Bellingham is forwards and they fell back, which gave Madrid space to exploit.
given little room to
manoeuvre at Napoli Another factor noted by the UEFA observer was the midfield
fluidity of Carlo Ancelotti’s side. As Solskjær remarked, their
“rotations allowed them to manipulate the game scenario”. As
we see in the image below, within a narrow formation, Madrid had Marius Wolf has a shot
for Borussia Dortmund
players interchanging in the middle section of the pitch and this against Paris
allowed them to advance the ball centrally.
To underline the point, more than two-thirds (61%) of their
passes into the final third came from their central midfielders. The
fact that of those 28 passes Bellingham made 11 of them was a
reflection of his all-around contribution. DORTMUND TRY RISKY ROUTE TO GOAL
Solskjær elaborated: “Madrid’s midfielders – Toni Kroos, Fede
That familiar question of risk v reward arose once more during the
Valverde, Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouameni – rotated constantly,
1-1 draw between Group F rivals Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-
trying to shift Napoli’s defensive block and receive the ball in
Germain on Matchday 6. Dortmund took an expansive approach in
effective areas. Camavinga, the left-back, got up there too, which
possession, with the full-backs getting into high positions and the
meant they dominated.”
wingers moving inside as they accumulated seven players in the final
third. The image below shows six Dortmund players concentrated
in a central space ahead of the man on the ball and this overload
enables the passing interchange that follows between Marius Wolf –
a full-back – and Niclas Füllkrug before the former shoots wide.
According to Roberto Martínez, Dortmund employed a similar
Kylian Mbappé’s central positioning creates opportunities for others

positions – the two centre-backs and a holding midfielder. To

underline the risk element, when Kylian Mbappé dropped back
away from the centre-backs, they were reluctant to follow, owing to
concerns about his pace – and so he was free to pick up the ball and
create opportunities for others.
On the challenge for centre-backs to defend the space behind as
Real Madrid’s fluid rotations
well as the opposition forward in front of them, Ole Gunnar Solskjær
said: “With the false nine dropping in, the defender is being asked
the question ‘What am I going to do?’ because you’re afraid of that
space behind you. More and more teams say, ‘Go with him’ and trust
the defenders to deal with the one-against-one situation.”
“ Bellingham gets so many chances because of his energy and Dortmund’s numbers in central channels In the elite game today, there are fewer cases of defenders
his willingness to make runs. He ran in behind, got the space, being able to just sit deep. As Martínez added: “Even with a tall and
got Napoli to drop off and then he got the ball in between, physically robust centre-half he needs to be able to go all the way
with time to turn. And when he gets that body going, he is strategy last season and following the summer departure of and defend a one-v-one when the striker goes back to play.”
hard to stop as he is powerful.” Jude Bellingham – and the energy he brought – coach Edin Terzić
responded by adding another player to the attacking mix. “He has
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJÆR lost Bellingham and has added more legs around it,” said Martínez.
As a result of this, Dortmund had only three players in defensive

20 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 21

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

ROUND OF 16 PORTO v ARSENAL

Porto and Paris Saint-Germain impressed the UEFA technical observers with their work out of possession
in their first knockout round ties.
ARSENAL STIFLED BY COMPACT PORTO
Galeno curls home a
late winner against
Arsenal
One of the most impressive defensive displays of this round came
REAL SOCIEDAD v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN from Porto in their 1-0 first-leg win over Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s team
had scored 11 goals in their previous two away games in the Premier
League but they did not manage a single shot on goal at the Estádio
do Dragão against a home side who worked with admirable discipline
PARIS PUSH HIGH and determination, much of the time in a mid-to-low block, to deny
them space.
In their 2-1 away victory at Real Sociedad, Paris Saint-Germain
According to UEFA match observer Roberto Martínez, Porto
provided an excellent example of a team working to good effect
“showed excellent intensity and body positioning, blocking any balls
higher up the pitch without the ball. They pressed high and went
inside and keeping good distances". Arguably nothing illustrated
man-to-man right across the pitch. As the image below shows, each
this better than the way that the Porto wingers worked with their
time a home player received a pass, he had an opponent poised to
midfielders to hinder Arsenal’s attacking players.
put him under pressure.
The first image (below) shows them protecting the space centrally,
pushing Arsenal backwards. From a tactical perspective, the key
point here is how, in a 4-1-4-1 defensive shape, each winger worked
together with the midfield player behind him to protect the pockets
Paris Saint-Germain’s compact shape before switching to a high block of space. On the right, Pepê and Francisco Conceição operated in
tandem, with Nico González and Galeno doing the same on the left.

The second image (above) presents the compact shape of Luis

Enrique’s side, who were able to switch swiftly from a low to a high
block; as this sequence unfolded, right-back Achraf Hakimi stepped
high up the field to press Javi Galán, La Real's left-back, and Vitinha's
subsequent interception yielded an opportunity for Kylian Mbappé.
In the second example (below), Arsenal attempted to progress
"We pressed them very well," said Enrique and, to underline the
the ball up the field, with Porto protecting the central areas once
point, the opening goal that night came after the Ligue 1 team shut
more. Galeno, the eventual match winner, and Pepê are highlighted
Paris Saint-Germain press man-for-man across the pitch off goalkeeper Álex Remiro's options to play short, with the ensuing
here for their defensive work in a sequence which ended with Martin
turnover bringing Mbappé's opening goal.
Ødegaard attempting a long crossfield pass – a response to the
challenge of finding space centrally.
As Porto coach Sérgio Conceição said: "We were very good on a
Robin Le Normand is tactical level. The players understood the game plan. Their wingers
watched closely by
Achraf Hakimi Porto’s midfield protect the space centrally [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Bukayo] Saka are very fast and Ødegaard
and [Kai] Havertz inside are very tough to block. We did very well, we
controlled them going deep and also the [attempts to] play inside."
Gabriel Martinelli in a
Just to underline how they frustrated their visitors, between
tussle with the Porto the 53rd minute and added time, Arsenal did not manage a single
defenders
shot. "In the second half, the biggest impact on the game was from
Porto's defensive structure and organisation rather than Arsenal's
play on the ball," added Martínez.

Porto adopt a compact shape to prevent Arsenal playing centrally

22 23
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INTERNAZIONALE v ATLÉTICO DE MADRID

UEFA observer Aitor Karanka noted that centre-backs Benjamin
Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni also got high and wide. This second
INTER’S ATTACKING VARIATIONS example shows how Pavard gains room for a cross thanks to wing-
Inter are a team who look to invite the opposition to press them high back Denzel Dumfries moving inside and drawing Lino to him.
before then exploiting the space behind. As such, the passing of both
their goalkeeper and their centre-backs was a feature of their run to
the final in 2022/23 and their build-up play drew the attention of
UEFA’s observers and analysts once more in 2023/24, even if their
run ended with a shoot-out defeat by Atlético in the last 16.
Inter played longer passes – with purpose – and this sequence
from their 1-0 first-leg win at San Siro offers an example of the way
they sought to work the ball around the back, drawing opposition
players onto them before then getting it into space behind the line
of the press.

Benjamin Pavard pushes high and wide as Denzel Dumfries moves inside

As a reflection of the attacking role played by Inter’s wide centre-

backs, Pavard was the player who produced the most line-breaking
passes into the final third for the Italian champions-to-be in this
round of 16 tie, with nine. Moreover, across their campaign, only
midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu (17) delivered more line-breaking
passes into the attacking third than Pavard (11) and his fellow
centre-back Bastoni (14).

Inter invite pressure to open up space behind

ROTATING IN THEIR OWN HALF

Another feature of Inter’s build-up play in the first leg was the way Inter’s players also rotated well in order to keep the ball in their own
their players rotated to progress the ball in the wide areas and create half of the pitch, as was evident during the second leg in Madrid. UEFA’s
crossing opportunities. Inter’s centre-backs and midfielders looked analysis unit pinpointed several examples of their ability to switch
to step out wide as the wing-backs came inside. In the first example, positions and escape pressure with composed passing, as we see below.
it is Matteo Darmian – the right wing-back – who moves into an In the image, midfielder Çalhanoğlu is the deepest outfield player
advanced position upfield, with midfielder Nicolò Barella going wide. for Inter. There were moments in the play when he would join the three
Thanks to Darmian's run, Inter now had an extra body up there, with centre-backs in a back four – with right wing-back Dumfries taking up
three men occupying the trio of Atlético centre-backs. It also meant a position high on the right flank. At other times, Barella would drop
a dilemma for the visitors' left wing-back, Samuel Lino: did he mark deep, taking the place of a centre-back. And with the Inter midfield trio
Darmian or shut down Barella? rotating, one could create space for the others; for instance, Henrikh
Mkhitaryan, in the sequence we have highlighted, drew Atlético players
towards the halfway line to help Çalhanoğlu find space further back.

Denzel Dumfries tries Nicolò Barella rotates with Matteo Darmian on Inter’s right flank
to shake off Atleti's
defenders Inter’s rotations in the build-up phase

24 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 25

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

order to press Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson. Meanwhile, the

QUARTER-FINALS Spanish side’s wing-back Samuel Lino had to sprint 22m to apply
pressure on the same player. Elaborating on the impact of Terzić’s
Marcel Sabitzer fires
a shot at goal

tactical tweak, Solskjær said: “It is hard for a 5-3-2 team to cover the
The build-up play of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in their last-eight ties warranted closer inspection.
full width of the pitch against a team building with a back four. You

ATLÉTICO DE MADRID v BORUSSIA DORTMUND

DORTMUND’S CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

This quarter-final provided an illuminating case study of the
difficulties posed when building in a narrow shape against a 1-5-3-2
– and of the positive impact of good in-game management. Borussia
Dortmund, building from the back in a 1-3-2-2-3, had initially
struggled, with Atlético de Madrid able to get into strong positions to
press due to the short distances to the Dortmund players.
For the 27 minutes of the first leg in Madrid, they sought to play
Distance for Atlético's De Paul to press
out with a narrow 3+2 shape, which featured Mats Hummels, Emre to exploit on the outside of the Atlético midfield three. Their good
Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, with left-back Ian Maatsen joining movement between the centre-back and full-back was also crucial.
Marcel Sabitzer ahead of them. Atlético were able to press them high Dortmund initially built with a 3+2 shape with short distances
Indeed, for any coaches pondering how to penetrate a low five-
now have to move across the full length of the pitch when pressing
up the pitch and gained a reward with Rodrigo De Paul’s opening goal between players man defence, the running of Julian Brandt and Sabitzer around and
in a high press.” Consequently, having recorded 18 recoveries in the
in an eventual 2-1 home victory. beyond target striker Niclas Füllkrug offered a valuable lesson. In
opening 27 minutes, Atlético only managed six in the remainder of
Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the UEFA technical observer, explained: the second leg, they overloaded the left side at times and looked
the half.
“The 3-2-2-3 build-up suited Atlético as Antoine Griezmann and Atlético produced 18 recoveries and turnovers and the fact that for spaces between the centre-back and full-back – as seen for
Dortmund retained the same 4+1 shape for the second leg, with
Álvaro Morata could screen Dortmund’s double pivot and were within the majority took place in the centre of the pitch highlighted the Dortmund’s second goal with Sabitzer’s run dragging Axel Witsel with
their full-backs low alongside the centre-backs and the influential
close enough distance to press their back three. Furthermore, Marcos pressure exerted on Maatsen and Sabitzer. him and thereby creating space for Maatsen to run into.
Can ahead of them. Once more, Atlético, in their 5-3-2 shape, found
Llorente, Koke and De Paul were constantly in the right position to However, when Schlotterback went down with an injury in the The second image shows Brandt’s movement into that same area
it difficult to press the German team at the top of the pitch.
jump in a press on Maatsen and Sabitzer due to the short distances 27th minute, Dortmund coach Edin Terzić amended their approach, between centre-back and full-back, where he is the recipient of a
The screenshot below shows César Azpilicueta, the Atlético left
described above. It was a textbook example of how a 5-3-2 high signalling that he wanted his team to switch to a back four, with magnificent pass by Can in the lead-up to Sabitzer’s tie-winning strike.
wing-back, caught between whether to step up on Ryerson, the
press could nullify and disrupt a 3-2-2-3 build-up.” Maatsen back in his conventional position in the left-back area, and
Dortmund right-back, or drop back towards Jadon Sancho, mindful
UEFA’s official tracking data showed that Dortmund’s average Can just ahead of them. Thereafter it became less easy for Atlético
as he was of the presence of the winger and the possibility of
attacking width during the first 27 minutes was 37.8m, with short to press. To illustrate the point, the first screenshot on P27 shows
Hummels releasing him with a pass. “Azpilicueta had to think, ‘Do I
distances between the back three and double pivot. In that period, that Atlético midfielder De Paul now had a 24.9m gap to cover in
go and become the fourth man in a 4-4-2 or do I stay back in a
5-3-2?’” added Solskjær.

ATTACKING
DIRECTION Marcel Sabitzer’s run in behind creates space for Ian Maatsen to run into

Dortmund retained a 4+1 shape in the second leg

DORTMUND’S RUNS IN BEHIND

Another tactical detail worth noting from Dortmund’s quarter-final
Dortmund's average player positions while in possession (0-28 minutes)
comeback was the way they were able to pin back the opposition Julian Brandt’s run in behind leads to Sabitzer’s decisive goal
wing-backs, forcing them into a flat back five and finding spaces

26 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 27

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REAL MADRID V MANCHESTER CITY

CITY’S CONSTRUCTION STRATEGY

Manchester City’s attempts to build the play against Real Madrid
caught the attention of the UEFA performance analysis unit during
the second leg of their closely contested tie with Real Madrid.
Home coach Pep Guardiola lined up his team in a 1-3-2-2-3
formation against Carlo Ancelotti’s 1-4-4-2 (or 1-4-2-2-2), and City
had a clear plan of drawing one of Madrid’s strikers towards their
back three, before releasing the ball to either Rodri or Manuel Akanji.

Manchester City tried to draw one of Madrid’s midfielders forward to

create a spare man

Further ahead, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne operated as

a line of two beyond the Madrid central midfield duo of Eduardo
Camavinga and Toni Kroos, and when they pulled one of that pair
out of position, either Rodri or Akanji could move up as a spare man
attacking the final third behind the Spanish side’s midfield line.
In their assessment, the UEFA performance analysis team said:
“Akanji stepped into midfield and formed a double pivot with Rodri,
pulling Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham deeper. Meanwhile,
De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva were constantly searching for space
behind Kroos and Camavinga. On several occasions, Akanji
moved higher up, becoming a spare man, which caused problems
for Madrid.”

Andriy Lunin punches a

corner under pressure
from Manuel Akanji

They maintained this compact shape as they shifted across the

MADRID’S COMPACT DEFENDING
Rodri looks to establish
pitch, showing excellent positional awareness as they forced City control for Manchester City

to play around them. “The angles of the wide players and covering
In taking their tie against City to a penalty shoot-out – which they
of City’s 8s was generally excellent,” said the match observer,
duly won – Madrid had their defensive capabilities tested to the full.
Gareth Southgate.
City’s approach forced them deeper as the second leg went on and
In the second half, Ancelotti’s men dropped especially deep and
the Spanish side ended the match with a possession share of 33%.
packed their penalty box with bodies. “There were some moments of
With Akanji stepping into midfield alongside Rodri, they were able to
excellent low-block defending by Madrid when City were circulating
pull Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham further back, yet whether in a mid
the ball and they were able to apply pressure without committing
or a low block, Madrid defended with great discipline.
fouls or allowing long-range shots,” added Southgate.
This image (right) of Madrid in a low block shows all ten outfield
As a measure of Madrid’s defensive excellence, City had scored
players positioned close together within a strip of pitch just 30.1m
three goals in each of their previous nine matches in the competition
wide by 11.1m.
Real Madrid’s compact defending as Manchester City pressed forward
yet managed just the one in this 1-1 second-leg draw, despite 33
shots, as their reign as champions came to an end.

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ROAD TO WEMBLEY

SEMI-FINALS
Real Madrid’s organisation in a mid-block and Borussia Dortmund’s ability to assert control without the
ball both earned attention from UEFA’s analysts.

ATTACKING
BAYERN MÜNCHEN V REAL MADRID DIRECTION

ATTACKING
DIRECTION

38%
MID-BLOCK
DEFENDING Real Madrid's average defensive line height was 35.7m from their goal

and those split seconds can be vital. That’s why you see defenders now As a result, during the interval Tuchel asked his wingers to swap
standing on the half-turn so they can already sprint.” sides – Sané to the right, Musiala to the left as shown in the image at
From an educational viewpoint, it is worth highlighting Madrid the bottom – and, crucially, to stick to the touchline. The left-footed
centre-back Rüdiger’s position in the image below to see his Sané could even be seen on the pitch during half-time practising
sideways-on stance before he races back in pursuit of Harry Kane. taking passes into feet and cutting in off the right wing. Within
Given that the average height of Madrid’s defensive line was 35.7 eight minutes he had levelled the scores before Musiala then won
Madrid's percentage overall time defending in a mid-block, while out of possession
metres – as illustrated by the graphic above – this readiness to hit a penalty when attacking on the other side of the pitch, as Tuchel’s
the ground running was vital. intervention showed the value of a coach taking assertive action.

MADRID KEEP THINGS TIGHT

For all the excitement over Joselu’s late goals in another triumph-
of-belief Bernabéu comeback, it was Real Madrid’s strategy out of
possession in the first leg against Bayern which gave match observer
Giovanni van Bronckhorst and UEFA’s performance analysis unit
cause for reflection.
If the preceding quarter-final section identified the value of their
work in a low block, the focus here is their defending in a mid-block in
the first leg in Munich. As the graphic above shows, in that 2-2 draw,
they spent more than a third of their overall time out of possession
(38%) defending in a mid-block. Antonio Rüdiger’s positioning to cover through balls in behind Real
Madrid’s compact and narrow shape in the first leg at Bayern Bayern’s 6v2 numerical superiority in the centre of the pitch
Madrid’s defensive line
As identified by UEFA’s technical observers, this involved the
marking of spaces rather than players, which is a trend in the
Champions League generally. “When the ball moves, the team the individual quality to get between the lines and the biggest
moves,” said Van Bronckhorst, the former Feyenoord and Rangers threat to a team defending in a mid-block is usually from opposition
coach, who added: "If you’re in a mid-block you are defending runners breaking into space behind. “Especially in the mid-block, you
TUCHEL’S HALF-TIME TWEAK
the space, so normally you’re very narrow and compact. It is very concentrate on the balls into the midfield and the long balls behind With his team trailing 2-1 at half-time, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel
important to block the lines, especially to the midfield players who your defence,” Van Bronckhorst underlined. made a significant tactical switch during the first leg against Madrid.
are moving in between the defence and midfield lines.” When the opposition do play the ball in behind, the key thing for Bayern had begun with a narrow attacking shape with wingers
The image to the right illustrates how compact Madrid were in this your defenders is to be in a position to accelerate quickly in response, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané coming inside to give their side a
mid-block, with only 21.8m between substitute Brahim Díaz, their as Van Bronckhorst explained. “As a central defender, you always have 6v2 numerical superiority in the centre of the pitch – as seen in the
highest-placed player, and Antonio Rüdiger at the back. Across their to be aware that the ball can come behind you, so you must consider image on the right.
narrow back four, meanwhile, just 44m separated the full-backs. your body positioning. Are you able to run straight towards your own However, as Tuchel explained: “After 15 minutes, Real Madrid
Madrid looked to shift across zonally before squeezing up the goal? Your body always needs to be at an angle. If your opponent has dropped very deep with their wing-backs and defended almost in a
pitch, with their ability to close the angles and force Bayern to play a run on goal from midfield, he will be at full speed. And if you have back six, so it was difficult to exploit the space behind the full-backs Bayern invert their wingers so Sané and Musiala can cut inside onto their
stronger foot
backwards. However, at this elite level, each club has players with your back to goal, it can take a while to turn first and then accelerate, into the box.”

30 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 31

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

Nico Schlotterbeck keeps

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN V BORUSSIA DORTMUND tabs on Kylian Mbappé

DORTMUND AND HUMMELS

DEFENDING WITH AUTHORITY
Another defensive performance worth dwelling on came from
Borussia Dortmund in their 1-0 second-leg success at Paris Saint-
Germain. As match observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær said: “With that
low to mid-block, they didn’t allow Paris to play through them but
only play wide and put crosses in.”
The key point here is that Dortmund coach Edin Terzić recognised
that the biggest potential danger to his team came from Paris’s
quick and tricky attackers getting into spaces in between the lines in
central areas. As a result, the visitors ceded the wide areas to Paris,
leaving their tall centre-backs Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck
to deal with crosses – and between them, that pair won four of their
five aerial duels.
Solskjær added: “With the size of Hummels and Schlotterbeck,
you’re happy defending crosses delivered from the widest man.
They allowed PSG to put in crosses from the wide man, and Achraf
Hakimi and Nuno Mendes each put a few crosses in from almost
the touchline. In the second half, when the home side put crosses
in from inside the box, that was more difficult.” To emphasise the
point, while Paris produced 33 crosses from open play, only four
times did a home player connect with one.
As well as scoring the winning goal that night, the 35-year-old
Hummels brought all his defensive know-how to bear, contributing
ten clearances, three interceptions and two blocked shots – the
most of any Dortmund player in each of those categories. “His
positioning and reading of the game were faultless. It was about
being well organised, protecting the box, winning headers, blocks
and interceptions, and making sure Mbappé never had space to
run into,” said Solskjær and that know-how is highlighted in this
sequence of images as Hummels stalls the progress of winger
Bradley Barcola.
From an educational perspective, the lesson here is that it is not
always necessary to make the tackle. Instead, Hummels employs
the three Ds: delay, deny and dictate. In other words, you delay
by slowing the speed of the attack; you deny the opposition the
pass; and then you look to dictate the direction in which they
move the ball. In the process, Hummels allows others to get back, Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels thwarts a Paris counterattack GIOVANNI VAN
and Dortmund have eight men in their defensive third by the time BRONCKHORST
Warren Zaïre-Emery picks up the loose ball. TECHNICAL OBSERVER

Hummels heads in
the winner in the

“ The positioning of Hummels second leg

was faultless and his reading VAN BRONCKHORST ON THE MID-BLOCK

of the game was too. He was “For players, it is easier when it’s clear what their tasks are. When
Technical observer Giovanni van Bronckhorst offers the a certain player from the opposition has the ball, your team need to
always in control.” following tips on setting up a team to defend in a mid-block know who is responsible for that player.”
Another question to consider is when to press – and deciding on
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJÆR
“The first thing you do is drill the movements, so if the ball moves, specific trigger moments, according to Van Bronckhorst.
ON MATS HUMMELS
the team moves. And if you’re working with units, maybe another “When is the moment we will start a full press? It might be a ball
group moves the ball and you concentrate as defenders on where from the opposition central defender to the full-back, or a ball to the
you have to be when the ball is in certain areas. So if I’m a left-back No6. It also depends on your opponents’ strengths. If they have a six
and the ball is on our right side, I have to come in and make sure the who is always playing balls through the lines, you don’t want to give
distances between me and my centre-backs are not that big and, him space. But if it’s a player who always plays from left to right, that
similarly, the distances with my midfield. is not so dangerous when he has the ball.”

32 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 33

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

TEAM VINÍCIUS JR
KANE
FODEN

OF THE
BELLINGHAM

VITINHA SABITZER

SEASON
MAATSEN HUMMELS RUDIGER CARVAJAL

KOBEL

GREGOR MATS IAN MARCEL

THIS TEAM WAS SELECTED KOBEL HUMMELS MAATSEN SABITZER VITINHA
BY UEFA'S TECHNICAL
OBSERVER PANEL BASED ON GK DORTMUND DEF DORTMUND DEF DORTMUND MID DORTMUND MID PARIS
PERFORMANCES IN THE 2023/24
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
Finalists Real Madrid and Made more saves (46) and kept
more clean sheets than any
Ranked first for tackles,
clearances, interceptions
Looked to get on the ball and
progress either from left-
The Austrian combined clever
running in behind defences
Showed excellent mobility,
passing ability and intelligence

Dortmund each supplied four other keeper. and recoveries. back or by moving inside. with an eye for a pass. in midfield pivot role.

players for the observers’

82% 53 8 5 73
selection with five clubs SAVE PERCENTAGE
ACROSS HIS 12 APPEARANCES
TACKLES – THE MOST
IN THE COMPETITION
CROSSES BLOCKED, RANKED
FIRST IN THE COMPETITION
ASSISTS, RANKED
JOINT-FIRST IN COMPETITION
BALL RECOVERIES, RANKED
THIRD IN COMPETITION
represented overall

The UEFA Technical Observers’ Panel recognised the

achievements of finalists Real Madrid and Borussia
Dortmund by selecting four players from each club for the
UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Team of the Season.
The Madrid quartet comprises full-back Dani Carvajal,
both a defensive leader and important attacking outlet
on the right, and centre-back Antonio Rüdiger who
excelled against Erling Haaland in the quarter-finals
and ended the season with more blocks (19) than any
other player. Jude Bellingham’s brilliant first season at
the Santiago Bernabéu means a place for him further
upfield together with the six-goal Vínicius Júnior.
From Dortmund, there are three members of a back
line that earned six clean sheets: goalkeeper Gregor
Kobel, centre-back Mats Hummels – so key to the
semi-final triumph over Paris Saint-Germain when he
DANI ANTONIO JUDE PHIL HARRY VINÍCIUS
won 15 of his 17 duels – and the forward-looking left- CARVAJAL RÜDIGER BELLINGHAM FODEN KANE JÚNIOR
back Ian Maatsen. Marcel Sabitzer, joint-first for assists DEF REAL MADRID DEF REAL MADRID MID REAL MADRID FOR MAN CITY FOR BAYERN MÜNCHEN FOR REAL MADRID
alongside Bellingham and Vínicius Júnior with five each,
features in the midfield. Determined defending, Steely defending of his box, Prodigious maturity and attacking Scored five times and shone Added four assists to his Combined speed and dribbling
The other three players selected are Paris midfielder positional awareness and six with crucial blocks and threat with late runs into box, with precision and close goals and dropped off to with excellent movement
goals in all competitions. interceptions. regular goals and assists. control in tight spaces. supply balls from deep. and greater central threat.
Vitinha, highly influential as Marco Verratti’s
replacement in the pivot role for Paris Saint-Germain;
the season’s joint-top scorer, Harry Kane, from Bayern
München; and Phil Foden, who at 24, had his most
2 5 19 248 8 85
HIS FINAL GOAL WAS HIS SECOND SHOTS BLOCKED IN SECOND KEY PASSES, SECOND ONLY TO PASSES IN ATTACKING THIRD, GOALS AND THROUGH BALLS, TAKE-ONS (44% SUCCESS RATE),
productive campaign yet at Manchester City. IN 89 UCL APPEARANCES LEG AT MANCHESTER CITY TONI KROOS IN MADRID SQUAD RANKED THIRD IN COMPETITION UNSURPASSED FOR EACH RANKED FIRST OVERALL

34 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 35

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

2023/24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STATS YOUNG PLAYER minute to secure a 3-2 victory and end what
was, by his standards, a six-game ‘drought’
APPEARANCES: 10 OF THE SEASON as he recovered sharpness after an injury.
MINUTES PLAYED: 901
GOALS: 6
JUDE BELLINGHAM Carlo Ancelotti warrants praise for
unleashing him in a more attacking role
ASSISTS: 5 than he had played in Germany, the
DRIBBLES: 80
TOP SPEED: 34.7KM/H
The England midfielder added youngster operating in a flexible front
some crucial goals to his game in three alongside Vinícius Junior and
a spectacular first season in Madrid Rodrygo. As Bellingham told UEFA: “When
the youngest player to have scored in two I have the freedom to come low, go high,
Champions League finals, taking the record How to sum up Jude Bellingham’s run past the last line and get the ball to
previously held by Lionel Messi. whirlwind first year with Real Madrid? feet and create, I just feel so good and feel
Where his first final goal made him the Perhaps with his own verdict after Madrid’s like I can involve myself in any element
Champions League’s Young Player of the final triumph against the club he had of the game and try and do my defensive
Season, this year’s ensured he took the left the previous summer: “I can’t have work as well. The credit has to go to the
senior prize after a campaign in which he dreamed it much better than this.” coach for giving me that kind of licence.”
scored six goals and provided the assist for The enormous potential of the now In the group stage win at Napoli, match
another five. There were highly significant 20-year-old was no secret after three observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær noted his
goals too, beyond the one he lifted past impressive seasons with Borussia Dortmund, late runs from deep and ability to sniff out
Gregor Kobel at Wembley. Witness the the club he had joined from boyhood team opportunities – and take them. That ability
decisive home strike against a tricky Birmingham City. Yet when his most prolific is inherited from his father Mark, a prolific
opponent in Leipzig in the last 16 second campaign previously (2022/23) had yielded scorer in amateur football who used to
leg, and his double at Bayern München in 14 goals, did anyone really foresee his sport a Madrid shirt with ‘Zidane 5’ on the
the opening instalment of the semi-finals, instant flood of goals in Spain? back at home. Young Jude now wears that
including a late penalty equaliser. His 94th-minute winner on his number for real and with Zinédine Zidane
After that latter match, Carlo Ancelotti first Champions League appearance watching, he ended his dream first year at
applauded the progress made by a player against Union Berlin said that the young his ‘home’ national stadium against his old
who, since Karim Benzema’s departure last Englishman with the arms outstretched club, laying off the ball for Vinícius Junior to
summer, has operated more in central areas, in celebration was ready to embrace it all. clinch victory. It was his fifth assist of the

AWARD WINNERS
such as when coming inside at home against And how. He found the net in each of his campaign. No other player managed more.
Manchester City, rather than remaining in his first four games in both La Liga and the
previously habitual position on the left. Champions League. By mid-February, he
“There will be more goals the more he had reached the 20-goal mark. By the 2023/24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STATS
learns the art of playing down the middle,” season’s end he had 23 in all competitions. APPEARANCES: 11
said Ancelotti. “He has learned to move And not just any old goals. He hit a MINUTES PLAYED: 993
well without the ball, and to attack a player 92nd-minute winner in his first Clásico in GOALS: 4
behind. He has learned it well – good Barcelona in October, having equalised ASSISTS: 5
PASSING ACCURACY: 90.5%
movement – and he keeps his cool in front earlier in the game. In the return fixture, DISTANCE COVERED: 117.5KM
of goal.” That movement was illustrated by he repeated the trick, scoring in the 91st
his first goal that night as he moved short to
go long, drawing Bayern centre-back Minjae
Vinícius Júnior was the observers’ PLAYER OF Kim upfield before spinning behind him to Vinícius Júnior embraces
accelerate onto a Toni Kroos through ball. the trophy (main image);

pick as Player of the Season THE SEASON As a result, Vinícius Júnior produced his
Jude Bellingham was directly
involved in nine Champions

VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR
League goals
most prolific season in a Real shirt, with 24
after another title-winning goals in all competitions – two more than
campaign while Real Madrid in 2021/22. The data suggests his mix of
The Brazilian scored in a second final as speed and dribbling is troubling defenders
team-mate Jude Bellingham he continued his evolution into one of more than ever. When he recorded a
the world’s most dangerous forwards competition-best total of 84 take-ons in
took the Young Player prize 2021/22, his success rate was 38%; this
Two years ago, Vinícius Júnior – then aged season, he produced 85 with a 44% success
21 years 320 days – became Real Madrid’s rate. Crucially, he is getting into the box
second-youngest scorer in a European more too. As he told Real Madrid TV in
Cup final with his winner against Liverpool. March: “I’m unstoppable, because when I’m
Fast forward to 1 June this year and with not playing well as a winger, I go central and
his close-range finish against Borussia the opponents don’t know how to defend
Dortmund, the Brazilian – at 23 years 325 against me.” Bold words backed up by his
days – achieved a more striking milestone as actions on the field.

36 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 37

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

GOALS OF
Federico Valverde’s superb volley was
At the conclusion of Real Madrid’s quarter-final against Manchester
City, Federico Valverde reflected that he had simply been too tired
TOP 10 GOALS
to take a penalty in the second leg. Fortunately for this team, the
the standout finish for the technical

1
Uruguayan had still had the strength in his legs to shoot in the 79th FEDERICO VALVERDE
observers from another collection of minute of the first leg eight days earlier. What followed was not just Real Madrid 3-3 Man City
an important goal – securing his side a 3-3 draw – but one that UEFA’s Quarter-final first leg, 09/04/2024
stunning strikes

THE SEASON
His only European goal of 2023/24 showcases
Technical Observers’ Panel judged as the 2023/24 UEFA Champions superb technique as he meets Vinícius Júnior’s
League Goal of the Season. cross with a precise, angled volley.
It was a brilliantly controlled volley from the Madrid midfielder

2
who, running onto the cross from Vinícius Júnior, positioned his RAPHINHA
body well to keep the shot down, sending the ball flying across City Paris 2-3 Barcelona

goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and inside the far post. Even Pep Guardiola, Quarter-final first leg, 10/04/2024
Pedri lifts a gorgeous pass over the Paris back line
the opposition manager, doffed his cap: “When Vinícius crosses and and Raphinha caps a clever run with a wonderfully
Valverde volleys like that, what can you do except applaud?" controlled volley.

It was not the only volley among the top ten with Barcelona

3
winger Raphinha’s second-ranked strike against Paris Saint-Germain NICLAS FÜLLKRUG
belonging in that category as well as Tetê’s effort for Galatasaray Dortmund 4-2 Atlético de Madrid

against Copenhagen. By contrast, the only header was Niclas Quarter-final second leg, 16/04/2024
Marcel Sabitzer runs behind the defence and
Füllkrug’s third-placed effort for Borussia Dortmund against Atlético, crosses to the near post where Füllkrug leaps
the centre-forward soaring high at the near post following an above his marker to head into the far corner.

excellent run and cross by Marcel Sabitzer.

4
Finally, fans of long-range shooting had two goals to admire – Phil PHIL FODEN
Foden’s top-corner drive from inside the D against Madrid and Braga Real Madrid 3-3 Man City

winger Bruma’s thunderous shot from even further back at Union Quarter-final first leg, 09/04/2024
Foden takes one touch to get the ball out of his
Berlin, which was the solitary set-piece effort on the list. feet before finding the top corner with a sweet
connection.

5
Fede Valverde volleys in (main image); BRUMA
Raphinha celebrates in Paris (top); Union Berlin 2-3 Braga
Niclas Füllkrug guides his header in
Matchday 2, 03/10/2023
Zalazar aims a corner to Ricardo Horta, outside
the box, and he lays it off for Bruma to unleash
a shot from over 25 metres.

6
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ
Real Sociedad 1-2 Paris
Round of 16 second leg, 05/03/2024
Mbappé steps in from the byline, steals space
from his marker by feigning to shoot, then lashes
the ball inside the far post from a tight angle.

7
RODRYGO
Real Madrid 4-2 Napoli
Matchday 5, 29/11/2023
Fed by Brahim Díaz, the Brazilian cuts in from
the left and finds the top corner from inside
the penalty box.

8
JUDE BELLINGHAM
Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid
Matchday 2, 03/10/2023
Bellingham shows strength, speed and skill to
evade five blue shirts before, without breaking his
stride, shooting low into the corner.

9
TETÊ
Galatasaray 2-2 Copenhagen
Matchday 1, 20/09/2023
The substitute’s late equaliser is a beautifully
guided volley from just inside the box after
he connects with Wilfried Zaha’s cross.

10
ALPHONSO DAVIES
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern
Semi-final second leg, 08/05/2024
Harry Kane’s diagonal pass tees up Davies to run
at Antonio Rüdiger and he cuts inside before
an explosive top-corner finish.

38 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 39

ANALYSIS

Kevin De Bruyne fires

in against Real Madrid
COMEBACK WINS Elye Wahi celebrates
his winner at home
against Arsenal
Manchester United 2-3 Galatasaray, group stage
Copenhagen 1-2 Bayern, group stage
Copenhagen 4-3 Manchester United, group stage
Lens 2-1 Arsenal, group stage
Union Berlin 2-3 Braga, group stage
Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid, group stage
Real Madrid 4-2 Napoli, group stage
Union Berlin 2-3 Real Madrid, group stage
Atlético 3-2 Feyenoord, group stage
Celtic 1-2 Lazio, group stage
Milan 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain, group stage
Newcastle 1-2 Milan, group stage
Manchester City 3-2 Leipzig, group stage
Antwerp 2-3 Shakhtar, group stage
Antwerp 1-4 Porto, group stage
Barcelona 2-1 Porto, group stage
Atlético 2-1 Inter, round of 16, second leg
Barcelona 1-4 Paris Saint-Germain, quarter-final, second leg
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern, semi-final, second leg

GOALSCORING
GOALLESS DRAWS TOP SCORERS
Bayern v Copenhagen, group stage
Real Sociedad v Salzburg, group stage 8 Harry Kane Bayern
Inter v Real Sociedad, group stage
Milan v Newcastle, group stage
8 Kylian Mbappé Paris
Dortmund v Milan, group stage

Match observer Roberto Martínez touched on the mental side

6 Erling Haaland Man. City
too when he said: “From a technical and tactical and physical point
Champions Real Madrid were of view, there is no rational reason why Real Madrid in the last few
COMEBACKS ON THE RISE Champions Leagues have produced some incredible things in the last 6 Antoine Griezmann Atlético
the comeback kings in a ten minutes at home. That is the craziness of the Bernabéu and it’s
In 2023/24, the opening goal in a game appeared slightly less
season which saw a notable valuable a currency than previously, owing to a notable increase in
incredible how the psychological aspect in football is so important.”
On such nights, he added, opposition players are taken far “out of 6 Vinícius Júnior Real Madrid
increase in comeback comeback victories – 19 in all, which was significantly more than the
12 seen in 2022/23.
their comfort zone” – and Real Madrid take advantage.

victories and late winners This meant that where 12 months earlier, teams scoring first had a
90% chance of at least avoiding defeat, that figure dropped to 84%.
And where teams who scored first ended up victorious in 75% of
matches in 2022/23, this time they won only 66% of the time.
STRIKING LATE
The team with the most comebacks were Real Madrid, who came Late winners were also on the rise in 2023/24, with 24 matches fresh legs – and clubs at the elite end, in particular, have forwards
from behind to win four times – against Napoli (twice) and Union decided by goals scored in the last 15 minutes – a substantial and wingers on the bench who “can make a difference”.
Berlin in the group stage and, most memorably, against Bayern in the increase on the ten seen in 2022/23. The average number of substitutions per 90 minutes was 4.2 in
semi-final second leg when substitute Joselu scored after 88 and 91 The impact of substitutes warrants consideration here, as in 17 the 2023/24 campaign and the coach who made the most changes
minutes to earn a 2-1 victory. Not since 2016/17 had a team produced of the 24 matches it was a player who came off the bench who per game was Simone Inzaghi at Inter (precisely five).
more turnarounds – and that was Real Madrid too, with five. produced the winning strike. Take Manchester City, for example, who A particularly striking example of a coach making match-winning
There were 375 goals in the 2023/24 Champions League campaign – Institutional memory is one possible factor, as Carlo Ancelotti noted trailed Leipzig both home and away in the group stage but emerged changes came from Xavi at Barcelona. In the 3-2 quarter-final first-
a scoring rate of exactly three per game. The top-scoring teams were when he mentioned the belief that never fades at a club where such victorious each time, thanks to goals by substitutes Julian Álvarez leg victory at Paris Saint-Germain, Pedri – with his first and second
Manchester City and Real Madrid, who each managed 28 goals, albeit late shows seem almost a fact of life. “It has happened again,” he and Jérémy Doku. touches of the ball – set up Raphinha to make it 2-2 within a minute
City, who played three fewer games, had the competition’s best rate for said. “[Thanks to] a crowd who push, a stadium that helps, a fantastic This is an era when coaches can send on five substitutes and, as of his introduction. Then another substitute, Andreas Christiansen,
minutes per goal, with one every 33.2 minutes. atmosphere and players who don’t stop believing it can be.” Rafael Benítez observed, these tend to be attacking players with headed the winner two minutes after entering the action.

40 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 41

ANALYSIS

A breakdown of the goal times in the Champions League typically

highlights that the closing stages are a productive period as games OPEN PLAY GOALS LATE WINNERS
open up with defenders tiring and teams chasing goals. The 2023/24
campaign was no different, with a total of 86 goals scored between BY TYPE OF ATTACK Man United 2-3 Galatasaray, group stage (Icardi 81)
Bayern 2-1 Galatasaray, group stage (Kane 80, 86)
the 76th minute and the end of added time – 23% of the overall
total of 375. Equally, it was no surprise that a higher portion of goals Copenhagen 4-3 Man United, group stage (Lerager 83,
(57%) came in the second half of matches.
Bardghji 87)

157
That said, it is interesting to note that the period from 1–15 Sevilla 2-3 PSV, group stage (Gudelj 81og, Pepi 90+2)
minutes witnessed the most goals (47 of them) in the first half and Lens 2-1 Sevilla, group stage (Fulgini 90+6)
similarly that there were more goals scored from 46–60 minutes (68) Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin, group stage (Bellingham
than between 76–90 minutes in the second half. 90+4)
CONTROLLED
According to one experienced coach, we are seeing teams being
POSSESSION Braga 1-2 Napoli, group stage (Niakaté 88og)
sent out to start on the front foot, pressing high and playing with
high energy, in a bid to get that often-crucial opening goal. He also Union Berlin 2-3 Braga, group stage (André Castro 90+4)
wondered whether teams conceding early in the second period may Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid, group stage (Meret 78 og)
be the result of their failure to refocus fully after the half-time break Real Madrid 4-2 Napoli, group stage (Paz 84, Joselu 90+4)
– especially if they had spent the first period defending a lot. Union Berlin 2-3 Real Madrid, group stage (Ceballos 89)

23
If the surfeit of goals early in each half went contrary to the norm
Salzburg 0-1 Inter, group stage (Martínez 85)
of recent seasons, there was fresh evidence to heed the old warning
about teams being at their most vulnerable after just scoring a goal. Celtic 1-2 Lazio, group stage (Pedro Rodríguez 90+5)
Among the 47 goals scored within five minutes of the previous Lazio 2-0 Celtic, group stage (Immobile 82, 85)
one in a game, 29 of them (62%) were by the side that had just PRESSING Celtic 2-1 Feyenoord, group stage (Lagerbielke 90+1)
conceded – which also reflects in the rise in comeback victories. REGAIN
Newcastle 1-2 Milan, group stage (Chukwueze 84)
Leipzig 1-3 Man City, group stage (Álvarez 84, Doku
WHEN THE GOALS WERE SCORED 90+2)
Man City 3-2 Leipzig, group stage (Álvarez 87)
Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona, group stage (Ilenikhena 90+2)

81
FIRST HALF SECOND HALF
Porto 1-0 Arsenal, round of 16, first leg (Galeno 90+4)
68
Inter 1-0 Atlético, round of 16, first leg (Arnautović 79)
61 Atlético 2-1 Inter, round of 16, second leg (Depay 87)
59
54 TRANSITION Paris Saint-Germain 2-3 Barcelona, quarter-final, first leg
(Christensen 77)
47
45 Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern, semi-final, second leg (Joselu
88, 90+1)

2 31:17
25

16
Average time
of the first goal
DIRECT PLAY

48% 57%
A delighted Vinícius Júnior
after scoring to put the final
1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ beyond doubt
Minutes
Goals scored in
Almost half of the the second half
375 goals came
CONTROLLED POSSESSION REIGNS NUMBER OF PASSES PRIOR TO GOAL - OPEN PLAY from moves of six

23%
or more passes
When it came to the different routes to goal in the 2023/24
campaign, the type of attack which brought most success was Goals scored after
the controlled possession – a source of 157 goals. 26% 25% 75 minutes
22% 23%
Approximately two fifths (42%) of the 375 goals came this
way, the majority via a structured attack against a low defensive The chart (left) for the number of open-play passes prior to goals

70+
block. The next-biggest source of goals (81) was the transition, shows that teams used a variety of approaches. If roughly one fifth In ten of the 12 matches in Group A,
accounting for 22% of goals. There were 41 from within the (22%) of goals were scored after just one or two passes, a similar there was at least one goal scored
opposition half and 40 from counterattacks from deep. Meanwhile, 5% amount (23%) followed moves involving ten or more passes. Teams from the 70th minute onwards which
23 goals came from organised pressing regains, with teams winning using more passes are looking to create gaps or find spaces by changed the destiny of the points
the ball inside the opposition half and scoring. 0 1-2 3-5 6-10 Over 10 moving the ball around and, with it, the opposition.

42 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 43

ANALYSIS

6
GETTING ASSISTANCE

79% 26% 17%

Goals from
A breakdown of the different goal assists reveals that three types
outside the box by
were almost equally profitable: crosses and non-penetrative passes Manchester City
(21% each) and through balls (20%). Goals which required no assist
– such as when the scorer collected a loose ball, won the ball from the Arsenal had Sevilla had Manchester

216
the highest the highest United had the
opposition or collected a deflected pass – accounted for 21% too.
percentage of shots percentage of highest shot-
The high number of goals from through balls is worth noting. This Manchester inside the box headed goals conversion rate
can be linked to transitional moments when opposition teams are City had the
more open and their defence disrupted, though this category also most shots
includes passes that cut through a low block.

TYPE OF ASSIST - OPEN PLAY SHOT LOCATION - OPEN PLAY

10%
Goals from
outside the box 1% 2% 4% 3% 3% 3%
6% 9% 6% 5% 11% 5%

4% 11% 5% 5% 5% 3%

2% 8% 0%

Final Third

66% 84%
Time and space are at a premium in the Champions League, as Given the lack of time and space for attackers in the Champions
this pie chart underlines. Indeed, only 7% of goals saw the scorer League, it is crucial that they are aware of the defenders around Of the 120 games with at least Matches in which
unopposed. Instead, 90% of the time the scorer had at least one them and the need to take as few touches as possible – and the one goal, the team scoring the team scoring
opponent within five metres (the measure for indirect pressure). For data highlights this, given that 58% of goals this season were from
first won 66% of the time first avoided defeat
70% of the goals, the scorer faced direct pressure, meaning at least a one-touch finish.
one defender was looking to apply a defensive action to thwart him.

BOX OF TRICKS
PRESSURE ON SCORER SHOT TOUCHES The shot-location map above ndicates the popularity of cutbacks
as a route to goal, showing a high number of goals coming from the
1 TOUCH 3+ TOUCHES horizontal channel between the penalty spot and five-metre box. To

2% 58% 22%
INCOMING
be even more specific, 31% of shots from inside that channel were
hit within the width of the five-metre box.
Focusing on the two horizontal channels between the five-metre
box and the edge of the penalty area, it is interesting to observe the
DIRECT INDIRECT higher percentage of goals coming from the sides of this central

70% 22%
area of the penalty box, rather than the two vertical channels most
2 TOUCHES central to the goal which are more likely to be blocked by defenders.

19%
In terms of shots from outside the box, these accounted for 10% of
all goals. Four clubs – Young Boys, Newcastle, Lazio and PSV – registered
UNOPPOSED over 40% of their shots from outside the box but only managed one

7% goal apiece from long range. In contrast, Manchester City were the side
with most goals from outside the penalty area with six – and three of
them came in the same game, their 3-3 draw at Real Madrid.
Manchester City's Joško Gvardiol hammers
a shot from range into the net against
Real Madrid

44 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 45

BUILD-UP
ANALYSIS

DEFINITIONS ATTACKING BALANCE IN DEFENSIVE THIRD

Set up short: when a team is open/spread out and
looking to offer short options near the ball 0 +1
Set up long: when a team are pushing players higher
up the pitch, towards the halfway line, with no outfield
player in their defensive third Frequency Frequency

34% 29%
(Play) to long: when the first pass is played beyond the
defensive third
Building from deep carries an element of risk, yet there are rewards (Play) to short: when the first pass is played within the
Playing out from the back was a to be had for those teams who do get it right. This analysis of the defensive third
continuing trend in the knockout stages knockout stage shows that passing moves from deep of between Example: short to long: this is when a team is offering
short options, but the first pass goes longer, into the
with success to be had from sustained six and ten passes had a notably high success rate (67%) in terms
middle/final third
of progressing the ball into the opposition half. That said, it is worth Success rate Success rate
passing moves bearing in mind this includes those cases where the opposition 31% 30%
dropped off and so enabled the team in possession to advance
beyond halfway. To single out one team in particular, semi-finalists +2 +3 OR MORE
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT Bayern ended the knockout rounds with the highest number of ball PASSES IN BUILD UP FROM THE BACK
progressions using a minimum of six passes, helped no doubt by
Every goal kick from the 2023/24 knockout stage, numbering more
the presence of players adept at delivering a line-breaking pass, like 3–5 PASSES

33%
than 400, was put under the microscope by UEFA’s performance Frequency Frequency

24% 12%
centre-back Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
analysts in a study of how teams are building play. It was noted that
teams in the knockout stage set up predominantly to play short from
goal kicks, with three quarters (76%) classed as such. Indeed, the most
PASS LENGTH SUCCESS RATE 0–2 PASSES Success rate 37%

49%
common goal-kick scenario featured the team spreading to play short
and playing the first pass within their own defensive third (65%). 6+ PASSES

16%
LONG TO LONG

24%
Success was measured in terms of progressing with the ball to
the opposition half and the success rate from setting up short was Success rate
virtually the same regardless of whether the pass went short (39%) Success rate Success rate
SHORT TO SHORT 24% 43% 50%

65%
or longer into the middle or final third (38%). Success rate 67%
Success rate 25%
The two maps below show the location of first passes and their
OVER 10 PASSES
success rate. The first map shows that almost two thirds of the time

2%
SHORT TO LONG at St James’ Park. It shows the home side pressing high up the

11%
(65%), the first pass from a goal kick was within the taker’s defensive Success rate
39% pitch, as they did particularly on goal kicks that night, yet with
third. As for the varying success rates, playing the first pass ‘short’
the advantage of an extra player, the visitors were able to find
proved to be more successful than going ‘long’, with goal kicks
Success rate 38% solutions. On other occasions, Paris Saint-Germain profited from
played beyond the penalty box but within the defensive third proving
Success rate 38% good movement off the ball, creating support around the man
to be the most productive (53%).
on the ball to pass and move their way beyond the press.
The table above also shows that virtually half (49%) of build-
FIRST PASS END LOCATION SUCCESS RATE % ups from the back comprised no more than two passes. Teams
may have attempted to play more than two passes but were
unsuccessful, as seen by the low success rate here for advancing
the ball into opposition territory (24%).
The focus of the final chart (above right) is attacking balance in
the defensive third. To explain this to the casual reader, it means
looking at the number of outfield players in the defensive third
for the team building up from the back and comparing it to the
number of opposition players.
The data reflects the trend for player-to-player orientation –
35% 30% that is to say the most frequent scenario (34%) in the knockout
rounds was for teams playing out to have an equal number of
players as their opponents who were pressing them. Overall, there
12% 53% was scarcely any difference between the success rate of teams Paris Saint-Germain build up with one extra player v Newcastle
building without an extra man (31%) and those who had one more
53% 34% player in the defensive third than their opponents (30%). Not
surprisingly, once teams began dropping more players into their

33%
defensive third – or the opposition dropped off – it became easier Exactly one third of build-ups from goal kicks
to progress the ball – as reflected by the rising success rate in cases in the knockout stage involved between three
of an attacking balance of +2 and +3 or more. and five passes and no team progressed the
This image (right) provides an example of Paris Saint-Germain ball more this way than runners-up Dortmund
building up with a +1 advantage against Newcastle in their tie

46 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 47

ANALYSIS

AVERAGE ENTRY LOCATION LEADING TO THE SHOT

LANE 1 LANE 5
LANE 2
LANE 3 LANE 4

26% 24%
20%
15% 14%

Final Third

REAL MADRID ENTRY LOCATION LEADING TO THE SHOT

LANE 1 LANE 3 LANE 5

FINAL-THIRD
LANE 2

LANE 4

29% 26% 26%

ENTRIES
16%
3%
Final Third
Pedri carries the ball forward
as Fabian Ruiz tracks him

In which areas of the pitch do elite teams enter the final third in The above map of Real Madrid’s entry locations shows the variety of
Final-third entries from wide attacks leading to a shot? This was another question posed by their attacking threat. Not only did they attack via wide areas – familiar
positions proved effective for shots UEFA’s performance analysis unit, which took as its sample the hunting ground for Vinícius Júnior on the left and Rodrygo on the
on goal, but champions Real Madrid
38%
13 matches from the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the right – but through the centre too (26%). Indeed, while more attacks
2023/24 competition. came from their left wing (29%) than anywhere else, with both
were characterised by an equally The data is made up of every possession in the final third which Vinícius Júnior’s threat from there and Jude Bellingham’s deployment
potent central threat ended with an attempt on goal, blocked shots included. The top closer to that side, the fact the former was seen in a central role in
graphic on P49 shows that 50% of all shots came after players had 2023/24 helped give Madrid that threat centrally too – as seen, for Percentage of moves
entered the final third from the wide areas (lanes 1 and 5). example, when the Brazilian raced clear to score following Toni Kroos’ involving 3–5 passes from
Regarding the category of the attacks from out wide, in lanes brilliant through ball at Bayern in the semi-finals. That particular attack teams entering the final
1 and 5, the majority were from controlled possessions – that is, was categorised as a breakthrough (attacks in which the offensive
third to get in a shot
playing against a low block (a 50% share for lane 1 attacks and 44% team managed to break through the opposition block and create
for lane 5). The attacks that brought shots from the central swathe an opportunity before their rivals could reorganise defensively) and,
of the pitch (lane 3) featured more of a balance between organised overall, 32% of Real Madrid’s attacks leading to shots came from that
possessions and pressing regains. source, while 35% came from organised possessions.

48 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 49

ANALYSIS

The focus now turns to the number of passes in those attacks As a final point, regarding the second-most productive category –
which took teams into the final third and concluded with a shot.
As is displayed in the chart below, almost two fifths (38%) of such
1–2 passes (29%) – it is no surprise that the most prominent kind of
attack here was the transition (44%).
ATTACK TYPE LEADING TO SHOT WHEN
moves contained between three and five passes. Within that Controlled possession (65%) was the most common type of ENTERING FINAL THIRD (OPEN PLAY)
number, 31% came from organised possessions against a low attack leading to a shot in the final third, though transition moments
block, while 28% were from breakthroughs. were productive too as the source of just over one quarter (26%) of
Bayern and Real Madrid had the most shots following moves shots. Paris Saint-Germain were notable contributors to that latter
of between three and five passes, though one of the outstanding category as the side with the most shots following counterattacks
examples came from Barcelona with Raphinha’s second goal in from their own half. TRANSITION

26%
their quarter-final win at Paris Saint-Germain. After João Cancelo’s Finally, UEFA’s performance analysts also considered how teams
regain, the full-back played short to İlkay Gündoğan, who found entered the penalty box, in open play, in moves which created a
CONTROLLED
Pedri, who, in turn, lifted a sublime ball over the home defence for Pedri’s pass breaks through Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive shape before shooting opportunity. Individual actions (47%), which meant players POSSESSION

65%
Raphinha’s volleyed finish
Raphinha’s volleyed finish. breaking into the box by running with the ball or dribbling, had the
lion’s share followed by through balls (21%) and crosses (15%). And PRESSING REGAIN

8%
as the location map (bottom left) illustrates, almost half of entries
NUMBER OF PASSES WHEN ENTERING FINAL THIRD LEADING TO SHOT into the box came from lanes 2, 3 and 4 in the final third.

Total

Dani Carvajal heads in the

0 Passes 2% opening goal of the final

1–2 Passes 29%

3–5 Passes 38%

6–10 Passes 20%

Over 10 Passes 10%

PASS LOCATION OF ATTEMPTS BREAKING INTO PENALTY BOX

13% 9%

5% 15% 15% 11% 14%

Final
third
8%
3% 3% 2%

50 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 51

ANALYSIS

PRESSING
Real Madrid's

NUMBER OF PRESSING ACTIONS BY TIME PERIOD Ferland Mendy is

put under pressure REGAIN PRESS LOCATIONS
Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid

IN THE
8 13%
0–15
10
13%
6
16–30
8
13%
8

FINAL
31–45+ 13%
7
13%
7 13%
46–60
5 13%
13%
3
61–75
5 Pressing as a team was the predominant approach from each side
at Wembley. In Madrid’s case almost three-quarters (74%) of their
5 pressing actions came this way – that is, with five or more players
76–90+
11 and/or in a high block. Counter-pressing was less significant albeit
Borussia Dortmund and Real it was following a counter-press, with Karim Adeyemi dispossessing
Eduardo Camavinga, that Dortmund nearly scored the opening goal
Madrid’s pressing strategies at This breakdown of pressing actions by 15-minute periods reflects
when Niclas Füllkrug shot against the post.
Wembley perfectly represented the the ebb and flow of a final in which Dortmund ended the first half
stronger before Madrid took control from around the hour mark.
shifts in momentum during the final Madrid, as the chart shows, pressed with marginally more intensity
at the start of the game and then to a far greater degree in the last
TYPE OF PRESSURE
15 minutes when a regain in the final third brought their second
Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid 12%
goal. “After 60 minutes of the game, we had full control,” said Carlo
Ancelotti and in that final half-hour Madrid produced twice as many
6%
pressures – 16 to eight by Dortmund. The second-half switch of 68% 74%
On a night when Madrid had more of the ball, registering a 57%
Federico Valverde to a more central midfield position was a clear
share of possession, they also produced more pressing actions
factor in this upsurge in intensity: after 22 pressures in the first period,
than BVB. From within a mid-block, the sides were even in terms 12% 6%
when he played on the right, the Uruguayan made 44 when operating 19%
of their pressing output – 11 for Madrid, 12 for Dortmund – but 11% 8% 11%
centrally after the break. 5% 4%
the difference was the Spanish team’s more aggressive approach 6%
higher up the field, which ensured they ended the match with 35 6%
Individual Group Team Counter-press
pressing actions overall, ten more than their opponents.
NUMBER OF PASSES PRIOR TO FIRST PRESS (1 player) (2–4 players) (5+ players) (within 5 seconds
of losing the ball)
12% 41%

NUMBER OF PRESSING ACTIONS BY SHAPE Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid Another aspect considered by UEFA’s performance analysts was
the intensity of the teams’ pressing work and this chart below shows
76% 78% that Dortmund produced more sustained spells of four or more
High block Mid block
pressing actions, constituting 24% of their overall output. From a

76% 68% Madrid perspective, they had players with the technical quality and
composure to withstand such pressure, showing the ability to retain
possession and not be forced into long passes.

19%
13%
9%
INTENSITY OF THE PRESSURE
5% Finally, it is interesting to see the areas of the pitch where the two
Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid finalists’ pressing efforts bore fruit with regains. For Madrid, as the
0–2 Passes 3–5 Passes 5+ Passes map above displays, almost half of their regains (41%) came after
57% BVB had crossed the halfway line. Dortmund, for their part, had more
49%
24% 32% The key point from this breakdown of the number of passes prior
to the first press is that both teams sought to apply pressure early –
success regaining the ball in the wide areas.
Madrid’s regains within their attacking third – in the central area
within a maximum of two passes – as often as possible. In Dortmund’s 27% 26% (12%) and on the right (18%) – may be attributed partly to Rodrygo,
24%
As the pie charts indicate, three-quarters of Madrid’s pressing case all but 5% of their pressing actions came within a maximum of 17% who began the game more centrally and then switched to the right
work was in a high block which can be seen as an attempt to disrupt five Madrid passes. As for Ancelotti’s side, they were more selective: with Valverde’s above-mentioned move inside. Rodrygo applied 93
Dortmund in their build-up – something the German side had done 9% of the time they allowed Dortmund to play more than five passes individual pressures overall, more than any other player, with 50% of
well in previous rounds (see P26). before initiating the press. 1 pressing action 2–3 pressing actions 4+ pressing actions them high pressures.

52 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 53

ANALYSIS

CROSSING
opportunity before their rivals could reorganise defensively. Meanwhile,
transitions –that is, winning the ball in a transitional moment in the

4%
opposition half – were also productive, yielding shots 26% of the time.
Semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain had the most attempts from crosses
following transitions, whereas Bayern – the other beaten semi-finalists –
had the most shots from crosses from controlled possessions. Percentage of crosses
from open play that
led to a goal in the
Cutbacks proved the most OPEN-PLAY CROSS LOCATIONS knockout stage

effective type of cross in the

knockout stage, leading to a
shot nearly 40% of the time

16% 15% 19% 17%

7% 6% 7% 13%

Raphaël Guerreiro of Bayern Final Third

München whips in a cross

ATTACK TYPE LEADING TO CROSS SUCCESS RATE OF CROSS LOCATIONS

CONTROLLED POSSESSION TRANSITION PRESSING REGAIN

Frequency Frequency Frequency

398
78%
Successful 29%
53
10%
Successful 26%
12
61%
Successful 26%

23% 41% 30% 24%

What is the value of a cross in the UEFA Champions League? This was The graphic above provides a breakdown of the different types of
a question asked by UEFA’s performance analysis unit in a study of all attack which led to crossing opportunities and it shows that more than
512 crosses delivered from open play during the knockout stage of the three quarters of all open-play crosses (78%) came from controlled
2023/24 campaign. The analysis showed that there were 145 shots possessions against a low defensive block. Within the controlled
following crosses from open play, meaning one for every 3.5 crosses possession category, breakthough attacks had a high success rate of 25% 31% 41% 17%
delivered. Overall, 4% of open-play crosses produced a goal. 33%. To be specific, these were attacks in which the offensive team
Among teams that progressed out of the group stage in 2023/24, managed to break through the opposition block and create a crossing
Inter had the highest average number of open-play crosses per game
with 15.2, followed by PSV Eindhoven (14.9) and Paris Saint-Germain

41%
(14.5). Inter were also the team who had the most open-play crosses
Final Third
Percentage of Real
that led to a shot overall, with 36. Next best on this list were Barcelona Sociedad’s open-play
and Real Madrid with 30 each. Unlike that pair, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter crosses which were
played only eight matches, yet their attacking strategy included wing- cutbacks or low deliveries
backs who kept their width and looked to play crosses into two strikers.

54 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 55

ANALYSIS

When it came to crossing locations, the two maps on P55 show,

firstly, the areas from which open-play crosses were delivered Samuel Lino crosses as
Denzel Dumfries looks to
DEFENDERS IN THE BOX
and secondly, and more pertinently, from where they were most

28%
close him down
effective. The first map shows that teams were crossing from a Total % No shot %
variety of areas of the pitch, with 33% of crosses delivered from
the wider spaces outside of the penalty box in lanes 1 and 5 and 8%
fractionally more (34%) from within the penalty box as they 0
71%
looked for the inside spaces which are popular for cutbacks or
low driven centres. The second map reinforces this last point by Percentage of crosses 4%
highlighting the locations from which crosses had the highest rate from open play that 1
of success (i.e. yielding a shot): lane 2 inside the box and lane 4, led to a shot in the 74%
in the half-spaces outside the box (41% in each case). knockout stage
6%
2
CROSS FREQUENCY BY DELIVER TYPE 83%

11%
CUTBACK CHIPPED WHIPPED DRIVEN DEFLECTED 3
86%

Frequency Frequency Frequency Frequency Frequency 17%

145 73 244 34 16
4
71%
28% 14% 48% 7% 3%
17%
5
74%

Leading to shot Leading to shot Leading to shot Leading to shot Leading to shot
38% 19% 26% 29% 19% 15%
6
66%
The most effective type of crosses in the 2023/24 knockout stage UEFA’s analysts also looked at the number of attacking players in the
were cutbacks, which led to a shot almost two fifths of the time (38%). NUMBER OF ATTACKERS IN THE PENALTY BOX box when open-play crosses came in during the knockout stage. The
7
13%
Driven balls (29%) were marginally the most popular and they were chart shows that in almost two-thirds of cases (59%), the attacking
the second most likely way of creating a shooting chance from a cross Total % Leading to a shot % team had a minimum of three players in the penalty area when the 69%
(29%). Paris Saint-Germain with their fast wingers were the team who cross arrived.
created the most shots from cutbacks with 12 in total, followed by 12% Manchester City stood out for the high ratio of occasions (59%) 8%
0 8
Bayern (eight) and Real Madrid (seven). Two teams who relied heavily when they had between four and five men in the box looking to connect 60%
28%
on cutbacks in the knockout stage were Porto and Real Sociedad – over with an open-play cross and, as the chart shows, when teams did have
half of Porto’s crosses and 41% of La Real’s, though the sample size for five players attacking a cross, there was a 33% chance of a shot. 2%
both was small, covering only the two legs of their round of 16. 12% That said, it is worth noting too that a high number of attackers 9
1 did not automatically translate to a greater likelihood of a shot – 58%
16% as evidenced by the 36% success rate for crosses when only two
Galeno prepares to attackers were in the area. In cases such as at the end of a quick To shift the focus to the number of defenders in the box, the most
put in a cross for Porto
16% counterattack, the reduced number of defenders would make it common scenario was for four or five players to be defending the
2 easier for forwards to attack empty space, be it by creating space for area from open-play crosses (17% each). Yet however many players
36% themselves by dragging a defender to one area in order to exploit a team had back, there was no guarantee of successfully stopping
the other, or by getting on the blind side to connect with the cross. every cross – even in those rare instances where nine players were
defending their area, they dealt with the cross only 58% of the time.
24%
3 The Manchester City v Real Madrid quarter-final offered a notable
28% example for the UEFA analysts as 11 times in that game Carlo
Ancelotti’s visitors had eight players packing their box to defend an
open-play cross – and on one of those occasions, Kevin De Bruyne
20%
scored the equalising goal. From a coaching perspective, this is
4
28% a reminder that having more bodies back does not necessarily
mean a more secure penalty box and it is important for players to
understand their individual roles and responsibilities.
12%
5

11
33%
Number of times Real Madrid had
eight players back in their box
3% to defend an open-play cross in
6 Real Madrid with 9 outfield players in their penalty box in the lead their match at Manchester City
up to Kevin De Bruyne’s equalising goal
29%

56 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 57

ANALYSIS

Antoine Griezmann The importance of set plays was underlined in the season’s closing
fires in against Celtic
stages by headed goals from Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Real
Madrid’s Dani Carvajal in the semi-finals and final respectively – and,
GOALS CONCEDED FROM SET PLAYS
for the record, these were two of 23 headed goals scored by teams Newcomers Antwerp were not just among the teams to not score
attacking a set play, with the other two being own goals. from a set play, they also conceded the most, with five against. It may
While Hummels’ goal was Dortmund’s only strike from a set not be entirely coincidental that they were the team with the lowest
play, Madrid ranked joint third in the table, alongside Paris Saint- ratio of success in aerial duels (40%). Copenhagen (43%) and Paris
Germain and Sevilla, albeit their set-piece strikes accounted for Saint-Germain (44%) were similarly among the bottom five-ranked
only 14% of their total. clubs for aerial duels and conceded four times each from set plays.
Four teams did not manage a single goal from a set play – No team conceded a higher proportion of goals from dead balls
Antwerp, Arsenal, Salzburg and Union Berlin. In the case of Arsenal, than Crvena zvezda with four of their ten goals against (40%)
this contrasted notably with their success from set plays in the coming this way. At the other end of the scale, neither Porto nor
Premier League where they scored 22 set-piece goals. Galatasaray let in a single goal from set plays.

SET-PLAY GOALS SCORED SET-PLAY GOALS CONCEDED

Total goals Set-play goals Set-play goals conceded Goals conceded

Atlético 6 23 Antwerp 5 17
Man City 5 28 Crvena zvezda 4 10
Sevilla 4 7 Celtic 4 15
Paris 4 19 Copenhagen 4 15
Real Madrid 4 28 Paris 4 15
Feyenoord 3 9 Union Berlin 3 10
Napoli 3 12 Atlético 3 13
Leipzig 3 14 Young Boys 3 13

SET PLAYS
Porto 3 16 Inter 3 14
Barcelona 3 20 Man United 3 15
Braga 2 6 Real Sociedad 2 6
Benfica 2 7 Milan 2 8
Crvena zvezda 2 7 Benfica 2 11
Young Boys 2 7 Dortmund 2 11
Lazio 2 8 Braga 2 12
Real Sociedad 2 8 Sevilla 2 12
Galatasaray 2 10 Shakhtar 2 12
Shakhtar 2 10 Bayern 2 13
While Atlético de Madrid
GOALS SCORED FROM SET PLAYS Man United 2 12 PSV 2 13
scored the most goals from Bayern 2 21 Real Madrid 2 15
Over the course of the 2023/24 campaign, there was a total of 66
set plays, champions Real set-play goals scored, penalties not included. This represented an Celtic 1 5 Newcastle 1 7

Madrid were particularly 18% portion of the overall total of 375 goals – a marginal increase
on the 16% of the previous three seasons. The team who scored the
Milan 1 5 Arsenal 1 8
Lens 1 6 Salzburg 1 8
effective in attacking and most from this source were Atlético de Madrid (six), followed by the
previous year’s most prolific set-play scorers, Manchester City (five). Newcastle 1 6 Lazio 1 10
defending from corners With the inclusion of the 29 penalties that were also scored, PSV 1 9 Lens 1 11
exactly one quarter of all goals (25%) came via dead balls. As for the
Copenhagen 1 10 Leipzig 1 12
percentage share of penalties, they amounted to 8% of the overall
total, continuing the downward trend since 2020/21 when spot kicks Inter 1 10 Feyenoord 1 13
accounted for 15% of all goals. Dortmund 1 17 Man City 1 13
For Diego Simeone’s Atlético, their six set-play goals represented
just over one quarter (26%) of their overall total of 23 goals Salzburg 4 Napoli 1 13
scored. However, no club relied more on set plays for goals than Antwerp 6 Barcelona 1 14
Sevilla, whose tally of seven goals included four from dead balls.
Union Berlin 6 Galatasaray 7
A year earlier, 50% of their goals were from set pieces and that
percentage rose to 57% in 2023/24. Arsenal 19 Porto 9

58 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 59

ANALYSIS

DIRECT FREE-KICKS GOALS FROM CORNERS GOALS CONCEDED FROM CORNERS Toni Kroos sets the ball
down for a corner
There were seven goals from direct free-kick strikes in the There was no more significant goal scored from a corner in 2023/24 To shift the focus to goals conceded from corners, six sides each
2023/24 campaign, with Galatasaray’s Hakim Ziyech leading the than Dani Carvajal’s near-post breakthrough header from a Toni leaked three – with Feyenoord the most vulnerable, given they
way, with two in a single game in the 3-3 group-stage draw with Kroos delivery in the final. Overall, 13% of goals during the season conceded one from every eight corners faced.
Manchester United. came from corners, albeit, unlike that Carvajal effort, the majority Four teams proved especially solid, as none of Porto (43 corners),
Manchester City contributed two such goals to the list, starting came from second contacts. This highlights the importance of not Inter (35), Galatasaray (29) and Sevilla (28) lost a single goal from
with Julián Álvarez’s strike against Crvena zvezda on Matchday 1. only focusing on winning the first ball but also the second ball and a corner. Champions Real Madrid conceded just one goal from 78
Indeed, with Feyenoord’s Calvin Stengs and Lens’ Angelo Fulgini securing possession thereafter. corners faced, which came on matchday two away to Napoli. On this
also scoring that week – against Celtic and Sevilla respectively – the As the chart shows, the previously mentioned Carvajal header was point, assistant coach Davide Ancelotti has a reputation for strong
opening round of fixtures featured as many direct free-kicks (three) one of four Madrid goals from a corner – a total matched only by set-play strategies. Real Madrid got plenty of bodies around their
as the entire 2022/23 campaign. neighbours Atlético and Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Sevilla’s goal – and had defenders with desire and aggression such as Antonio
The other Manchester City free-kick which found the net was dead-ball prowess was reflected by the fact they had the best ratio Rüdiger, Nacho and Carvajal.
the only one of the knockout stage, and it came from Bernardo of corners per goal. While the tournament average was a goal every
Silva, with his early effort in the 3-3 quarter-final draw at Real 27 corners, Sevilla scored three times from a total of 30 flag-kicks –
Madrid. It prompted praise from Roberto Martínez for the ‘clever including first-contact headers from Lucas Ocampos and Nemanja DEFENDING CORNERS
thinking’ of Silva, who caught out goalkeeper Andriy Lunin with Gudelj, each time from an Ivan Rakitić delivery.
GOALS CONCEDED CORNERS PER GOAL
his shot from a distance of 28 metres – and from a position, The team with the lowest corners-per-goal ratio were Dortmund, FROM CORNERS CONCEDED
in the inside-left channel, from which Lunin would have likely whose solitary strike was the fruit of 74 corners overall. However, its
Arsenal 27
anticipated a cross into the box. value was enormous: the far-post header by Mats Hummels from
Bayern 41
a Julian Brandt delivery secured their semi-final second-leg win at
Barcelona 43
Paris Saint-Germain. It was Hummels’ first goal in the competition’s
Braga 32
knockout rounds since 2012/13 and took his team through to their
Lazio 37
first final since then. Finally, while Dortmund were among nine teams Leipzig 29
with just one goal from a corner, another nine managed none at all – Lens 32
matching the number from the previous season. Manchester City 26
Manchester United 29
Napoli 50
HEADING FOR GOAL Newcastle United 39 PORTO’S DEFENSIVE SET-UP
PSV 34
Porto did not concede a single goal from a corner and the example
Overall, 25 of the goals from set plays were headers, including two Real Madrid 78
(below left), from their game at Barcelona, shows their defenders
own goals. To break this down, 19 of that number were from corners Real Sociedad 30
working hard to deny home players space to attack the ball, and
and six from free-kicks. Not all of the headers came from the scorer Salzburg 32
leaving room for keeper Diogo Costa to come out to attack the ball.
Bernardo Silva puts Manchester City ahead from a direct free-kick connecting with a first-time ball into the box, as some were from Shakhtar 28
second-phase crosses. Antwerp 15
Atlético 32
Benfica 17 ARSENAL’S FAR-POST ROUTINE
CORNERS Celtic
Dortmund
18
44 Arsenal’s failure to score from a set play did not mean they lacked
Milan 14 invention – as seen by this clever routine in their group-stage
Goals from corners Corners per goal 74

13%
Copenhagen 16 home fixture with Sevilla. Sevilla, facing a corner early in the game,
Crvena zvezda 14 defended zonally with a line of players protecting the front-post
64 Feyenoord 8 area. Arsenal took advantage, with a ball by Gabriel Martinelli to
Paris Saint-Germain 18 the back post, where, with the help of team-mates blocking their
of goals during
Union Berlin 18 markers, Kai Havertz had a free header. Unfortunately for Arsenal,
the season came
from corners Young Boys 12 he mistimed his effort.
45

36
29 30
27 27 28
26
24
21 21 22 22
18 19
14 16
10 12 12 12

3 4 3 4 4
2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
Sevilla

Atlético

Porto

Young Boys

Crvena zvezda

Leipzig

Braga

Lazio

Man City

Real Madrid

Celtic

Paris

Benfica

Copenhagen

Man United

Real Sociedad

Barcelona

Napoli

Inter

Milan

Feyenoord

Bayern

Dortmund

Porto’s effective mixed man-for-man and zonal marking approach Arsenal's deep corner breached Sevilla's zonal defence at the front post

60 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 61

GOALKEEPING
ANALYSIS

short. One intriguing example came in Real Madrid’s quarter-final at

Manchester City when midfielder Fede Valverde attempted a couple of
DEFENDERS STEP TO THE TASK kicks over the home side’s man v man press in an attempt to release a
As coaches search for different strategies to bypass the opposition press, forward higher up the pitch. From the perspective of a goalkeeping expert,
a trend has developed for defenders, rather than goalkeepers, to take kicking the ball hard and flat requires a different skill from delivering a long,
goal kicks. In 2023/24, almost one third (32%) of goal kicks in the UEFA floated goal kick – and Madrid soon reverted to a more familiar approach.
Champions League were taken this way, with the defender initiating the
build-up from the back.
When the defender plays short to the goalkeeper, this usually gives GOAL KICK - STARTING PLAYER
the latter more time on the ball before the opposition attackers can get
close to apply pressure. “He has a couple more seconds because he can go Outfield
Gregor Kobel led the way with goals prevented and clean sheets,
while tactics around short goal kicks continued to emerge
deeper and the distance is further away from the opposition player who
is closing him,” explained UEFA observer Packie Bonner, adding that the
Goalkeeper
32%
extra time and different angle gained can help the goalkeeper “see where
the press is coming” and, with it, where the best pass may be played.
Another advantage that coaches have identified with this approach is
that whereas when the goalkeeper takes a short kick, typically with two
centre-backs in close proximity, one on either side, only having one centre-
back in the penalty area with the goalkeeper allows the other defender to
move outside the box. This positioning helps create superiority elsewhere
on the field when building play.
It is worth adding that not every goal kick by an outfield player went
68%

SHORT ORDER
The trend for teams to play short from goal kicks continued in 2023/24.
Indeed, over the five seasons since the rule change to permit a player
to receive a goal kick inside their own box, the percentage of goal kicks
played short has doubled to the point where almost half go to a player
inside the area – from 24% in 2019/20 to 48% in 2023/24.
Feyenoord did not survive the group stage, finishing third in Group E, yet
under coach Arne Slot they recorded the highest percentage of goal kicks
played short to a player in the box – 69%.
Timon Wellenreuther, in goal for their first two games, and Justin Lazio progress with movement off the ball
Bijlow, who took the role thereafter, were integral to Slot’s build-up
strategy, holding a “prominent role”, according to UEFA observer Frans
Hoek. “It’s not a coincidence, as they tried to play it short most of the If Celtic fell short of the knockout stage, some of the teams who
time,” he explained. “They wanted to bring the opponent in more and favoured a less elaborate build-up enjoyed longer runs in the competition.
create some spaces.” Indeed, of the eight sides with the longest average passing distance from
Accordingly, Feyenoord also recorded the shortest average passing goal kicks, four of them reached the last 16: Atlético, Porto, Copenhagen
distance at goal kicks (17.6m). Elaborating on their approach under Slot, and Real Sociedad.
who was subsequently appointed as head coach of Liverpool, match In the case of Real Sociedad, only 14% of their goal kicks were played
observer Aljoša Asanović added: “It started from the goalkeeper, who inside their box, while the average distance of goalkeeper Álex Remiro’s
plays well with his feet, with the ball then played to one of the stoppers, kicks was 52.8m. As Asanović said after observing their home win over
who are calm on the ball and not afraid to pass the ball into the middle.” Benfica: “They did not complicate the build-up. The goalkeeper hit the
Under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri, Lazio aimed to progress with short ball into the middle of the pitch and with a quick reaction to the second
build-up play from goal kicks. In the first leg of the round of 16 tie against ball, they would gain possession.”
Bayern, the German side pressed Lazio high from goal kicks, with Harry
Kane pressing the centre-backs and goalkeeper, forcing the ball wide.
“Bayern looked to press aggressively once the ball was in wide areas,
but Lazio escaped the pressure well at times,” observed Aitor Karanka. An GOAL KICKS RECEIVED INSIDE OWN BOX
example of this is when the hosts progressed the ball through short, sharp
2023/24 48%
passes and clever movement. Lazio’s midfield trio demonstrated good
flexibility in their positioning, with Matteo Guendouzi dropping back while
2022/23 44%
Danilo Cataldi stepped forward. “There was also good movement from
Luis Alberto, coming inside,” added Karanka. 2021/22 39%
It is interesting to note that Celtic, who finished bottom of Feyenoord’s
Dortmund keeper Gregor
Kobel leaps into action group, ranked third in both of these goal kick metrics, indicating their 2020/21 36%
against AC Milan
commitment to building play from the back under Brendan Rodgers, with
the goalkeeper opening the game up short to his defenders. 2019/20 24%

62 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 63

ANALYSIS

KEEPING CONTROL SAVE PERCENTAGE GOALS PREVENTED

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was named in the 2023/24 UEFA
Champions League Team of the Season and the statistics help to

6.86 4.86 3.64 3.46 3.1

explain why. The Swiss international ended the campaign having

86% 83%
prevented the most goals (6.86) and made the most saves (46). “He
is a good shot-stopper with great reflexes,” said Hoek. “In addition, he
showed he was decent in one-v-ones and brave with through balls.”
While Inter’s experienced Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer ended
the season with the highest save percentage (86%), the efforts of Gregor Kobel Nick Pope Anatoliy Trubin Anthony Racioppi Manuel Neuer
Yann Sommer Nick Pope Dortmund Newcastle Benfica Young Boys Bayern
Newcastle’s Nick Pope warrant a mention too after a debut UEFA Inter Newcastle
Champions League campaign in which he ranked second in both the

2.93 2.12 2.01 1.86 1.8

goals prevented (4.86) and save percentage (83%) categories.

CLEAN SHEETS 82% 78%

Gregor Kobel 6 Yann Sommer Andriy Lunin Justin Bijlow Álex Remiro Ivan Provedel
Inter Real Madrid Feyenoord Real Sociedad Lazio
Gregor Kobel Andriy Lunin
Manuel Neuer 4 Dortmund Real Madrid

David Raya 4
AVERAGE GOAL KICK DISTANCE (M)
Álex Remiro 4
77% 76%
Yann Sommer 4

Alexander Schlager Álex Remiro

Gianluigi Donnarumma 3
Salzburg Real Sociedad

Ivan Provedel 3

Nick Pope enjoyed an

impressive campaign
75% 74% Feyenoord
17.6
Bayern
18.1
Celtic
21.7
Inter
22.8
Lazio
23
Leipzig
25.6
Man Utd
26
Napoli
26.2

Jan Oblak Anthony Racioppi

Atlético Young Boys

73% 72% Paris Saint-Germain

26.6
Arsenal
26.9
Barcelona
27.6
Man City
28.2
PSV
28.8
Real Madrid
29.5
Young Boys
30
Crvena
30.3

Péter Gulácsi Gianluigi Donnarumma

Leipzig Paris Saint-Germain

PERCENTAGE OF GOAL KICKS RECEIVED INSIDE OWN BOX

Lens Shakhtar Antwerp Dortmund Salzburg Benfica Galatasaray Milan
Top five Bottom five 30.3 31.1 31.8 32.3 33 33.9 34.1 34.4

Feyenoord 69% Real Sociedad 14%

Bayern 68% Newcastle 18%

Celtic 67% Sevilla 28%

Paris Saint-Germain 64% Union Berlin 29%

Atlético Porto Braga Union Berlin Sevilla Copenhagen Newcastle Real Sociedad
Lazio 62% Copenhagen 31% 35.4 35.8 36.7 38.9 44.4 45.9 49 52.8

64 2022/23 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 65

ANALYSIS

FITNESS
Meanwhile, the fact Benfica and Salzburg are among the top three Copenhagen were the team who ran the most in a single game last There are some serial speedsters among this term’s top ten, not
teams for recoveries helps to explain the presence of Fredrik Aursnes and season, and this season they put in the hard yards once again, with least Kylian Mbappé (2019/20, 2021/22) and Alphonso Davies
Mads Bidstrup, players operating at full-back and in midfield for those two their average distance of 126.88km per game being unsurpassed by (2022/23) who have both recorded the maximum velocity in past
teams. On an individual level, João Neves, Bruno Guimarães and Aursnes any other side. One obvious factor was their low share of possession seasons. Yet this year nobody could match the Borussia Dortmund
were all ranked among the top ten players for most recoveries. – only newcomers Union Berlin averaged less than their 39% – while winger Karim Adeyemi. A year earlier, Dortmund coach Edin Terzić
A word, too, for the enduring powers of stamina of Bayern midfielder Aitor Karanka, observer for their visit to Manchester United, noted compared him jokingly with the Road Runner cartoon character
Kimmich, who appears in the top ten for the fourth consecutive campaign. a counterattacking approach which featured “a commitment to following a sprint of 36.1km/h when scoring a breakaway goal against
breaking in numbers”. Chelsea. He outdid that with top-ranked sprint of 37.6km/h in this
If it is understandable to see a correlation between less possession year’s final when he raced through from halfway. This time there was

Copenhagen led the way for TEAM AVERAGE DISTANCE PER GAME (KM) and more running, it is worth pointing out that two of top three teams no goal at the end of it yet his contribution throughout the season was
for dominating possession – Arsenal and Manchester City – feature in noted by the observers, who cited his speed and inventive movement
distance covered both individually Copenhagen 126.88 the top ten here. as key to the trouble he gave defences with his runs in behind.
and collectively, while Karim Porto 126.79
Adeyemi recorded the top speed
Inter Milan 124.31
TOP SPEEDS (KM/H) AVERAGE SPRINTS PER GAME
Union Berlin 123.68
Karim Adeyemi Dortmund 37.6 Vinícius Júnior Real Madrid 32
PLAYER AVERAGE DISTANCE PER GAME (KM) Arsenal 123.40

Lazio 123.14
Nuno Mendes Paris 37.2 Anthony Gordon Newcastle 31
Rasmus Falk Copenhagen 13.01 Salzburg 122.97

Atlético 122.47 Kylian Mbappé Paris 36.1 Noa Lang PSV 31

Callum Mcgregor Celtic 12.83 Man. City 121.34

Feyenoord 121.12 Achraf Hakimi Paris 36 Galeno Porto 30

Fredrik Aursnes Benfica 12.73
Celtic 120.06

Leipzig 119.28 Erling Haaland Man. City 36 Daizen Maeda Celtic 29

Mads Bidstrup Salzburg 12.58
Young Boys 118.90
Federico Valverde Real Madrid 35.9 Achraf Hakimi Paris 29
Newcastle 118.71
João Neves Benfica 12.5
Barcelona 118.53
Loïs Openda Leipzig 35.7 Aleksa Terzić Salzburg 29
Benfica 118.29
Bruno Guimarães Newcastle 12.38
Napoli 117.82
Marcus Rashford Man. United 35.7 Meschack Elia Young Boys 29
Joshua Kimmich Bayern 12.15 Dortmund 117.60

Shakhtar 117.27
Daizen Maeda Celtic 35.6 Sheraldo Becker Real Sociedad 28
Inbeom Hwang Crvena zvezda 12.12 Antwerp 116.93

PSV 116.87 Alfonso Davies Bayern 35.5 Pepê Porto 28

Diogo Leite Union Berlin 12.07 Lens 116.34

Real Sociedad 116.33 Gabriel Martinelli Arsenal 28

Benjamin Pavard Inter Milan 12.02
Man. United 116.27
Sprints classified as over 25km/h
Minimum of 3 games played
Minimum of 3 games played Crvena zvezda 115.84

Bayern 115.40 “With his movement and how quick he is with the ball, he is always
It is no surprise that the majority of players ranked in the top ten for dangerous,” said Giovanni van Bronckhorst of Vinícius Júnior – and as
the highest average distance covered per game are midfielders. Nor Milan 115.21 this table shows, he seldom stopped moving this season, recording the
that all of them bar Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard played in highest average number of sprints per match. Runs behind are a key
Real Madrid 114.61
teams who had, on average, less of the ball than their opponents. feature of attacking play today and the Brazilian, with those trademark
In the case of the top-ranked Copenhagen midfielder Rasmus Falk, he Sevilla 114.52 bursts from the left, produced plenty for Real Madrid once more. So
had a screening role in the centre of the pitch for a team who were the too did a newcomer to the competition, Newcastle United winger
hardest-running in the competition. Stefan Kuntz described him as “the Paris 113.69 Anthony Gordon, who, in the words of David James, showed “excellent
lungs” of the Danish side while David Adams, technical observer for their Braga 113.60 movement to get into attacking positions” and also worked hard
win over Manchester United, said: “He’s hard-working out of possession Karim Adeyemi recorded the competition’s top speed in the final against defensively. It is telling that all the players listed above filled wide roles as
Real Madrid
with the capacity to cover a lot of distance and recover the ball effectively.” Galatasaray 113.55 it is on the wings where players can find the space to run at high speed.

66 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 67

COACHING DRILLS

BUILDING WITH AN OVERLOAD

This drill aims to teach players the plus-two overload strategy
to achieve numerical superiority during the build-up phase.

PUTTING
THEORY
INTO
PRACTICE
Our technical team suggests
four drills to help coaches equip
their teams to face the latest
challenges in the game NUMBERS ORGANISATION COACHING POINTS

13 + Goalkeeper / 20 + Goalkeeper Ball can start from 8v6

The analysis conducted during the - Goal kick • Use +2 to create overload
UEFA Champions League aims to - Goalkeeper in hands
• Draw the team on one side to switch
- Opposition start with ball + to the other side quickly to progress
translate observations from senior club give to goalkeeper into small goals
matches into actionable insights for
elite youth development. By examining • Blues to progress ball through small • Overplay passing lines – horizontally
goals or big goals and vertically
performance metrics and trends from
• Use of rotations
these matches, valuable insights can • Pinks to win it back and score
• Use goalkeeper as spare player and
be derived to design targeted training other spare outfield player to progress
exercises. The following exercises are • Progress 11 v 10
• If the ball is on one side – opposite
designed to incorporate these identified Edin Terzić looks on come in, in case of ball loss
• Use overloads to progress
trends, ensuring that players are well- during a Dortmund
11 v 10
training session
prepared to meet current challenges.
• Pink back line not allowed over yellow
line

68 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 69

COACHING DRILLS

BREAKING THROUGH A MID-BLOCK CREATING CROSSING OPPORTUNITIES

Here players are working on how to break through an opponent's This drill looks at passing options and the timing of runs to create crossing
mid-block defence with runs into space behind their defensive line. opportunities from the half-spaces outside the box to penetrate a low-block.

NUMBERS ORGANISATION COACHING POINTS NUMBERS ORGANISATION COACHING POINTS

20 + 2 Goalkeepers • Free touches in middle third, two • Runs in behind 10 + 6 + Goalkeeper • Blue team always starts with the ball • Side pocket players must run in
touches in the end zone behind full-back
• Fill the goal zone • Must switch the play from one side to
• Start with no defenders allowed • Choice for wide players is to play the
the other before attacking – they can ball for the deep run or play the ball
in each end zone • Play forward and in behind switch multiple times if needed backwards to the edge player
• Progress to only one defender allowed • Timing of runs in behind • If the player tracks the run of the
into end zone to defend after ball • Pinks start on the edge of the box and
can defend "live" player in behind and the cross from
is played in • Work moment to play in behind – the "golden zone" is blocked – option
slide pass / chip pass / diagonal to play back to edge player to cross
• Unlimited attackers • Blues have to score from a cut back or from half space outside the box
• Progress ball as close as possible ball played back to half space outside
• When goalkeeper has the ball, no to end line so final pass is shorter the box + cross • Details on crossing to beat the first
attackers are allowed in the end defender
zone to press • Runs in behind from opposite so ball • Timing on runs from opposite side in
is diagonal and goalkeeper is less likely between gaps
• End zone line is offside line to intercept
• Second balls – rest defence to
• Use various formations for both maintain the attack
teams

70 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 71

COACHING DRILLS

MAN-FOR-MAN PRESSING Paris boss Luis Enrique

in conversation with his
Here the coach works on implementing man-for-man pressing across the pitch, coaching staff

with players jumping centrally to apply pressure triggered by a pass to the goalkeeper.

NUMBERS ORGANISATION COACHING POINTS

13 + Goalkeeper / 20 + Goalkeeper • Pinks always start with the ball • Go all the way with your player –
especially jumping CB – play
• Blues must start behind the ball and man-v-man forcing outside
the objective is to force the ball back • Force outside – no passes through
to the goalkeeper
• Use throw-in line as extra defender
• Blue striker + CM + CB jump centrally • Wide players – wingers + FBs close
the centre and force outside
• Blues win the ball and counter attack
• Back lines squeeze halfway line with
side on body shape ready to protect
• After winning the ball, blues play the depth
direct to score in 6 seconds
• Mark inside shoulder to force play
wide – dont allow switches of play
• If player beaten 1v1 all retreat back
behind the ball to reset the press

72 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 73

 ARSENAL FC ENG CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID ESP
GROUP B ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP E ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
PSV LEN SEV SEV LEN PSV POR POR BAY BAY App Min G A LAZ FEY CEL CEL FEY LAZ INT INT DOR DOR App Min G A
W 4-0 L 2-1 W 1-2 W 2-0 W 6-0 D 1-1 L 1-0 W 1-0* D 2-2 L 1-0 D 1-1 W 3-2 D 2-2 W 6-0 W 1-3 W 2-0 L 1-0 W 2-1* W 2-1 L 4-2
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names *AET; 4-2 pens GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names *AET; 3-2 pens GOALKEEPERS
1 Aaron Ramsdale 1 90 13 Jan Oblak 10 930
22 David Raya 9 840 DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
DEFENDERS 2 José María Giménez 7 482 1
• Built up with 1-3-2-2-3 with full-back (Tomiyasu, • Built up in 1-4-4-2 with a wing-back (Lino) stepping
MIKEL ARTETA Zinchenko) moving into midfield 2 William Saliba 10 901 DIEGO SIMEONE up into midfield 3 César Azpilicueta 6 288
BORN: 26/04/1982, • Good physicality with pace and energy in defensive 4 Ben White 10 754 1 BORN: 28/04/1970, • High-pressing team but comfortable in mid-block 4 Çağlar Söyüncü 2 58
San Sebastián (ESP) transitions San Nicolás (ARG) with counterattacking ability
6 Gabriel 10 930 15 Stefan Savić 6 414
NATIONALITY: Spanish • Passed with speed and accuracy, mixing short passes NATIONALITY: Argentinian • Leadership, organisational skills and decision-
HEAD COACH: Since 22/12/2019 and passes in behind opposition. 15 Jakub Kiwior 7 383 HEAD COACH: Since 23/12/2011 making of Koke 16 Nahuel Molina 10 791 3
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Impact of Rice in midfield: first in team for line- 17 Cédric 1 61 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 4 • Intelligent Griezmann bringing movement and 17 Javi Galán 2 73
breaking passes into final third passing between lines
• White supporting Saka on right wing with 18 Takehiro Tomiyasu 6 388 1 22 Mario Hermoso 9 818 1 1
Matches W D L Win% overlapping runs, e.g. v Bayern (h) Matches W D L Win% • Griezmann first for key passes in competition (26)
35 Oleksandr Zinchenko 6 277 23 Reinildo 1 22
UEFA Champions League • Flexibility and movement with players finding space UEFA Champions League • Energy and versatility of Llorente
10 5 2 3 50%
MIDFIELDERS
105 52 25 28 50% • Averaged 49% possession, combined direct play 27 Ilias Kostis 1 1
(Group stage to final) between lines (Saka, Havertz, Trossard) (Group stage to final)
UEFA club competition • Influence of Ødegaard: off the ball led the press, 5 Thomas Partey 1 4 UEFA club competition with patient passing when opponent dropped
34 20 6 8 59% 133 75 26 32 56% MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) on it provided composure and vision (including qualifying)
8 Martin Ødegaard 9 752 2 2 5 Rodrigo De Paul 8 616 1
19 Leandro Trossard 9 535 4 1 6 Koke 9 771 1
SHAPE AVERAGES 20 Jorginho 9 530 1 SHAPE AVERAGES 8 Saúl Ñíguez 10 433 1
1-4-3-3, defending with 1-4-4-2
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 21 Fábio Vieira 3 86 1-3-5-2; 1-5-4-1 when defending
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 12 Samuel Lino 7 507 3 3
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 25 Mohamed Elneny 2 62 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 14 Marcos Llorente 9 649 2
56% First third 25%
29 Kai Havertz 10 832 1
49% First third 31%
25 Rodrigo Riquelme 8 316
Middle third 55% Middle third 51%
Max. 66% v Lens (a) 41 Declan Rice 10 840 Max. 65% v Celtic (h) 20 Axel Witsel 10 887
Min. 43% v Sevilla (a) Attacking third 20% Min. 34% v Dortmund (h) Attacking third 19%
UCL rank: 3 FORWARDS UCL rank: 14= 24 Pablo Barrios 7 258 1 1
7 Bukayo Saka 9 725 4 4 FORWARDS
514 87% 9 Gabriel Jesus 8 407 4 3 551 86% 7 Antoine Griezmann 10 821 6 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 10 Emile Smith Rowe 3 42 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 9 Memphis Depay 3 102 1
Max. 703 v Lens (a) Max. 90% v Bayern München (a) Max. 774 v Celtic (h) Max. 93% v Celtic (h)
Min. 421 v Sevilla (a) Min. 81% v Sevilla (a) 11 Gabriel Martinelli 6 483 2 2 Min. 321 v Dortmund (h) Min. 78% v Dortmund (h) 10 Ángel Correa 10 318 1
11 29 UCL rank: 11= UCL rank: 5= UCL rank: 6 UCL rank: 9=
7 14 Eddie Nketiah 6 135 1 19 Álvaro Morata 10 667 5
11 29 8 24 Reiss Nelson 5 174 2 10 10
41 8 7 PASS DISTANCE* 7 PASS DISTANCE*
20 4 7
15 Long 33 (6% of total) UCL rank: 30= 12 Long 48 (9% of total) UCL rank: 20=
41 20 8 20
15 Medium 184 (36%) UCL rank: 26=
12 8 5 Medium 199 (36%) UCL rank: 26=
2 5 16
6 4 Short 296 (58%) UCL rank: 1= 16 Short 304 (55%) UCL rank: 5=
20
6 2 22 22 2 15
PASSES PER Average UCL rank PASSES PER Average UCL rank
DEFENSIVE ACTION 9.5 2
2
15 DEFENSIVE ACTION 17 29
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

26.3 28.4
22
22 14 0 13
13 26 1 Sent off:
De Paul v Celtic (a)
DISTANCE COVERED DISTANCE COVERED
Max. 159.2 v Porto (h) Max. 161.9 v Inter (h)
123.4 km Min. 115.7 v Porto (a)
UCL rank: 5 GOALS G S OT xG
122.5 km Min. 111.1 v Feyenoord (h)
UCL rank: 8 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Bayern (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Gabriel Jesus 4 15 8 2.2 Example: v Lazio (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Antoine Griezmann 6 22 10 4.8
2 Bukayo Saka 4 13 6 1.6 2 Álvaro Morata 5 25 10 4.6
3 Leandro Trossard 4 9 6 1.6 3 Samuel Lino 3 18 8 2
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

19 GOALS
1.8 per match; UCL rank: 7
CHANCE CREATION
1 Bukayo Saka
A
4
KP xA
13 2.1
23 GOALS
2.2 per match; UCL rank: 2
CHANCE CREATION
1 Nahuel Molina
A
3
KP xA
6 1
2 Gabriel Jesus 3 5 0.8 2 Samuel Lino 3 2 0.4
13.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Martin Ødegaard
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 9 1.2
16.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.6 per match; UCL rank: 9=
3 Marcos Llorente
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 13 1.8

121 GOAL ATTEMPTS

11.7 per match; UCL rank: 23
PASSES
1 William Saliba
Att R S% PF%
782 618 89 34
137 GOAL ATTEMPTS
13.3 per match; UCL rank: 16
PASSES
1 Koke
Att R S% PF%
666 556 90 29
2 Gabriel 704 561 91 28 2 Mario Hermoso 662 574 87 40
43 ON TARGET
4.2 per match; UCL rank: 21
3 Declan Rice 590 485 89 25
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
53 ON TARGET
5.3 per match; UCL rank: 7=
3 Axel Witsel 563 440 95 31
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 14% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 30% 1 Declan Rice 54 10 13 SAVED 32% 1 Koke 47 11 3
BLOCKED 21% 2 William Saliba 50 4 7 BLOCKED 21% 2 Nahuel Molina 46 15 7
WOODWORK 1% 3 Gabriel 46 7 3 WOODWORK 3% 3 Axel Witsel 46 4 11
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 35% OFF TARGET 30%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

74 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 75
 ROYAL ANTWERP FC BEL FC BARCELONA ESP
GROUP H ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP H ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
BAR SHK POR POR SHK BAR App Min G A ANT POR SHK SHK POR ANT NAP NAP PAR PAR App Min G A
L 5-0 L 2-3 L 1-4 L 2-0 L 1-0 W 3-2 W 5-0 W 0-1 W 2-1 L 1-0 W 2-1 L 3-2 D 1-1 W 3-1 W 2-3 L 1-4
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Jean Butez 5 450 1 Marc-André ter Stegen 8 720
91 Senne Lammens 1 90 13 Iñaki Peña 2 180
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
• Experience and passing range of centre-back • Full-back Cancelo second in competition for tackles
MARK VAN BOMMEL Alderweireld 2 Ritchie De Laet 4 224 XAVI HERNÁNDEZ (32) and third for duels (124, 61% success rate) 2 João Cancelo 10 810 2 1
BORN: 22/04/1977, • Kept distances compact with good organisation 5 Owen Wijndal 6 451 BORN: 25/01/1990, Terrassa (ESP) • Impact of Cubarsí with accurate line-breaking 3 Alejandro Balde 6 329
Maasbracht (NED) in defensive block 23 Toby Alderweireld 5 450 NATIONALITY: Spanish passes from the back 4 Ronald Araújo 8 659
NATIONALITY: Dutch • Aggressive in pressure – e.g. pressing high, HEAD COACH: From 06/11/2021 • Balance in midfield with De Jong sitting, Gündoğan
HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2022 man to man at Porto 27 Mandela Keita 3 263 to 27/02/2024 driving forward 5 Iñigo Martínez 4 318
to 30/06/2024 • Flexibility in build-up; try to play through thirds 33 Zeno Van Den Bosch 3 94 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Gündoğan’s experience and eye for pass; second in 15 Andreas Christensen 7 440 1
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 yet some direct play competition for chances created (24)
34 Jelle Bataille 6 409 1 17 Marcos Alonso 3 139
Matches W D L Win% • Quick passing combinations; look to wings Matches W D L Win% • Dangerous runs from deep e.g. Fermín v Napoli,
for crossing opportunities 44 Soumaula Coulibaly 6 540 Raphinha v Paris 23 Jules Koundé 8 720
UEFA Champions League 15 1 4 10 7% 52 Kobe Corbanie 2 34 UEFA Champions League 18 8 3 7 44% 30 Marc Casado 2 22
(Group stage to final) • Vermeeren linking midfield/attack with impressive (Group stage to final) • Quick, skilful wingers with 1v1 ability (Yamal)
UEFA club competition
passing, vision, creativity UEFA club competition • Most crosses from open play between group stage 33 Pau Cubarsí 3 270
37 14 9 14 38%
• Most goals conceded in group stage – 17
MIDFIELDERS 26 10 7 9 38%
and quarter-finals (133)
(including qualifying) (including qualifying)
7 Gyrano Kerk 5 207 39 Héctor Fort 1 60
8 Alhassan Yusuf 6 380 1 1 MIDFIELDERS
SHAPE AVERAGES 19 Chidera Ejuke 4 152 SHAPE AVERAGES 6 Gavi 3 229 1
1-4-3-3, 1-4-2-3-1, 1-4-5-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 24 Jurgen Ekkelenkamp 4 274 1-4-3-3; also 3-4-3 and 1-3-2-5 on the ball, 1-4-5-1 off it
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 8 Pedri 6 327 3
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 48 Arthur Vermeeren 6 540 1 2 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 18 Oriol Romeu 7 344
42% First third 37% 55% First third 25%
20 Sergi Roberto 5 202 1
Middle third 47% FORWARDS Middle third 51%
Max. 57% v Shakhtar (a) 9 George Ilenikhena 6 153 1 Max. 70% v Antwerp (h) 21 Frenkie de Jong 5 395
Min. 30% v Barcelona (a) Attacking third 16% Min. 33% v Paris (h) Attacking third 24%
UCL rank: 29 10 Michel-Ange Balikwisha 5 385 1 UCL rank: 4= 22 İlkay Gündoğan 10 835 4
11 Arbnor Muja 5 359 1 FORWARDS
397 83% 18 Vincent Janssen 6 411 1 530 87% 7 Ferran Torres 8 376 3 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 55 Anthony Valencia 3 35 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 9 Robert Lewandowski 9 736 3
Max. 517 v Shakhtar (h) Max. 86% v Shakhtar (a) Max. 798 v Antwerp (h) Max. 94% v Antwerp (h)
Min 290 v Barcelona (h) Min. 73% v Porto (a) Min. 284 v Paris (h) Min. 72% v Paris (h) 11 Raphinha 7 472 3 4
UCL rank: 24 UCL rank: 15= UCL rank: 7= UCL rank: 5=
14 João Félix 9 368 3 1
18
7 27 Lamine Yamal 10 579 2
19 PASS DISTANCE* 9 9 PASS DISTANCE* 32 Fermín 8 277 2 1
18
Long 56 (14% of total) UCL rank: 1= 11 27 Long 47 (9% of total) UCL rank: 20=
11 2222 38 Marc Guiu 2 33 1
19 48 7 Medium 159 (40%) UCL rank: 7= Medium 224 (42%) UCL rank: 5
8 27
8 48 Short 182 (46%) UCL rank: 31= Short 260 (49%) UCL rank: 24=
5 21 20
27 2 Average UCL rank 20 Average UCL rank
27 PASSES PER 2 21 PASSES PER
DEFENSIVE ACTION 2 23 23 DEFENSIVE ACTION
5 2 13.8 17 33 4 11.7 7
44 44 23
23 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
33 4
RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 4 24= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 7 2 AVERAGE AGE CARDS

24.4 25.4
Sent off: Sent off:
19 2 Ekkelenkamp v Porto (a),
Muja v Shakhtar (a)
31 2 Gavi v Porto (a),
Araújo v Paris (h)
1 DISTANCE COVERED 11
DISTANCE COVERED
1
Max. 121.9 v Porto (h) Max. 122.6 v Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
116.9 km Min. 112.2 v Barcelona (a)
UCL rank: 20 GOALS G S OT xG
118.5 km Min. 113.6 v Paris (h)
UCL rank: 15 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Barcelona (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Vincent Janssen 1 12 4 1.0 Example: v Paris (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Raphinha 3 24 13 2.5
2 Arbnor Muja 1 11 6 0.8 2 Robert Lewandowski 3 22 10 3.0
3 Arthur Vermeeren 1 5 2 0.5 3 João Félix 3 17 7 1.6
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

6 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Arthur Vermeeren
A
2
KP xA
3 0.4
20 GOALS
2 per match; UCL rank: 4=
CHANCE CREATION
1 İlkay Gündoğan
A
4
KP xA
20 3.7
2 Jelle Bataille 1 4 0.9 2 Raphinha 4 8 1.4
6.2 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1 per match; UCL rank: 27=
3 Alhassan Yusuf
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 1 0.2
17.1 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.7 per match; UCL rank: 7=
3 Pedri
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
3 2 0.8

56 GOAL ATTEMPTS
9.3 per match; UCL rank: 30
PASSES
1 Soumaula Coulibaly
Att R S% PF%
336 260 91 23
158 GOAL ATTEMPTS
15.8 per match; UCL rank: 4=
PASSES
1 İlkay Gündoğan
Att R S% PF%
558 479 91 21
2 Toby Alderweireld 317 245 83 38 2 Jules Koundé 512 411 88 34
22 ON TARGET
3.7 per match; UCL rank: 24=
3 Jelle Bataille 216 184 78 39
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
57 ON TARGET
5.7 per match; UCL rank: 3
3 João Cancelo 500 459 88 31
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 34% 1 Arthur Vermeeren 40 8 7 SAVED 31% 1 João Cancelo 47 32 19
BLOCKED 13% 2 Soumaula Coulibaly 31 3 7 BLOCKED 22% 2 İlkay Gündoğan 42 5 6
WOODWORK 3% 3 Alhassan Yusuf 28 6 3 WOODWORK 3% 3 Lamine Yamal 40 7 7
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 41% OFF TARGET 33%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

76 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 77
 FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN GER SL BENFICA POR
GROUP A ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP D ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
MUN COP GAL GAL COP MUN LAZ LAZ ARS ARS RMA RMA App Min G A SAL INT SOC SOC INT SAL App Min G A
W 4-3 W 1-2 W 1-3 W 2-1 D 0-0 W 0-1 L 1-0 W 3-0 D 2-2 W 1-0 D 2-2 L 2-1 L 0-2 L 1-0 L 0-1 L 3-1 D 3-3 W 1-3
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Manuel Neuer 9 810 1 Anatoliy Trubin 6 540
26 Sven Ulreich 3 270 DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
DEFENDERS 4 António Silva 4 277
• Decision-making and line-breaking passes • Play from back, using width well with full-backs
THOMAS TUCHEL of midfield pivot Kimmich 2 Dayot Upamecano 7 500 ROGER SCHMIDT going high and wide 5 Morato 5 434
BORN: 29/08/1973, • Looked for overloads in central areas, helped 3 Kim Min-Jae 9 658 BORN: 13/03/1967, • Look to get forward with vertical play; quick forward 6 Alexander Bah 3 193
Krumbach (GER) by forwards dropping back Kierspe (GER) passes and runs
4 Matthijs de Ligt 6 467 1 13 David Jurásek 3 128
NATIONALITY: German • Kane and Musiala dropped into No10 positions, NATIONALITY: German • Mobile, disciplined and co-ordinated in their pressing
HEAD COACH: From 24/03/2023 forming box with 2 midfielders 15 Eric Dier 5 450 HEAD COACH: Since 01/07/2022 14 Juan Bernat 2 111
• Good flexibility and rotations to use space –
to 18/05/2024 • Musiala’s key role in using speed and agility to carry 19 Alphonso Davies 10 704 1 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 e.g. for attacking full-backs (Aursnes) 30 Nicolás Otamendi 6 540 1
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 2 ball forward
20 Bouna Sarr 1 12 • Intelligent play between lines of influential Rafa 44 Tomás Araújo 3 159
• Kane falling deep to supply wingers – first for
Matches W D L Win% through balls in Champions League (8) Matches W D L Win% Silva and João Mário
22 Raphaël Guerreiro 7 388 2 MIDFIELDERS
UEFA Champions League • Threat on transitions; talented wingers with speed UEFA Champions League • Veteran Di María’s impact with movement, link-up
67 40 11 16 60% 40 Noussair Mazraoui 8 649 37 14 12 11 38% play, quality on ball 8 Fredrik Aursnes 6 540 1
(Group stage to final) and 1v1 ability (Group stage to final)
UEFA club competition • Good defensive discipline, e.g. compact structure 41 Frans Krätzig 1 4 UEFA club competition • João Neves second in group stage for duels – 10 Orkun Kökçü 5 264
86 52 14 20 60% 99 52 23 24 53%
(including qualifying) in semi-final at Madrid (including qualifying) 101 with 60.4% success rate
MIDFIELDERS 20 João Mário 5 324 3
6 Joshua Kimmich 12 1080 1 2 22 Chiquinho 5 55
SHAPE AVERAGES 8 Leon Goretzka 10 761 1 SHAPE AVERAGES 61 Florentino 3 111
1-4-2-3-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 27 Konrad Laimer 11 771 1 1-4-2-3-1; shift to 1-4-4-2 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 87 João Neves 6 540
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 42 Jamal Musiala 11 882 2 1 3 In possession 3 Out of possession
55% First third 32%
45 Aleksandar Pavlovic 3 206
49% First third 31% FORWARDS
7 David Neres 3 178
Middle third 49% Middle third 50%
Max. 62% v Copenhagen (h) Max. 57% v Salzburg (a) 9 Arthur Cabral 4 120 1
Min. 41% v Arsenal (a) FORWARDS Min. 38% v Real Sociedad (h)
Attacking third 20% Attacking third 20%
UCL rank: 4= 7 Serge Gnabry 7 200 2 UCL rank: 14= 11 Ángel Di María 5 416 1 1
9 Harry Kane 12 1064 8 4 17 Gonçalo Guedes 2 27
560 88% 10 Leroy Sané 12 929 2 2 460 81% 19 Casper Tengstedt 4 135 2
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 13 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 5 40 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 27 Rafa Silva 6 505 2
Max. 691 v Lazio (a) Max. 94% v Real Madrid (h) Max. 547 v Inter (a) Max. 87% v Inter (h)
Min. 365 v Arsenal (a) Min. 82% v Arsenal (a) 11 Kingsley Coman 7 449 2 Min. 358 v Real Sociedad (h) Min. 76% v Real Sociedad (h) 33 Petar Musa 6 233
UCL rank: 5 UCL rank: 4 UCL rank: 16 UCL rank: 23=
25 Thomas Müller 9 424 1 1 19 47 Tiago Gouveia 3 29
9 39 Mathys Tel 8 139 2 1 27
10
PASS DISTANCE* 20 27 11 PASS DISTANCE*
22 42 19 11
9 Long 45 (8% of total) UCL rank: 22= Long 44 (10% of total) UCL rank: 14=
20
42 8 Medium 251 (45%) UCL rank: 1 87 Medium 168 (37%) UCL rank: 21=
40 10 61
22 6 Short 265 (47%) UCL rank: 29= 5 87 8 Short 247 (54%) UCL rank: 8=
27
8 61
27 Average UCL rank 8 Average UCL rank
40
6 PASSES PER 5
4 4
PASSES PER
15 30
30
15 4 DEFENSIVE ACTION 14.5 21 DEFENSIVE ACTION 14.3 20
4 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

27.5 26.1
Sent off:

1
16 1 Sent off:
Upamecano v Lazio (a)
10 2 António Silva v Salzburg (h)
& v Inter (h)
1
DISTANCE COVERED 1 DISTANCE COVERED
1
Max. 122 v Real Madrid (a) Max. 123.6 v Salzburg (a)
115.4 km Min. 107.2 v Real Madrid (h)
UCL rank: 26 GOALS G S OT xG
118.3 km Min. 112.1 v Real Sociedad (a)
UCL rank: 16 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Arsenal (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Harry Kane 8 36 16 6.8 Example: v Inter (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 João Mário 3 7 3 1.5
2 Leroy Sané 2 25 11 1.9 2 Rafa Silva 2 12 4 2.3
3 Jamal Musiala 2 23 6 2.1 3 Ángel Di María 1 12 5 0.3
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

21 GOALS
1.8 per match; UCL rank: 7=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Harry Kane
A
4
KP xA
10 1.3
7 GOALS
1.2 per match; UCL rank: 17=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Casper Tengstedt
A
2
KP xA
1 0.1
2 Joshua Kimmich 2 24 3.0 2 Ángel Di María 1 8 1.8
19.4 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.6 per match; UCL rank: 9=
3 Leroy Sané
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 16 1.8
7.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Fredrik Aursnes
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 5 1.2

169 GOAL ATTEMPTS

14.1 per match; UCL rank: 12
PASSES
1 Joshua Kimmich
Att R S% PF%
844 717 91 23
71 GOAL ATTEMPTS
11.8 per match; UCL rank: 21=
PASSES
1 João Neves
Att R S% PF%
348 274 82 32
2 Kim Min-Jae 601 467 93 35 2 Nicolás Otamendi 319 219 86 33
51 ON TARGET
4.3 per match; UCL rank: 20
3 Dayot Upamecano 542 446 93 30
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
28 ON TARGET
4.7 per match; UCL rank: 13=
3 Fredrik Aursnes 285 219 79 33
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 26% 1 Joshua Kimmich 58 16 11 SAVED 35% 1 João Neves 50 18 10
BLOCKED 25% 2 Leon Goretzka 50 9 19 BLOCKED 22% 2 Fredrik Aursnes 45 8 3
WOODWORK 3% 3 Alphonso Davies 49 9 5 WOODWORK 4% 3 Nicolás Otamendi 33 4 11
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 36% OFF TARGET 31%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

78 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 79
 SC BRAGA POR CELTIC FC SCO
GROUP C ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP E ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
NAP UNB RMA RMA UNB NAP App Min G A FEY LAZ ATM ATM LAZ FEY App Min G A
L 1-2 W 2-3 L 1-2 L 3-0 D 1-1 L 2-0 L2-0 L1-2 D2-2 L6-0 L2-0 W2-1
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Matheus 6 540 1 Joe Hart 6 540
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
2 Victor Gómez 4 314 2 Alistair Johnston 6 540
• Technically/tactically strong with good • Back four defending narrow and compact
ARTUR JORGE combination play and passing 4 Sikou Niakaté 5 390 1 BRENDAN RODGERS 3 Greg Taylor 6 540
• Strong mid-press; high press at opposition goal kicks
BORN: 01/01/1972, Braga (POR) • Fourth in group stage for pass completion in final 5 Serdar Saatçı 4 324 BORN: 26/01/1973, • One full-back forward at a time; left-back Taylor 4 Gustaf Lagerbielke 2 78 1
NATIONALITY: Portuguese third – 87% 6 José Fonte 4 360 Carnlough (NIR) moved inside to help with build-ups 5 Liam Scales 6 540
HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2022 • Strength in duels and reading of game by midfield NATIONALITY: Northern Irish • Holding midfielder McGregor in controlling role,
to 03/04/2024 anchor Al Musrati 17 Josafat Mendes 5 205 HEAD COACH: Since 01/07/2023 6 Nathaniel Phillips 2 90
supporting full-backs
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Aggressive midfield pressing; mainly immediate 19 Adrián Marín 2 22 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Hard-working wingers able to play as wide forwards 20 Cameron Carter-Vickers 4 298
press on losing ball 26 Cristian Borja 6 518 or come into pockets, freeing space for others 41 Reo Hatate 3 137
Matches W D L Win% • Quick wingers with 1v1 ability (Bruma) and Matches W D L Win% • Fast attacking transitions and four players back for
overlapping full-backs 47 Diogo Fonseca 1 17 57 Stephen Welsh 1 75
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League balance to defend transitions
(Group stage to final) 6 1 1 4 17% • Second-most crosses from open play in group MIDFIELDERS (Group stage to final) 24 3 6 15 13% • Fewest shots in group stage – 46 68 Mitchel Frame 1 15
stage – 99
UEFA club competition 20 9 2 9 45% 8 Al Musrati 5 308 UEFA club competition 92 36 21 35 39% MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) • Horta’s intelligent play between lines and passing (including qualifying)
ability 10 André Horta 3 31 7 Luis Palma 5 268 2
16 Rodrigo Zalazar 6 397 1 8 Kyogo Furuhashi 6 452 2
SHAPE AVERAGES 18 Vitor Carvalho 5 266 SHAPE AVERAGES 13 Hyun-Jun Yang 4 209
1-4-2-3-1, 1-4-3-3; 1-4-4-1-1 defensively
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 22 Pizzi 2 50 1-4-3-3; 1-4-4-2, 1-4-4-1-1 when defending
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 15 Odin Thiago Holm 2 55
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 28 João Moutinho 5 290 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 24 Tomoki Iwata 3 61
53% First third 26%
88 André Castro 1 4 1
48% First third 40%
28 Paulo Bernardo 6 310
Middle third 54% Middle third 47%
Max. 64% v Union Berlin (a)
FORWARDS Max. 55% v Lazio (h) 33 Matt O'Riley 6 487 3
Min. 48% v Real Madrid (h) Attacking third 21% Min. 35% v Atlético de Madrid (a) Attacking third 13%
UCL rank: 8= 7 Bruma 5 371 2 1 UCL rank: 17= 42 Callum McGregor 6 521
9 Abel Ruiz 6 211 49 James Forrest 3 93
518 87% 11 Roger Fernandes 1 9 530 85% FORWARDS
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 14 Álvaro Djaló 5 409 2 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 14 David Turnbull 2 33
Max. 587 v Union Berlin (a) Max. 90% v Real Madrid (a) Max.670 v Atlético de Madrid(h) Max. 88% v Lazio (a)
Min. 460 v Napoli (a) Min. 82% v Napoli (h) 20 Rony Lopes 1 2 Min. 404 v Feyenoord (a) Min. 81% v Feyenoord (a) 19 Hyeong-Gyu Oh 5 100
9 UCL rank: 10 UCL rank: 5= UCL rank: 7= UCL rank: 12=
21 Ricardo Horta 6 503 3 38 Daizen Maeda 4 285 1
14
7 21 23 Simon Banza 6 340 1 90 Mikey Johnston 2 97
8
9 PASS DISTANCE* 49 8 13 PASS DISTANCE*
2118
14 Long 52 (10% of total) UCL rank: 14= Long 35 (7% of total) UCL rank: 25=
7
26 8 2 Medium 196 (38%) UCL rank: 14 28 33 13 Medium 226 (43%) UCL rank: 2=
49 28
8 18 Short 271 (52%) UCL rank: 14 33 Short 268 (51%) UCL rank: 15=
4 6 3
Average UCL rank 42 42 2 Average UCL rank
26 2 PASSES PER PASSES PER
6 DEFENSIVE ACTION 13.8 17= 3 2 DEFENSIVE ACTION 16.2 28
4
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists 5 2020 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
5
RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 3 28= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS Sent off:

27.6 25.6
Lagerbielke v Feyenoord (a),
1
11 1 Sent off:
Niakaté v Union Berlin (h)
16 3 Thiago Holm v Feyenoord (a),
Maeda v Atlético de Madrid (a)
1 DISTANCE COVERED DISTANCE COVERED
1
Max. 118.5 v Union Berlin (a) 1 Max. 128.2 v Atlético de Madrid (h)
113.6 km Min. 108.2 v Union Berlin (h)
UCL rank: 31 GOALS G S OT xG
120.1 km Min. 111.6 v Atlético de Madrid (a)
UCL rank: 11 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Napoli (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Bruma 2 12 5 0.7 Example: v Lazio (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Kyogo Furuhashi 2 10 5 1.5
2 Álvaro Djaló 2 9 4 1.9 2 Luis Palma 2 6 5 1.1
3 Sikou Niakaté 1 3 1 0.9 3 Gustaf Lagerbielke 1 1 1 0.8
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

6 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Ricardo Horta
A
3
KP xA
10 1.8
5 GOALS
0.8 per match; UCL rank: 30=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Matt O'Riley
A
3
KP xA
12 1.7
2 Rodrigo Zalazar 1 9 1.9 2 Daizen Maeda 1 1 0.1
8.6 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.4 per match; UCL rank: 14=
3 Bruma
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 6 0.6
5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
0.8 per match; UCL rank: 32
3 Greg Taylor
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
0 3 0.6

90 GOAL ATTEMPTS
15 per match; UCL rank: 10
PASSES
1 Al Musrati
Att R S% PF%
292 235 89 24
46 GOAL ATTEMPTS
7.7 per match; UCL rank: 32
PASSES
1 Liam Scales
Att R S% PF%
581 460 89 30
2 João Moutinho 268 223 93 28 2 Greg Taylor 391 327 85 47
22 ON TARGET
3.7 per match; UCL rank: 24=
3 Cristian Borja 266 230 90 27
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
22 ON TARGET
3.7 per match; UCL rank: 24=
3 Alistair Johnston 352 303 81 47
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 6% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 10% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 22% 1 Rodrigo Zalazar 30 9 2 SAVED 42% 1 Liam Scales 37 5 0
BLOCKED 30% 2 Al Musrati 28 7 8 BLOCKED 21% 2 Greg Taylor 35 8 4
WOODWORK 2% 3 Cristian Borja 28 7 3 WOODWORK 2% 3 Matt O'Riley 33 8 7
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 40% OFF TARGET 25%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

80 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 81
 FC COPENHAGEN DEN FK CRVENA ZVEZDA SRB
GROUP A ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP G ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
GAL BAY MUN MUN BAY GAL MCI MCI App Min G A MCI YB LEI LEI YB MCI App Min G A
D 2-2 L 1-2 L 1-0 W 4-3 D 0-0 W 1-0 L 1-3 L 3-1 L 3-1 D 2-2 L 3-1 L 1-2 L 2-0 L 2-3
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Kamil Grabara 8 720 18 Omri Glazer 6 540
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
2 Kevin Diks 8 708 2 Kosta Nedeljković 4 238
• Strong mentality with defensive discipline and • Effective defending in mid-block
JACOB NEESTRUP organisation 3 Denis Vavro 8 708 BARAK BAKHAR 3 Miloš Degenek 1 8
• Centre-back Dragović second in group stage
BORN: 08/03/1988, • First for clearances in group stage for team (149) 6 Christian Sørensen 3 43 BORN: 21/09/1979, Tzrufa (ISR) for clearances – 34
5 Uroš Spajić 1 65
Copenhagen (DEN) and player (Vavro – 41) 19 Elias Jelert 7 587 NATIONALITY: Israeli 15 Aleksandar Dragović 6 540
NATIONALITY: Danish • Narrow front three screening centrally out of HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2023 • Rotations with Rodić stepping up on left from
HEAD COACH: Since 20/09/2022 possession, with midfield trio wider 20 Nicolai Boilesen 3 92 to 20/12/2023 centre-back/full-back 23 Milan Rodić 6 417
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Composure and organisational ability of midfield 22 Peter Ankersen 7 464 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0
• Look for fast attacking transitions 24 Nasser Djiga 6 540
pivot Falk 24 Birger Meling 3 192 1 • Bukari threat with speed and runs in behind MIDFIELDERS
Matches W D L Win% • Overloading wide areas with athletic full-backs and Matches W D L Win%
wide men 26 Scott McKenna 2 180 • No9 Ndiaye able to hold ball and link play 4 Mirko Ivanić 5 376 1
UEFA Champions League 12 2 4 6 17% 27 Valdemar Lund 2 27 UEFA Champions League 12 1 1 10 8%
(Group stage to final) • Attacking transitions: vertical passing, breaking at (Group stage to final) • Direct play with 41% of passes going forward 6 Marko Stamenic 4 299 1
speed and in numbers
UEFA club competition 18 6 6 6 33% MIDFIELDERS UEFA club competition 85 27 19 39 32% 8 Guélor Kanga 3 148 1
(including qualifying) • Dribbling and creativity from Elyounoussi, Achouri (including qualifying)
7 Viktor Claesson 7 481 10 Aleksandar Katai 5 76 1
8 Magnus Mattsson 2 113 1 20 Kings Kangwa 1 9
SHAPE AVERAGES 10 Mohamed Elyounoussi 8 686 3 SHAPE AVERAGES 30 Osman Bukari 6 487 2 2
1-4-3-3, 1-4-5-1; also back 5 v Man City
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 12 Lukas Lerager 6 540 3 1 1-4-2-3-1, 1-4-3-1-2, 1-4-4-2; also used 1-5-3-2
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 33 Srdjan Mijailović 6 488
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 36 William Clem 1 68 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 37 Vladimir Lučić 6 202
39% First third 38%
39 Oscar Højlund 6 46
40% First third 39%
66 Hwang In-Beom 6 531 1 1
Middle third 43% Middle third 45%
Max. 52% v Man United (h) 47 Victor Froholdt 1 58 Max. 53% v Young Boys (a) 70 Uroš Kabić 1 12
Min. 21% v Man City (h) Attacking third 19% Min. 24% v Manchester City (a) Attacking third 16%
UCL rank: 31 FORWARDS UCL rank: 30 80 Stefan Mitrović 3 211
9 Diogo Gonçalves 7 535 2 1 FORWARDS
391 80% 11 Jordan Larsson 5 101 330 78% 9 Cherif Ndiaye 6 360 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY
Max. 517 v Man United (a) Max. 88% v Man United (h), 14 Andreas Cornelius 3 80 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 14 Peter Olayinka 5 174
Min. 209 v Man City (a) Man City (a) Max. 442 v Leipzig (h) Max. 81% v Leipzig (h)
UCL rank: 26 Min. 68% v Galatasaray (h), 18 Orri Óskarsson 6 142 1 Min. 234 v Manchester City (a) Min. 69% v Young Boys (h) 17 Jean-Philippe Krasso 4 108 1
Man City (h) UCL rank: 32 UCL rank: 30=
UCL rank: 25=
30 Elias Achouri 8 557 1 22 Jovan Mijatović 4 115
33 Rasmus Falk 7 630 1 30
9
PASS DISTANCE* 40 Roony Bardghji 4 144 1 9 30
PASS DISTANCE*
30 Long 44 (11% of total) UCL rank: 8=
4 4 Long 44 (13% of total) UCL rank: 3=
30 7 10 Medium 131 (34%) UCL rank: 32 Medium 130 (39%) UCL rank: 10=
7 10 66
9 12 Short 216 (55%) UCL rank: 5= 6 Short 157 (47%) UCL rank: 29=
9 23 66 6
12
33 2
33 33 PASSES PER Average UCL rank 33 PASSES PER Average UCL rank
19 23
22 DEFENSIVE ACTION 18.2 30 2 DEFENSIVE ACTION 11.9 9=
19 22
2 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists 15 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
2 3
3 15 2424
RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

26 26.4
Sent off:
19 2 Jelert v Galatasaray (a),
Lerager v Galatasaray (h)
21 0
DISTANCE COVERED 18 DISTANCE COVERED
1 1 18
Max. 134.3 v Man United (a) Max. 117.5 v Leipzig (h)
126.9 km Min. 121.3 v Galatasaray (a)
UCL rank: 1 GOALS G S OT xG
115.8 km Min. 114.5 v Young Boys (h)
UCL rank: 25 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Galatasaray (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Mohamed Elyounoussi 3 17 8 2.2 Example: v Young Boys (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Osman Bukari 2 12 2 1.0
2 Lukas Lerager 3 6 4 1.4 2 Hwang In-Beom 1 13 4 0.9
3 Diogo Gonçalves 2 12 4 1.9 3 Cherif Ndiaye 1 9 6 2.9
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

10 GOALS
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 15=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Elias Achouri
A
1
KP xA
4 1.6
7 GOALS
1.2 per match; UCL rank: 17=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Osman Bukari
A
2
KP xA
9 1.4
2 Diogo Gonçalves 1 4 0.7 2 Hwang In-Beom 1 15 0.8
9.6 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.2 per match; UCL rank: 25
3 Rasmus Falk
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 3 0.5
8.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.5 per match; UCL rank: 13
3 Mirko Ivanić
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 4 0.8

84 GOAL ATTEMPTS
10.5 per match; UCL rank: 26
PASSES
1 Denis Vavro
Att R S% PF%
381 271 83 42
83 GOAL ATTEMPTS
13.8 per match; UCL rank: 13
PASSES
1 Aleksandar Dragovic
Att R S% PF%
256 163 90 37
2 Kevin Diks 374 272 91 30 2 Hwang In-Beom 238 179 81 35
29 ON TARGET
3.6 per match; UCL rank: 28
3 Rasmus Falk 353 268 86 30
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
27 ON TARGET
4.5 per match; UCL rank: 16=
3 Nasser Djiga 211 142 83 35
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 8% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 31% 1 Mohamed Elyounoussi 45 9 11 SAVED 29% 1 Hwang In-Beom 43 10 5
BLOCKED 23% 2 Peter Ankersen 39 8 10 BLOCKED 23% 2 Nasser Djiga 33 4 12
WOODWORK 1% 3 Elias Achouri 37 11 2 WOODWORK 2% 3 Osman Bukari 32 3 2
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 35% OFF TARGET 38%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

82 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 83
 BORUSSIA DORTMUND GER FEYENOORD NED
GROUP F ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP E ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
PAR MIL NEW NEW MIL PAR PSV PSV ATL ATL PAR PAR RMA App Min G A CEL ATM LAZ LAZ ATM CEL App Min G A
L 2-0 D 0-0 W 0-1 W 2-0 W 1-3 D 1-1 D 1-1 W 2-0 L 2-1 W 4-2 W 1-0 W 0-1 L 0-2 W 2-0 L 3-2 W 3-1 L 1-0 L 1-3 L 2-1
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Gregor Kobel 12 1080 1 Justin Bijlow 4 360
33 Alexander Meyer 1 90 22 Timon Wellenreuther 2 180
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
• Build from back, with Can supporting centre-backs • Build from back with overloads in central areas
EDIN TERZIĆ 4 Nico Schlotterbeck 12 976 2 ARNE SLOT 2 Bart Nieuwkoop 3 81
• Füllkrug an option for longer balls, with attackers • Strong mid-press; look to counter-press whenever
BORN: 30/10/1982, playing off him 5 Ramy Bensebaini 5 374 BORN: 17/09/1978, possible 3 Thomas Beelen 1 79
Menden (GER) • Sought overloads in final third with wingers inside 15 Mats Hummels 13 1170 1 1 Bergentheim (NED) • Creativity of Stengs, with clever positioning 4 Lutsharel Geertruida 6 540
NATIONALITY: German and full-backs high NATIONALITY: Dutch between lines, dropping into pockets
HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2022 22 Ian Maatsen 7 630 1 HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2021 5 Quilindschy Hartman 6 540
• No10 Stengs joint-first for key passes in group
to 13/06/2024 • Threat from clever runs in behind, e.g. Brandt v 23 Emre Can 11 913 to 31/05/2024 15 Marcos Lopez 1 45
stage – 16
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 Atlético UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0
25 Niklas Süle 6 395 • Geertuida reading game and using ball well 18 Gernot Trauner 4 282
• Speed and 1v1 ability of wingers Sancho, Adeyemi at centre-back or right-back
Matches W D L Win% 26 Julian Ryerson 10 897 Matches W D L Win% 33 Dávid Hancko 6 540 1
• Defensive leadership, composure and experience • Look to wide players for 1v1s and penetrating runs
UEFA Champions League 25 11 7 7 44% UEFA Champions League 6 2 0 4 33%
(Group stage to final) of Hummels MIDFIELDERS (Group stage to final) in final third MIDFIELDERS
UEFA club competition • Most tackles overall in competition – 20.8 per 6 Salih Özcan 9 439 UEFA club competition • Striker Giménez a threat going behind opposition 6 Ramiz Zerrouki 5 355 1
25 11 7 7 44% 57 25 18 14 44%
(including qualifying) game on average (including qualifying) defences
7 Giovanni Reyna 2 21 8 Quinten Timber 6 466 1
8 Felix Nmecha 8 347 1 10 Calvin Stengs 6 472 1 1
SHAPE AVERAGES 10 Jadon Sancho 7 563 1 SHAPE AVERAGES 16 Thomas van den Belt 1 36
1-4-2-3-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 11 Marco Reus 13 485 2 1 1-4-2-3-1; 1-4-3-3; also 1-4-4-2 defensive at Lazio
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 20 Mats Wieffer 6 470 1 1
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 17 Marius Wolf 6 284 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 27 Antoni Milambo 2 35
46% First third 33%
19 Julian Brandt 12 789 2 2
54% First third 32%
32 Ondřej Lingr 4 66
Middle third 50% Middle third 50%
Max. 62% v Atlético (a) 20 Marcel Sabitzer 12 929 1 5 Max. 64% v Lazio (a)
FORWARDS
Min. 31% v Paris (a) Attacking third 17% Min. 46% v Lazio (h) Attacking third 18%
UCL rank: 19= 43 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens 7 202 1 UCL rank: 6= 7 Alireza Jahanbakhsh 4 70 1
FORWARDS 9 Ayase Ueda 5 149 1
429 82% 9 Sébastien Haller 4 61 1 564 87% 11 Javairo Dilrosun 1 11
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 14 Niclas Füllkrug 13 1040 3 2 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 14 Igor Paixão 6 401
Max. 649 v Atlético (a) Max. 89% v Atlético (a) Max. 677 v Lazio (a) Max. 90% v Lazio (a)
Min. 295 v Paris (a) Min. 73% v Newcastle (a) 18 Youssoufa Moukoko 4 17 Min. 481 v Celtic (a) Min. 83% v Celtic (a) 17 Luka Ivanušec 5 204 1
14 UCL rank: 19= UCL rank: 19= UCL rank: 3 UCL rank: 5=
21 Donyell Malen 8 459 1 14 19 Yankuba Minteh 4 197 1
17 14 10 19 19
27 14 10 27 Karim Adeyemi 12 709 2 1 17 10 25 Leo Sauer 2 13
19 20 PASS DISTANCE* 8 PASS DISTANCE* 29 Santiago Giménez 4 348 2 1
Long 43 (10% of total) UCL rank: 14= 8 20 Long 36 (6% of total) UCL rank: 30=
19 10 20
27 20 Medium 159 (37%) UCL rank: 21=
4 4
Medium 243 (43%) UCL rank: 2=
23 5 5
22 23
26 Short 227 (53%) UCL rank: 12= 33 Short 285 (51%) UCL rank: 15=
18
22 4 PASSES PER Average UCL rank 33 18 PASSES PER Average UCL rank
15 26
4 15 DEFENSIVE ACTION 15.2 27 DEFENSIVE ACTION 12.7 14
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 4 24= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

1
1
DISTANCE COVERED 26.7 23 0 22
22
DISTANCE COVERED 24.3 14 0
Max. 120.6 v PSV (a), PSV (h) Max. 126.2 v Lazio (h)
117.6 km Min. 111.7 v Real Madrid (n)
UCL rank: 18 GOALS G S OT xG
121.1 km Min. 115 v Atlético de Madrid (a)
UCL rank: 10 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Paris (h, SF) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Niclas Füllkrug 3 35 11 5.4 Example: v Celtic (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Santiago Giménez 2 11 6 2.3
2 Julian Brandt 2 19 6 1.4 2 Yankuba Minteh 1 10 5 1.3
3 Karim Adeyemi 2 15 8 1.8 3 Dávid Hancko 1 7 2 1.6
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

17 GOALS
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 15=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Marcel Sabitzer
A
5
KP xA
9 1.5
9 GOALS
1.5 per match; UCL rank: 13=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Calvin Stengs
A
1
KP xA
16 1.9
2 Julian Brandt 2 26 2.2 2 Quinten Timber 1 6 0.6
17.3 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Niclas Füllkrug
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 17 1.1
10.8 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.8 per match; UCL rank: 5=
3 Mats Wieffer
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 3 0.2

171 GOAL ATTEMPTS

13.2 per match; UCL rank: 17
PASSES
1 Mats Hummels
Att R S% PF%
708 493 87 38
91 GOAL ATTEMPTS
15.2 per match; UCL rank: 9
PASSES
1 Dávid Hancko
Att R S% PF%
561 429 91 23
2 Nico Schlotterbeck 665 486 85 41 2 Lutsharel Geertruida 430 375 93 30
63 ON TARGET
4.8 per match; UCL rank: 11=
3 Emre Can 494 393 86 30
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
32 ON TARGET
5.3 per match; UCL rank: 7=
3 Quilindschy Hartman 352 305 81 35
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 33% 1 Mats Hummels 81 29 25 SAVED 32% 1 Mats Wieffer 50 5 10
BLOCKED 24% 2 Nico Schlotterbeck 66 15 11 BLOCKED 32% 2 Dávid Hancko 46 2 5
WOODWORK 2% 3 Julian Ryerson 59 17 4 WOODWORK 1% 3 Lutsharel Geertruida 39 9 5
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions 27% BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 32% OFF TARGET

*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

84 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 85
 GALATASARAY AŞ TUR FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO ITA
GROUP A ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP D ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
COP MUN BAY BAY MUN COP App Min G A SOC BEN SAL SAL BEN SOC ATL ATL App Min G A
D 2-2 W 2-3 L 1-3 L 2-1 D 3-3 L 1-0 D 1-1 W 1-0 W 2-1 W 0-1 D 3-3 D 0-0 W 1-0 L 2-1*
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names *AET: 3-2 pens GOALKEEPERS
1 Fernando Muslera 6 540 1 Yann Sommer 7 660
DEFENDERS 77 Emil Audero 1 90
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
3 Angeliño 6 428 DEFENDERS
• Organised, narrow and disciplined defensive unit • Powerful defensive structure with strong centre-
OKAN BURUK 6 Davinson Sánchez 4 360 2 SIMONE INZAGHI back trio 2 Denzel Dumfries 5 332 1
• Full-backs (Boey) getting forward to support
BORN: 19/10/1973, attacks 23 Kaan Ayhan 5 384 BORN: 05/04/1976, • Invited opposition pressure, then looked to play 6 Stefan de Vrij 6 498
Istanbul (TUR) • Torreira’s key midfield role, screening and Piacenza (ITA) beyond line of press
25 Victor Nelsson 4 102 15 Francesco Acerbi 6 421 1
NATIONALITY: Turkish playmaking NATIONALITY: Italian • Good ball circulation before line-breaking passes by
HEAD COACH: Since 23/06/2022 42 Abdülkerim Bardakcı 6 540 HEAD COACH: Since 03/06/2021 defenders (Pavard, Acerbi) 28 Benjamin Pavard 5 480
• First for ball recoveries in group stage – 367
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 88 Kazımcan Karataş 1 74 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Fast transitions with quick, vertical passes and 30 Carlos Augusto 7 474
• Fast attacking transitions; applied counter-press forward runs
immediately where possible 93 Sacha Boey 6 540 1 31 Yann Bisseck 3 171 1
• Positional flexibility with midfielders dropping into
Matches W D L Win% • Attacking guile of No 10 Mertens – four big chances Matches W D L Win% defence to help circulate ball 32 Federico Dimarco 7 365 1
created MIDFIELDERS
UEFA Champions League 12 2 2 8 17% UEFA Champions League 37 17 11 9 46% • Wide rotations as centre-backs and midfielders 36 Matteo Darmian 7 405
(Group stage to final) • Look to play behind defence, with Icardi’s 8 Kerem Demirbay 2 61 (Group stage to final) stepped out and wing-backs inside
UEFA club competition penetrating runs 22 Hakim Ziyech 5 251 2 1 UEFA club competition • Third-most crosses per game on average – 16 with 95 Alessandro Bastoni 7 501
31 13 4 14 42% 63 29 13 21 46%
(including qualifying) (including qualifying) 31% completion rate
27 Sérgio Oliveira 5 124 1 MIDFIELDERS
34 Lucas Torreira 6 498 7 Juan Cuadrado 2 113
SHAPE AVERAGES 91 Tanguy Ndombélé 4 90 SHAPE AVERAGES 14 Davy Klaassen 4 83
1-4-2-3-1 when attacking; 1-4-4-1-1/1-4-4-2 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION FORWARDS 1-3-5-2, 1-5-3-2; also 1-4-3-3 in attack
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 16 Davide Frattesi 7 449 1 1
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 20 Hakan Çalhanoğlu 6 513 1
53% First third 27% 7 Kerem Aktürkoğlu
9 Mauro Icardi
6
6
440
519
2
2
53% First third 38%
21 Kristjan Asllani 6 202
Middle third 53% Middle third 48%
Max. 63% v Copenhagen (h), 10 Dries Mertens 5 200 Max. 59% v Benfica (a) 22 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 7 520 1
Copenhagen (a) Attacking third 20% Min. 45% v Real Sociedad (h) Attacking third 14%
Min. 39% v Bayern (a) 14 Wilfried Zaha 6 401 1 1 UCL rank: 8= 23 Nicolò Barella 8 468 1
UCL rank: 8=
20 Tetê 5 230 1 1 FORWARDS
462 79% 53 Barış Alper Yılmaz 5 123 1 514 85% 8 Marko Arnautović 4 193 2
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 94 Cédric Bakambu 2 37 1 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 9 Marcus Thuram 8 458 1
Max. 583 v Copenhagen (h) Max. 84% v Copenhagen (h) Max. 615 v Atlético (h) Max. 92% v Benfica (a)
9 Min. 356 v Bayern (a) Min. 70% v Man United (a) Min. 426 v Real Sociedad (h) Min. 80% v Real Sociedad (h) 10 Lautaro Martínez 8 531 2 1
9 UCL rank: 11= UCL rank: 12=
UCL rank: 14 UCL rank: 27=
9 70 Alexis Sánchez 8 335 2
10 9
10 10
7 22
7
10 22 PASS DISTANCE* PASS DISTANCE*
Long 47 (10% of total) UCL rank: 14= 32 22 23 36 Long 42 (8% of total) UCL rank: 22=
3 34 22 23
34 93 Medium 170 (37%) UCL rank: 21= 32 20 Medium 211 (41%) UCL rank: 6
8 20 36
3 8 93 Short 245 (53%) UCL rank: 12= Short 261 (51%) UCL rank: 15=
95 95 28 28
42 42 25 Average UCL rank 6 Average UCL rank
25 PASSES PER 6 PASSES PER
DEFENSIVE ACTION 9.7 3 DEFENSIVE ACTION 15.1 24=
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 4 24= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

28.8 29.4
1
1
15 0 1
18 0
DISTANCE COVERED 1 DISTANCE COVERED
Max. 117.5 v Man United (a) Max. 157.9 v Atlético (a)
113.6 km Min. 108.3 v Man United (h)
UCL rank: 32 GOALS G S OT xG
124.3 km Min. 117.2 v Real Sociedad (a)
UCL rank: 3= GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Copenhagen (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Mauro Icardi 2 21 6 4.2 Example: v Atlético (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Lautaro Martínez 2 34 12 5.1
2 Kerem Aktürkoğlu 2 18 6 2.1 2 Marko Arnautović 2 7 3 2.9
3 Hakim Ziyech 2 7 4 0.2 3 Alexis Sánchez 2 3 3 1.3
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

10 GOALS
1.7 per match; UCL rank: 10=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Davinson Sánchez
A
2
KP xA
2 0.3
10 GOALS
1.2 per match; UCL rank: 17=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Davide Frattesi
A
2
KP xA
6 0.5
2 Hakim Ziyech 1 6 1.1 2 Nicolò Barella 1 13 1.6
10 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.7 per match; UCL rank: 7=
3 Wilfried Zaha
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 4 0.5
16.4 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
2 per match; UCL rank: 3
3 Hakan Çalhanoğlu
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 13 1.3

92 GOAL ATTEMPTS
15.3 per match; UCL rank: 8
PASSES
1 Abdülkerim Bardakcı
Att R S% PF%
387 267 82 37
119 GOAL ATTEMPTS
14.3 per match; UCL rank: 11
PASSES
1 Stefan de Vrij
Att R S% PF%
422 329 94 19
2 Lucas Torreira 311 203 87 29 2 Hakan Çalhanoğlu 409 341 88 24
30 ON TARGET
5 per match; UCL rank: 10
3 Sacha Boey 291 240 80 45
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
38 ON TARGET
4.6 per match; UCL rank: 15
3 Alessandro Bastoni 366 290 87 28
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 10% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 8% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 29% 1 Lucas Torreira 61 7 8 SAVED 29% 1 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 42 5 8
BLOCKED 24% 2 Sacha Boey 48 12 6 BLOCKED 22% 2 Hakan Çalhanoğlu 38 5 6
WOODWORK 1% 3 Abdülkerim Bardakcı 45 9 11 WOODWORK 3% 3 Stefan de Vrij 33 5 5
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 36% OFF TARGET 39%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

86 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 87
 SS LAZIO ITA RB LEIPZIG GER
GROUP E ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP G ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
ATM CEL FEY FEY CEL ATM BAY BAY App Min G A YB MCI CRV CRV MCI YB RMA RMA App Min G A
D 1-1 W 1-2 L 3-1 W 1-0 W 2-0 L 2-0 W 1-0 L 3-0 W 1-3 L 1-3 W 3-1 W 1-2 L 3-2 W 2-1 L 0-1 D 1-1
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
94 Ivan Provedel 8 720 1 1 Péter Gulácsi 3 270
DEFENDERS 21 Janis Blaswich 5 450 1
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
3 Luca Pellegrini 4 160 DEFENDERS
• Strong organisation with disciplined, compact • 1-4-2-2-2, 1-4-4-2; also used back five
MAURIZIO SARRI defence – three clean sheets in four home matches 4 Patric 5 369 MARCO ROSE 2 Mohamed Simakan 7 599 1
• Clear identity with talented individuals and tactical
BORN: 10/01/1959, Naples (ITA) • Good rotations on wings with overlapping, 13 Alessio Romagnoli 6 540 1 BORN: 11/09/1976, flexibility 3 Christopher Lenz 2 92
NATIONALITY: Italian attacking full-backs (Lazzari, Marušić) 15 Nicolò Casale 2 180 Leipzig (GER) • Counter-pressing team looking to dominate central 4 Willi Orbán 2 180 1
HEAD COACH: From 09/06/2021 • Physicality and industry of Guendouzi in midfield NATIONALITY: German areas with six players
to 12/03/2024 23 Elseid Hysaj 5 343 HEAD COACH: Since 08/09/2022 16 Lukas Klostermann 6 353
• Attacking midfielders led press with wingers staying • In possession, athletic full-backs pushed high with
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 1 narrow to profit from regains 29 Manuel Lazzari 7 423 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 wingers inside 22 David Raum 7 630 1 2
• Quick transitions with good vertical play and 34 Mario Gila 4 351 • Good transitions to defence, reverting to flat 1-4-4-2 23 Castello Lukeba 7 620
Matches W D L Win% powerful, penetrating runs Matches W D L Win% • Defend from inside out, pressing centrally, leaving
MIDFIELDERS 39 Benjamin Henrichs 6 493 2
UEFA Champions League • Creativity and set pieces of No10 Luis Alberto – UEFA Champions League flanks to opponent
30 15 4 11 50% made 21 chances 5 Matías Vecino 6 473 1 29 13 4 12 45% • Excellent attacking transitions with mobile attacking
(Group stage to final) (Group stage to final) MIDFIELDERS
UEFA club competition • Experienced centre-forward in four-goal Immobile 6 Daichi Kamada 7 257 UEFA club competition players 6 Eljif Elmas 2 20
75 42 14 19 56% 80 45 16 19 56%
(including qualifying) (including qualifying) • Speed and creativity of wingers Olmo and Simons
7 Felipe Anderson 8 546 1 8 Amadou Haidara 5 266
8 Matteo Guendouzi 8 492 1 13 Nicolas Seiwald 4 272
SHAPE AVERAGES 10 Luis Alberto 8 646 1 SHAPE AVERAGES 14 Christoph Baumgartner 6 113 1
1-4-4-2 with midfield diamond;
1-4-3-3, 1-4-5-1 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 32 Danilo Cataldi 5 156 1-4-1-3-2, 1-4-2-3-1 out of possession POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 18 Fábio Carvalho 3 121
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 65 Nicolò Rovella 3 136 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 24 Xaver Schlager 8 624 1 2
44% First third 33%
77 Adam Marušić 7 514
46% First third 37%
44 Kevin Kampl 7 282 2
Middle third 52% Middle third 46%
Max. 54% v Feyenoord (a) Max. 65% v Crvena zvezda (h)
Min. 36% v Feyenoord (h) FORWARDS Min. 30% v Manchester City (a) FORWARDS
Attacking third 15% Attacking third 17%
UCL rank: 22= 9 Pedro Rodríguez 8 187 2 UCL rank: 19= 7 Dani Olmo 3 180 1
17 Ciro Immobile 8 507 4 9 Yussuf Poulsen 7 339 1
499 86% 18 Gustav Isaksen 5 243 1 447 84% 10 Emil Forsberg 6 411 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 19 Taty Castellanos 7 213 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 11 Timo Werner 4 46
Max. 623 v Feyenoord (a) Max. 89% v Atlético (h) Max. 560 v Crvena zvezda (h) Max. 87% v Crvena zvezda (h)
Min. 372 v Feyenoord (h) Min. 81% v Feyenoord (h) 20 Mattia Zaccagni 6 464 Min. 327 v Manchester City (a) Min. 79% v Young Boys (a) 17 Loïs Openda 8 558 4
17 30 UCL rank: 13 UCL rank: 9= 19 19 UCL rank: 18 UCL rank: 14
20 Xavi Simons 8 598 2 2
18
30 7 7 30 Benjamin Šeško 8 403 2
17 PASS DISTANCE* 7 PASS DISTANCE*
20
7 10 10 8 18
20 39 Long 35 (7% of total) UCL rank: 25= 8 Long 35 (8% of total) UCL rank: 22=
22
8 Medium 193 (39%) UCL rank: 10=
65
Medium 170 (38%) UCL rank: 14=
24
24 Short 271 (54%) UCL rank: 8= 77 65 Short 242 (54%) UCL rank: 8=
22 8 29
23 4 39 77
29
23 4 PASSES PER Average UCL rank 34 4 PASSES PER Average UCL rank
34 4
DEFENSIVE ACTION 19.8 31 DEFENSIVE ACTION 14.2 19
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 3 28= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 4 24= AVERAGE AGE CARDS
1
1 DISTANCE COVERED 28.5 25 0
94 94 DISTANCE COVERED 26.5 19 0
Max. 128.1 v Celtic (a) Max. 128.0 v Benfica (a)
123.1 km Min. 119.2 v Atlético (a)
UCL rank: 6 GOALS G S OT xG
123.0 km Min. 116.7 v Real Sociedad (a)
UCL rank: 12 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Celtic (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Ciro Immobile 4 10 5 3.1 Example: v Benfica (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Loïs Openda 4 29 9 3.6
2 Pedro Rodríguez 2 4 3 1 2 Xavi Simons 2 18 7 1.3
3 Matías Vecino 1 7 1 0.6 3 Benjamin Sesko 2 15 8 2.9
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

8 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Luis Alberto
A
1
KP xA
20 2.2
14 GOALS
1.8 per match; UCL rank: 7=
CHANCE CREATION
1 David Raum
A
2
KP xA
17 2.6
2 Felipe Anderson 1 10 1 2 Xavi Simons 2 17 1.3
10.7 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Gustav Isaksen
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 4 0.5
12.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.6 per match; UCL rank: 9=
3 Xaver Schlager
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 10 0.3

93 GOAL ATTEMPTS
11.6 per match; UCL rank: 24
PASSES
1 Luis Alberto
Att R S% PF%
451 400 85 33
124 GOAL ATTEMPTS
15.5 per match; UCL rank: 7
PASSES
1 Castello Lukeba
Att R S% PF%
401 323 90 34
2 Alessio Romagnoli 364 279 91 38 2 Xaver Schlager 340 255 86 30
28 ON TARGET
3.5 per match; UCL rank: 29=
3 Patric 306 224 86 39
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
42 ON TARGET
5.3 per match; UCL rank: 7
3 Mohamed Simakan 304 217 82 36
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 8% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 10% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 28% 1 Alessio Romagnoli 33 4 2 SAVED 30% 1 Xaver Schlager 46 15 5
BLOCKED 31% 2 Luis Alberto 32 2 7 BLOCKED 26% 2 Xavi Simons 43 2 4
WOODWORK 0% 3 Felipe Anderson 30 7 12 WOODWORK 2% 3 Benjamin Henrichs 36 14 3
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 34% OFF TARGET 32%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

88 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 89
 RC LENS FRA MANCHESTER CITY FC ENG
GROUP B ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP G ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
SEV ARS PSV PSV ARS SEV App Min G A CRV LEI YB YB LEI CRV COP COP RMA RMA App Min G A
D 1-1 W 2-1 D 1-1 L 1-0 L 6-0 W 2-1 W 3-1 W 1-3 W 1-3 W 3-0 W 3-2 W 2-3 W 1-3 W 3-1 D 3-3 D 1-1*
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names *AET: 4-3 pens GOALKEEPERS
30 Brice Samba 6 540 18 Stefan Ortega 3 270
DEFENDERS 31 Ederson 7 660
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
2 Ruben Aguilar 2 99 DEFENDERS
• Strong defensive qualities and work hard for each • 1-3-2-5 in build-up with Stones/Akanji joining Rodri
FRANCK HAISE other 3 Deiver Machado 5 371 PEP GUARDIOLA to give numerical advantage in midfield 2 Kyle Walker 6 505
BORN: 15/04/1971, • Compact shape with back five and narrow midfield 4 Kevin Danso 6 540 BORN: 18/01/1971, • Highest average possession in competition – 70% 3 Rúben Dias 9 766 1
Mont-Saint-Aignan (FRA) four when defending 14 Facundo Medina 6 495 Santpedor (ESP) • Invited opposition to press in order to get ball 5 John Stones 6 341 1
NATIONALITY: French • Wing-backs step high and wide as targets when NATIONALITY: Spanish behind midfield and into the 8s
HEAD COACH: From 25/02/2020 building from back 21 Massadio Haïdara 4 115 HEAD COACH: Since 01/07/2016 6 Nathan Aké 7 382
• Patient approach with excellent timing of when
to 30/06/2024 • In mid-press, front five press opposition with tight 24 Jonathan Gradit 6 511 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 7 to penetrate and play into final third 21 Sergio Gómez 5 195
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 spaces in middle of pitch • Influence of Rodri with awareness, ability to retain
25 Abdukodir Khusanov 2 29 24 Joško Gvardiol 6 569 1 1
Matches W D L Win% • Wing-back Frankowski second-most open-play Matches W D L Win% ball and to play line-breaking passes
crosses in group stage – 27 29 Przemysław Frankowski 6 528 1 2 25 Manuel Akanji 8 667 2
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League • Wingers stayed wide to stretch play: Haaland
(Group stage to final) 6 2 2 2 33% • Look for counters with fast, dangerous attacking MIDFIELDERS (Group stage to final) 171 109 35 27 64% provided verticality with runs in behind 82 Rico Lewis 7 548 2
transitions • Individuals with 1v1 ability, e.g. Doku third for ball
UEFA club competition 8 2 3 3 25% 6 Salis Abdul Samed 6 495 UEFA club competition 179 116 35 28 65% MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) • Strong target striker with hold-up ability in Wahi (including qualifying) carries after 1v1
10 David Pereira Da Costa 3 113 4 Kalvin Phillips 4 128 1
18 Andy Diouf 2 37 8 Mateo Kovačić 6 434
SHAPE AVERAGES 23 Neil El Aynaoui 3 137 SHAPE AVERAGES 10 Jack Grealish 8 534 2
1-3-4-2-1; 1-5-4-1 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 26 Nampalys Mendy 6 371 1-4-2-3-1; 1-4-1-4-1 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 16 Rodri 8 697 1 2
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 28 Adrien Thomasson 5 224 1 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 17 Kevin De Bruyne 2 202 2 1
44% First third 32% 70% First third 18%
20 Bernardo Silva 8 536 2
Middle third 54% FORWARDS Middle third 53%
Max. 55% v PSV (a) 7 Florian Sotoca 6 468 1 Max. 79% v Copenhagen (a) 27 Matheus Nunes 7 424 1
Min. 34% v Arsenal (h) Attacking third 15% Min. 61% v Real Madrid (a) Attacking third 29%
UCL rank: 22= 9 Elye Wahi 6 460 2 1 UCL rank: 1 32 Micah Hamilton 2 106 1
11 Angelo Fulgini 6 289 2 47 Phil Foden 8 684 5 3
387 79% 22 Wesley Saïd 3 52 742 92% 56 Jacob Wright 1 2
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 27 Morgan Guilavogui 4 68 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 76 Mahamadou Susoho 1 14
Max. 477 v Arsenal (a) Max. 86% v Arsenal (a) Max. 830 v Copenhagen (a) Max. 93% v Crvena (h), Young Boys
Min. 309 v Sevilla (h) Min. 75% v Sevilla (a), Sevilla (h) 9
9 Min. 670 v Crvena zvezda (a) (a), Leipzig (h), Copenhagen (a, h) FORWARDS
UCL rank: 27=
10 UCL rank: 1 Min. 91% v Crvena (a), Real Madrid (a)
UCL rank: 27 10 20 17
17 47 UCL rank: 1 9 Erling Haaland 9 778 6 1
9 47
20 11 Jérémy Doku 7 300 1 1
9
PASS DISTANCE* 16 5 PASS DISTANCE* 19 Julián Álvarez 7 279 5 2
28 16 5
7 Long 39 (10% of total) UCL rank: 14= 6 6 Long 34 (5% of total) UCL rank: 32
52 Oscar Bobb 4 217 1
3
28 Medium 137 (35%) UCL rank: 29= 3
3 2 2 Medium 276 (37%) UCL rank: 21=
26 7 Short 211 (55%) UCL rank: 5= Short 432 (58%) UCL rank: 1=
6 26 29
6 Average UCL rank Average UCL rank
3 PASSES PER PASSES PER
29 DEFENSIVE ACTION 14.7 22= DEFENSIVE ACTION 11.9 9=
14 4 24 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
14 4 24
RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 3 28= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

30
30
DISTANCE COVERED 27 25 1 Sent off:
Guilavogui v PSV (a)
31
31

DISTANCE COVERED 25.7 10 0

Max. 121.2 v PSV (a) Max. 154.3 v Real Madrid (h)
116.3 km Min. 111.9 v Sevilla (h)
UCL rank: 22 GOALS G S OT xG
121.3 km Min. 113.7 v Copenhagen (a)
UCL rank: 9 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Arsenal (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Elye Wahi 2 14 3 1.1 Example: v Copenhagen (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Erling Haaland 6 43 22 7.0
2 Angelo Fulgini 2 7 4 1.4 2 Phil Foden 5 33 12 3.3
3 Adrien Thomasson 1 5 1 0.4 3 Julián Álvarez 5 15 10 1.7
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

6 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Przemysław Frankowski
A
2
KP xA
8 0.7
28 GOALS
2.7 per match; UCL rank: 1
CHANCE CREATION
1 Phil Foden
A
3
KP xA
12 3.2
2 Florian Sotoca 1 4 0.8 2 Rodri 2 14 1.6
6.2 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1 per match; UCL rank: 27=
3 Elye Wahi
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 1 0.2
25.1 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
2.4 per match; UCL rank: 1
3 Jack Grealish
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 14 1.6

60 GOAL ATTEMPTS
10 per match; UCL rank: 28
PASSES
1 Facundo Medina
Att R S%
264 188 86
PF%
38
216 GOAL ATTEMPTS
20.9 per match; UCL rank: 1
PASSES
1 Rúben Dias
Att R S% PF%
927 773 96 28
2 Jonathan Gradit 259 159 79 51 2 Rodri 924 839 92 21
17 ON TARGET
2.8 per match; UCL rank: 32
3 Przemysław Frankowski 218 199 77 34
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
85 ON TARGET
8.2 per match; UCL rank: 1
3 Manuel Akanji 639 542 95 27
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 25% 1 Kevin Danso 41 2 4 SAVED 34% 1 Rodri 52 11 6
BLOCKED 28% 2 Facundo Medina 33 6 5 BLOCKED 26% 2 Rúben Dias 40 8 9
WOODWORK 3% 3 Przemysław Frankowski 32 16 6 WOODWORK 2% 3 Joško Gvardiol 31 6 8
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 35% OFF TARGET 27%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

90 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 91
 MANCHESTER UNITED FC ENG AC MILAN ITA
GROUP A ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP F ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
BAY GAL COP COP GAL BAY App Min G A NEW DOR PAR PAR DOR NEW App Min G A
L 4-3 L 2-3 W 1-0 L 4-3 D 3-3 L 0-1 D 0-0 D 0-0 L 3-0 W 2-1 L 1-3 W 1-2
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
24 André Onana 6 540 16 Mike Maignan 6 531
DEFENDERS 57 Marco Sportiello 1 9
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
2 Victor Lindelöf 4 297 DEFENDERS
• Attempts to build from back mixed with Onana’s • Disciplined defensive structure with two midfielders
ERIK TEN HAG long passing 5 Harry Maguire 4 310 1 STEFANO PIOLI supporting back four 2 Davide Calabria 6 429 1
BORN: 02/02/1970, • Second in group stage for aerial duel win 6 Lisandro Martínez 1 90 BORN: 20/10/1965, Parma (ITA) • Penetration from flanks with combinations 19 Theo Hernández 6 540 1
Haaksbergen (NED) percentage – 59% 15 Sergio Reguilón 2 153 NATIONALITY: Italian between full-backs and wingers 20 Pierre Kalulu 1 90
NATIONALITY: Dutch • Rotation of midfielders dropping deep to join HEAD COACH: From 09/10/2019 • Best crossing accuracy in group stage – 40%
HEAD COACH: Since 01/07/2022 build-up 19 Raphaël Varane 4 335 to 25/05/2024 23 Fikayo Tomori 6 539
• Threat on attacking transitions with ball-carrying
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Playmaking ability of Bruno Fernandes 20 Diogo Dalot 6 462 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 ability of Rafael Leão, Loftus-Cheek 24 Simon Kjær 1 1
• Good combinations in wide areas with full-back/ 23 Luke Shaw 2 135 1 • Giroud the focal point for long passes, allowing for 28 Malick Thiaw 5 368
Matches W D L Win% winger/attacking midfielder Matches W D L Win% mixed approach in build-up
29 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 3 213 1 42 Alessandro Florenzi 4 157
UEFA Champions League • Look for counterattacks and fast transitions with UEFA Champions League • Speed and individual brilliance of Rafael Leão –
(Group stage to final) 38 18 8 12 47% Rashford’s speed, Højlund’s powerful running 35 Jonny Evans 2 65 (Group stage to final) 24 8 6 10 33% third for take-ons in group stage (43) 95 Davide Bartesaghi 1 2
UEFA club competition • Defended with high intensity; second in group UEFA club competition • Fifth for total shots (95) but lowest shot-conversion
74 39 18 17 53%
stage for ball recoveries – 367
MIDFIELDERS 65 30 16 19 46%
rate of group stage – 5.3%
MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) (including qualifying)
4 Sofyan Amrabat 5 327 7 Yacine Adli 3 122
7 Mason Mount 2 91 8 Ruben Loftus-Cheek 4 325
SHAPE AVERAGES 8 Bruno Fernandes 6 540 2 2 SHAPE AVERAGES 14 Tijjani Reijnders 6 479
1-4-3-2-1 – variously 1-4-1-4-1, 1-4-4-2, 1-4-3-3
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 14 Christian Eriksen 4 204 1 1-4-3-3, 1-4-2-3-1; 1-4-4-1-1 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 32 Tommaso Pobega 4 149
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 18 Casemiro 2 167 2 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 33 Rade Krunić 4 210
46% First third 31%
28 Facundo Pellistri 3 108
44% First third 30%
80 Yunus Musah 5 352
Middle third 50% Middle third 51%
Max. 55% v Galatasaray (a) 37 Kobbie Mainoo 2 42 Max. 54% v Dortmund (h)
FORWARDS
Min. 41% v Bayern (a), Bayern (h) Attacking third 18% Min. 31% v Paris (h) Attacking third 19%
UCL rank: 19= 39 Scott McTominay 5 381 1 1 UCL rank: 22= 9 Olivier Giroud 6 512 1 2
46 Hannibal Mejbri 2 60 10 Rafael Leão 5 442 1
429 82% FORWARDS 365 83% 11 Christian Pulišić 6 440 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 9 Anthony Martial 4 46 1 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 15 Luka Jović 2 30
Max. 511 v Copenhagen (h) Max. 86% v Bayern (a) Max. 502 v Dortmund (h) Max. 91% v Dortmund (h)
Min. 307 v Galatasaray (a) Min. 75% v Galatasaray (h)
10 Marcus Rashford 4 289 2 Min. 255 v Paris (h) Min. 76% v Paris (h) 17 Noah Okafor 3 34 1
UCL rank: 30 UCL rank: 15=
11 UCL rank: 19= UCL rank: 19= 11 Rasmus Højlund 6 489 5 21 Samuel Chukwueze 4 166 2
10 21
17 Alejandro Garnacho 6 302 1 1 9
70 Chaka Traorè 1 13
11
8 PASS DISTANCE* 21 Antony 4 233
11 PASS DISTANCE*
39 10
21 Long 49 (11% of total) UCL rank: 8= 9 8 Long 38 (10% of total) UCL rank: 14=
15 10 11
4
Medium 161 (37%) UCL rank: 21= 10 Medium 142 (39%) UCL rank: 10=
8 20 8
39
Short 220 (51%) UCL rank: 15= Short 185 (51%) UCL rank: 15=
80
80 14
15 PASSES PER Average UCL rank 19 PASSES PER Average UCL rank
5 4 19 14 2
20 DEFENSIVE ACTION 15.2 26 19 28 DEFENSIVE ACTION 13.3 16
5 19 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists 23 2 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
28 23
RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 3 28= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

26.6 26.1
Sent off:
13 2 Casemiro v Galatasaray (h),
Rashford v Copenhagen (a)
17 0
24 DISTANCE COVERED 16 DISTANCE COVERED
24 16
Max. 124.1 v Copenhagen (h) Max. 118.8 v Dortmund (h)
116.3 km Min. 109.5 v Galatasaray (a)
UCL rank: 24 GOALS G S OT xG
115.2 km Min. 110.9 v Newcastle (h)
UCL rank: 27 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Copenhagen (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Rasmus Højlund 5 11 6 3.5 Example: v Paris (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Samuel Chukwueze 2 9 4 0.9
2 Bruno Fernandes 2 15 4 1.7 2 Olivier Giroud 1 13 7 2.6
3 Casemiro 2 5 2 1.0 3 Rafael Leão 1 11 4 1.1
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

12 GOALS
2 per match; UCL rank: 4=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Bruno Fernandes
A
2
KP xA
12 1.3
5 GOALS
0.8 per match; UCL rank: 30=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Oliver Giroud
A
2
KP xA
2 0.4
2 Marcus Rashford 2 5 1.2 2 Theo Hernández 1 8 0.6
10.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.8 per match; UCL rank: 5=
3 Christian Eriksen
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 3 0.8
9.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.6 per match; UCL rank: 9=
3 Davide Calabria
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 7 0.7

71 GOAL ATTEMPTS
11.8 per match; UCL rank: 21=
PASSES
1 Bruno Fernandes
Att R S% PF%
261 220 75 34
95 GOAL ATTEMPTS
15.8 per match; UCL rank: 4=
PASSES
1 Theo Hernández
Att R S% PF%
258 213 82 40
2 Raphaël Varane 233 176 88 35 2 Fikayo Tomori 256 186 90 37
27 ON TARGET
4.5 per match; UCL rank: 16=
3 Diogo Dalot 227 173 79 34
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
29 ON TARGET
4.8 per match; UCL rank: 11=
3 Tijjani Reijnders 200 174 90 27
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 14% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 5% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 32% 1 Diogo Dalot 39 5 3 SAVED 28% 1 Fikayo Tomori 32 9 10
BLOCKED 18% 2 Bruno Fernandes 35 6 3 BLOCKED 24% 2 Davide Calabria 30 14 3
WOODWORK 1% 3 Sofyan Amrabat 21 5 3 WOODWORK 3% 3 Theo Hernández 27 5 5
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 35% OFF TARGET 40%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

92 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 93
 SSC NAPOLI ITA NEWCASTLE UNITED FC ENG
GROUP C ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP F ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
BRA RMA UNB UNB RMA BRA BAR BAR App Min G A MIL PAR DOR DOR PAR MIL App Min G A
W 1-2 L 2-3 W 0-1 D 1-1 L 4-2 W 2-0 D 1-1 L 1-3 D0-0 W4-1 L0-1 L2-0 D1-1 L1-2
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Alex Meret 8 720 1 Martin Dúbravka 1 90
DEFENDERS 22 Nick Pope 5 450
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
3 Natan 6 451 1 DEFENDERS
• Willing to defend on front foot, back four going 1v1 • Reliable goalkeeper in Pope; most goals prevented
FRANCESCO CALZONA with opponents 5 Juan Jesus 5 430 EDDIE HOWE in group stage – 4.86 2 Kieran Trippier 6 512 1
BORN: 24/10/1968, • Pressing high and accumulated players in attacking third 6 Mário Rui 4 214 1 BORN: 29/11/1977, • Good defensive shape; compact and organised in 4 Sven Botman 1 90
Vibo Valentia (ITA) • Full-backs giving options in wide areas, Di Lorenzo 13 Amir Rrahmani 7 553 1 Amersham (ENG) low block 5 Fabian Schär 6 540 1
NATIONALITY: Italian combining with Politano NATIONALITY: English • Attacking role of right-back Trippier as source of crosses
HEAD COACH: From 19/02/2024 17 Mathías Olivera 6 326 HEAD COACH: Since 08/11/2021 6 Jamaal Lascelles 5 450
• Lobotka’s composure on ball key to escaping press • Strong collective spirit seen in aggressive work out
to 05/06/2024 and opening up game 22 Giovanni Di Lorenzo 8 720 1 1 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 of possession 13 Matt Targett 2 21
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Talented wingers with 1v1 ability (Kvaratskhelia, • Press high and in numbers, risking man for man at
55 Leo Østigård 4 185 1 20 Lewis Hall 1 45
Matches W D L Win% Politano) Matches W D L Win% back, e.g. home v Paris
59 Alessandro Zanoli 1 3 21 Tino Livramento 3 270
UEFA Champions League • Kvaratskhelia first for take-ons in group stage – 52 UEFA Champions League • Midfield link-up play of Bruno Guimarães, able to
(Group stage to final) 2 0 1 1 0% (46% success rate) MIDFIELDERS (Group stage to final) 6 1 2 3 17% receive under pressure 33 Dan Burn 4 278 1
UEFA club competition • Quick, strong target striker Osimhen, with aerial 7 Elif Elmas 5 144 UEFA club competition • Dangerous attacking transitions with speed of
2 0 1 1 0%
power and hold-up ability 6 1 2 3 17%
Gordon and Almirón
MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) (including qualifying)
8 Hamed Traorè 2 100 7 Joelinton 4 335 1
20 Piotr Zieliński 6 468 1 1 8 Sandro Tonali 3 162
SHAPE AVERAGES 24 Jens Cajuste 6 158 SHAPE AVERAGES 24 Miguel Almirón 6 413 1 1
1-4-3-3; 1-4-1-4-1 defensive shape
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 29 Jesper Lindstrøm 4 60 1-4-3-3; also 1-4-4-2, 1-4-5-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 23 Jacob Murphy 3 87 1
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 68 Stanislav Lobotka 8 681 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 28 Joe Willock 2 101
54% First third 28%
99 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa 7 628 1 1
44% First third 28%
32 Elliot Anderson 2 43
Middle third 53% Middle third 51%
Max. 73% v Union Berlin (h)
FORWARDS Max. 59% v Dortmund (h) 36 Sean Longstaff 5 354 1
Min. 47% v Braga (a) Attacking third 19% Min. 27% v Paris (h) Attacking third 21%
UCL rank: 6= 9 Victor Osimhen 6 459 2 1 UCL rank: 22= 39 Bruno Guimarães 6 540 1
18 Giovanni Simeone 6 94 1 67 Lewis Miley 3 171 1
524 86% 21 Matteo Politano 8 582 1 2 386 81% FORWARDS
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 26 Cyril Ngonge 1 1 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 9 Callum Wilson 4 237
Max. 743 v Union Berlin (h) Max. 90% v Real Madrid (h) Max. 471 v Dortmund (a) Max. 85% v Milan (a), Dortmund (a)
Min. 415 v Braga (a) Min. 81% v Braga (a) 70 Gianluca Gaetano 1 21 Min. 245 v Paris (h) Min. 68% v Paris (h) 10 Anthony Gordon 6 439
UCL rank: 9 UCL rank: 9= UCL rank: 28 UCL rank: 23=
9 77 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 8 672 1 14 14
14 Alexander Isak 5 312 1 1
77 9 81 Giacomo Raspadori 8 250 1 15 Harvey Barnes 1 1
21 PASS DISTANCE* 10 24 PASS DISTANCE*
8
77 24 21 Long 37 (7% of total) UCL rank: 25= 10 24 Long 43 (11% of total) UCL rank: 8=
99 8
99 Medium 188 (36%) UCL rank: 26= Medium 152 (39%) UCL rank: 10=
39
17
24
68 68 22 33 39 36 36
Short 299 (57%) UCL rank: 4 Short 192 (50%) UCL rank: 21=
22
17 2
PASSES PER Average UCL rank PASSES PER Average UCL rank
5 5 13 13 33 5 6 2
DEFENSIVE ACTION 12.1 11 5 6 DEFENSIVE ACTION 12.9 15
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

1
1 DISTANCE COVERED 26.6 14 0
22
22
DISTANCE COVERED 26.8 11 0
Max. 124.5 v Union Berlin (h) Max. 123.3 v Paris (h)
117.8 km Min. 111.7 v Real Madrid (h)
UCL rank: 17 GOALS G S OT xG
118.7 km Min. 114.0 v Dortmund (a)
UCL rank: 14 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Barcelona (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Victor Osimhen 2 16 6 2.4 Example: v Paris (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Miguel Almirón 1 12 4 1.4
2 Matteo Politano 1 13 6 0.6 2 Joelinton 1 7 4 0.5
3 Giovanni Di Lorenzo 1 10 4 0.4 3 Alexander Isak 1 6 3 1.4
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

12 GOALS
1.5 per match; UCL rank: 13=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Matteo Politano
A
2
KP xA
10 1.3
6 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Kieran Trippier
A
1
KP xA
7 1.4
2 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 1 18 2.2 2 Bruno Guimarães 1 4 1.1
10.7 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Piotr Zieliński
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 10 1
5.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1 per match; UCL rank: 27=
3 Miguel Almirón
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 4 0.7

109 GOAL ATTEMPTS

13.6 per match; UCL rank: 14
PASSES
1 Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Att R S% PF%
463 411 84 37
62 GOAL ATTEMPTS
10.3 per match; UCL rank: 27
PASSES
1 Kieran Trippier
Att R S% PF%
304 245 83 41%
2 Amir Rrahmani 438 318 89 36 2 Bruno Guimarães 287 228 82 27%
33 ON TARGET
4.1 per match; UCL rank: 22
3 Stanislav Lobotka 413 330 92 25
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
27 ON TARGET
4.5 per match; UCL rank: 16=
3 Fabian Schär 283 219 87 37%
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 10% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 26% 1 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa 45 6 8 SAVED 39% 1 Bruno Guimarães 49 11 6
BLOCKED 34% 2 Stanislav Lobotka 40 5 10 BLOCKED 20% 2 Kieran Trippier 34 6 5
WOODWORK 3% 3 Matteo Politano 36 1 1 WOODWORK 1% 3 Fabian Schär 30 7 6
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 27% OFF TARGET 30%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

94 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 95
 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN FRA FC PORTO POR
GROUP F ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP H ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
DOR NEW MIL MIL NEW DOR SOC SOC BAR BAR DOR DOR App Min G A SHK BAR ANT ANT BAR SHK ARS ARS App Min G A
W 2-0 L 4-1 W 3-0 L 2-1 D 1-1 D 1-1 W 2-0 W 1-2 L 2-3 W 1-4 L 1-0 L 0-1 W 1-3 L 0-1 W 1-4 W 2-0 L 2-1 W 5-3 W 1-0 L 1-0*
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names *AET: 4-2 pens GOALKEEPERS
99 Gianluigi Donnarumma 12 1080 99 Diogo Costa 8 750
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
2 Achraf Hakimi 11 981 1 1 2 Fábio Cardoso 3 269
• Shift to back three in build-up with Hakimi pushing • Clear playing identity: aggressive with and without
LUIS ENRIQUE up from right-back 5 Marquinhos 10 900 2 SÉRGIO CONCEIÇÃO the ball 3 Pepe 7 660 2
BORN: 08/05/1970, • Vitinha dictating play centrally – fourth in UCL for 21 Lucas Hernández 11 842 1 BORN: 15/11/1974, Coimbra (POR) • Second overall for tackles (161) between group 4 David Carmo 4 360
Gijón (ESP) line-breaking passes into final third 25 Nuno Mendes 5 421 NATIONALITY: Portuguese stage and round of 16 12 Zaidu 4 308
NATIONALITY: Spanish • Fluidity of front players, e.g. Dembélé threat when HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2017 • Varied build-up; used ‘box midfield’ to create
HEAD COACH: Since 05/07/2023 operating centrally 26 Nordi Mukiele 3 56 to 04/06/2024 central overloads 15 Jorge Sánchez 6 182
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Strong counterattacking with individual quality, 35 Lucas Beraldo 5 408 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • González and Varela key in both build-up and 18 Wendell 5 388
pace and directness of forwards 37 Milan Škriniar 6 539 1 defensive transitions 31 Otávio 2 210 1
Matches W D L Win% • Speed, 1v1s and finishing of Mbappé – first in UCL Matches W D L Win% • Wingers doubled up with midfielders to close space
for take-ons with 81 (44% success rate) MIDFIELDERS centrally e.g. v Arsenal MIDFIELDERS
UEFA Champions League 45 29 5 11 64% UEFA Champions League 50 25 7 18 50%
(Group stage to final) • Second in Champions League for chances created 4 Manuel Ugarte 8 392 (Group stage to final) • Quick, direct attacking with fast runners (Pepê) and 6 Stephen Eustáquio 8 533 1
per match (14) 1v1s (Conceição)
UEFA club competition 48 30 6 12 63% 8 Fabián Ruiz 9 621 2 UEFA club competition 64 30 10 24 47% 8 Marko Grujić 3 48
(including qualifying) • High press with players going man to man across pitch (including qualifying) • Creative, forward-looking attacker in Galeno – five
15 Danilo 3 159 goals, four assists 16 Nico González 6 222
17 Vitinha 12 914 2 1 17 Iván Jaime 4 89
SHAPE AVERAGES 19 Kang-in Lee 9 342 1 1 SHAPE AVERAGES 20 André Franco 4 240 1
1-4-3-3
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 28 Carlos Soler 2 9 1-4-3-3; 1-4-4-2 offensive formation, 1-4-1-4-1 defensive shape
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 22 Alan Varela 8 706
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 33 Warren Zaïre-Emery 11 905 1 3 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 28 Romário Baró 1 64
64% First third 26% 48% First third 34%
Middle third 50% FORWARDS Middle third 49% FORWARDS
Max. 73% v Newcastle (a) 7 Kylian Mbappé 12 1080 8 Max. 68% v Antwerp (h) 9 Mehdi Taremi 7 545 2 2
Min. 56% v Real Sociedad (a) Attacking third 25% Min. 36% v Arsenal (h) Attacking third 17%
UCL rank: 2 9 Gonçalo Ramos 7 211 UCL rank: 17= 10 Francisco Conceição 8 241 1 1
10 Ousmane Dembélé 11 954 2 2 11 Pepê 7 643 1 2
601 89% 11 Marco Asensio 6 119 416 82% 13 Galeno 7 651 5 4
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 23 Randal Kolo Muani 10 472 1 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 19 Danny Namaso 3 13
Max. 760 v Newcastle (h) Max. 92% v Newcastle (h) Max. 655 v Antwerp (h) Max. 91% v Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
7 Min. 470 v Real Sociedad (a) Min. 84 % v Real Sociedad (a, h) 29 Bradley Barcola 10 475 1 1 Min. 274 v Arsenal (h) Min. 70% v Arsenal (a) 21 Fran Navarro 1 7
29 UCL rank: 2 UCL rank: 3 UCL rank: 22 UCL rank: 19=
29 7 23 João Mário 8 594 1
10 10
8 29 Toni Martínez 2 6
33
8 PASS DISTANCE* 13 PASS DISTANCE* 30 Evanilson 7 489 4 1
33 30 10
17 Long 42 (7% of total) UCL rank: 25= Long 49 (12% of total) UCL rank: 7
2
2 11 70 Gonçalo Borges 3 32
17 Medium 259 (43%) UCL rank: 2 Medium 158 (38%) UCL rank: 14=

25 25 5 Short 301 (50%) UCL rank: 21= 16 Short 209 (50%) UCL rank: 21=
21 30 10
13
Average UCL rank 18 23 Average UCL rank
21 5 PASSES PER 2211 PASSES PER
DEFENSIVE ACTION 9.2 1 16 DEFENSIVE ACTION 12.3 12
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists 22 3 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
31 23
18
31 3
RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS
99
99
DISTANCE COVERED 25.1 30 0
99
99 DISTANCE COVERED 25.8 17 0
Max. 120.8 v Newcastle (h) Max. 155.8 v Arsenal (a)
113.7 km Min. 110 v Borussia Dortmund (a, SF)
UCL rank: 30 GOALS G S OT xG
126.8 km Min. 114.5 v Arsenal (h)
UCL rank: 2 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Barcelona (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Kylian Mbappé 8 51 27 8.2 Example: v Arsenal (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Galeno 5 16 11 3.1
2 Ousmane Dembélé 2 33 10 3.0 2 Evanilson 4 14 7 1.8
3 Vitinha 2 22 6 1.3 3 Mehdi Taremi 2 22 9 2.6
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

19 GOALS
1.6 per match; UCL rank: 12
CHANCE CREATION
1 Warren Zaïre-Emery
A
3
KP xA
9 1.0
16 GOALS
1.9 per match; UCL rank: 6
CHANCE CREATION
1 Galeno
A
4
KP xA
5 0.7
2 Ousmane Dembélé 2 22 2.2 2 Pepê 2 10 1
24.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
2.1 per match; UCL rank: 2
3 Fabián Ruiz
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 9 1.2
11.7 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.4 per match; UCL rank: 14=
3 Mehdi Taremi
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 6 1

214 GOAL ATTEMPTS

17.8 per match; UCL rank: 2
PASSES
1 Achraf Hakimi
Att R S% PF%
815 768 87 37
104 GOAL ATTEMPTS
12.5 per match; UCL rank: 18
PASSES
1 Pepe
Att R S% PF%
463 337 86 39
2 Marquinhos 796 637 91 31 2 Alan Varela 365 262 90 27
67 ON TARGET
5.6 per match; UCL rank: 4
3 Vitinha 715 576 94 21
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
46 ON TARGET
5.5 per match; UCL rank: 5=
3 Diogo Costa 337 248 74 42
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 8% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 13% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 28% 1 Achraf Hakimi 78 14 12 SAVED 38% 1 Alan Varela 50 6 8
BLOCKED 24% 2 Vitinha 73 11 13 BLOCKED 21% 2 Galeno 38 5 8
WOODWORK 4% 3 Warren Zaïre-Emery 57 8 7 WOODWORK 1% 3 Pepe 36 8 8
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 36% OFF TARGET 26%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

96 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 97
 PSV EINDHOVEN NED REAL MADRID CF ESP
GROUP B ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP C ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
ARS SEV LEN LEN SEV ARS DOR DOR App Min G A UNB NAP BRA BRA NAP UNB LEI LEI MCI MCI BAY BAY DOR App Min G A
L 4-0 D 2-2 D 1-1 W 1-0 W 2-3 D 1-1 D 1-1 L 2-0 W 1-0 W 2-3 W 1-2 W 3-0 W 4-2 W 2-3 W 0-1 D 1-1 D 3-3 D 1-1* D 2-2 W 2-1 W 0-2
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names *AET; 3-4 pens GOALKEEPERS
1 Walter Benítez 8 720 1 Thibaut Courtois 1 90
DEFENDERS 13 Andriy Lunin 8 750
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES 25 Kepa Arrizabalaga 4 360
3 Jordan Teze 8 720 1
• Strong playing identity: press high across the pitch • Defensive discipline, keeping compact shape
PETER BOSZ and play forward 4 Armando Obispo 2 91 CARLO ANCELOTTI in mid/low block DEFENDERS
BORN: 21/11/1963, • Centre-backs able to build play from back 5 André Ramalho 6 424 BORN: 10/06/1959, • Individuals with composure and skill to play out 2 Dani Carvajal 10 846 1
Apeldoorn (NED) (Schouten) Reggiolo (ITA) of pressure
6 Armel Bella-Kotchap 2 84 • Kroos pivotal in dictating play from deep and 3 Éder Militão 3 12
NATIONALITY: Dutch • Midfield pivot Veerman key for his composure NATIONALITY: Italian
HEAD COACH: Since 01/07/2023 and forward passes 8 Sergiño Dest 8 646 1 HEAD COACH: Since 01/07/2021 set-piece delivery 4 David Alaba 3 251 1
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Veerman fifth in group stage for line-breaking 17 Mauro Júnior 3 183 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 9 • Forward-looking full-backs e.g. Carvajal high 6 Nacho 12 981
on right or inside
passes into attacking third – 26 18 Olivier Boscagli 7 613 20 Fran García 4 189 1
• Flexible, interchanging front three; Bellingham’s
Matches W D L Win% • Quick diagonal passes from deep for the wingers Matches W D L Win% runs from deep
to create 1v1s or 2v1s 30 Patrick van Aanholt 2 99 22 Antonio Rüdiger 12 1039 1
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League • Counterattacking threat with speed of Vinícius
(Group stage to final) 20 4 6 10 20% • Wingers with good dribbling skills (Bakayoko, 35 Fredrik Oppegård 1 1 (Group stage to final) 204 118 44 42 58% Júnior and Rodrygo 23 Ferland Mendy 11 871
UEFA club competition
Lozano) UEFA club competition • Character and mentality to survive v Manchester
72 31 18 23 43%
• Aerial threat of experienced target striker De Jong
MIDFIELDERS 252 147 54 51 58% MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) (including qualifying) City and Bayern
10 Malik Tillman 8 505 1 5 Jude Bellingham 11 993 4 5
20 Guus Til 5 184 8 Toni Kroos 12 861 2
SHAPE AVERAGES 22 Jerdy Schouten 7 622 SHAPE AVERAGES 10 Luka Modrić 11 416
1-4-3-3, defending with 1-4-1-4-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 23 Joey Veerman 7 579 1-4-4-2; variations in possession with 1-4-3-1-2, 1-4-2-3-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 12 Eduardo Camavinga 11 790 1
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 26 Isaac Babadi 2 20 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 15 Federico Valverde 13 1068 1 1
51% First third 32% 53% First third 27%
17 Lucas Vázquez 9 373 1
Middle third 49% FORWARDS Middle third 53%
Max. 63% v Sevilla (h) 7 Noa Lang 2 166 Max. 75% v Union Berlin (h) 18 Aurélien Tchouameni 8 603
Min. 42% v Arsenal (a)(h) Attacking third 20% Min.33% v Manchester City (a) Attacking third 20%
UCL rank: 13 9 Luuk De Jong 7 627 3 UCL rank: 8= 19 Dani Ceballos 3 152 1
11 Johan Bakayoko 8 653 1 1 21 Brahim Díaz 9 323 2 1
448 83% 14 Ricardo Pepi 8 133 1 1 562 90% 32 Nicolás Paz 3 39 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 27 Hirving Lozano 7 378 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY FORWARDS
Max. 490 v Dortmund (h) Max. 86% v Arsenal (h) Max. 887 v Union Berlin (a) Max. 95% v Union Berlin (a)
Min. 385 v Lens (h) Min. 74% v Lens (h) 32 Yorbe Vertessen 5 158 1 2 7
7 11 Min. 343 v Manchester City (a) Min. 82% v Manchester City (a) 7 Vinícius Júnior 10 901 6 5
UCL rank: 17 UCL rank: 15= UCL rank: 8= UCL rank: 2
34 Ismael Saibari 7 317 1 11
11 Rodrygo 13 1021 5 2
14 5
11 5
15 14 Joselu 11 273 5
32 14
PASS DISTANCE* PASS DISTANCE*
10 8 18 15 2
34 10 11 Long 49 (11% of total) UCL rank: 8=
23
18 Long 39 (7% of total) UCL rank: 25=
8
32 34 Medium 170 (38%) UCL rank: 14= Medium 199 (35%) UCL rank: 29=
2
30 3 Short 229 (51%) UCL rank: 15= 23 66 22 22 Short 324 (58%) UCL rank: 1=
17 30
PASSES PER Average UCL rank PASSES PER Average UCL rank
17 4 3
4 5 5 DEFENSIVE ACTION 11.8 8 DEFENSIVE ACTION 14.7 22
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 3 28= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

1
1
DISTANCE COVERED 25.2 13 0 13
13
DISTANCE COVERED 27.7 22 0
Max. 120.8 v Lens (h) Max. 147.6 v Manchester City (a)
116.9 km Min. 113.8 v Sevilla (h)
UCL rank: 21 GOALS G S OT xG
114.6 km Min. 104.8 v Leipzig (h)
UCL rank: 28 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Arsenal (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Luuk de Jong 3 23 7 3.8 Example: v Bayern (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Vinícius Júnior 6 30 13 4.5
2 Johan Bakayoko 1 24 10 1.2 2 Rodrygo 5 38 19 6.1
3 Ismael Saibari 1 11 6 1.9 3 Joselu 5 30 9 5.4
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

9 GOALS
1.1 per match; UCL rank: 22
CHANCE CREATION
1 Yorbe Vertessen
A
2
KP xA
1 0.2
28 GOALS
2.1 per match; UCL rank: 3
CHANCE CREATION
1 Jude Bellingham
A
5
KP xA
19 2.2
2 Johan Bakayoko 1 18 2.4 2 Vinícius Júnior 5 15 2.6
11.1 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.4 per match; UCL rank: 14=
3 Sergiño Dest
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 8 0.4
25.4 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.9 per match; UCL rank: 4
3 Toni Kroos
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
2 22 2.0

126 GOAL ATTEMPTS

15.8 per match; UCL rank: 4=
PASSES
1 Olivier Boscagli
Att R S% PF%
437 300 81 46
214 GOAL ATTEMPTS
16.1 per match; UCL rank: 3
PASSES
1 Toni Kroos
Att R S% PF%
882 729 95 34
2 Joey Veerman 412 305 80 40 2 Nacho 660 517 95 31
46 ON TARGET
5.8 per match; UCL rank: 2
3 Jerdy Schouten 366 263 91 30
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
74 ON TARGET
5.5 per match; UCL rank: 5=
3 Antonio Rüdiger 650 528 91 35
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 7% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 33% 1 Jordan Teze 53 9 7 SAVED 30% 1 Toni Kroos 61 12 12
BLOCKED 19% 2 Olivier Boscagli 51 7 11 BLOCKED 24% 2 Federico Valverde 55 13 13
WOODWORK 2% 3 Jerdy Schouten 48 9 5 WOODWORK 1% 3 Eduardo Camavinga 47 13 9
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 39% OFF TARGET 33%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

98 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 99
 REAL SOCIEDAD DE FÚTBOL ESP FC SALZBURG AUT
GROUP D ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP D ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
INT SAL BEN BEN SAL INT PAR PAR App Min G A BEN SOC INT INT SOC BEN App Min G A
D 1-1 W 0-2 W 0-1 W 3-1 D 0-0 D 0-0 L 2-0 L 1-2 W0-2 L0-2 L2-1 L0-1 D0-0 L1-3
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Alejandro Remiro 8 720 24 Alexander Schlager 6 540
DEFENDERS DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
2 Álvaro Odriozola 3 96 3 Aleksa Terzić 2 180
• Used long goal kicks, playing for second balls; • Goalkeeper Schlager builds up game with short
IMANOL ALGUACIL forced mistakes through pressing 5 Aritz Elustondo 5 170 GERHARD STRUBER and long passes 4 Kamil Piątkowski 3 181
BORN: 04/07/1971, • Pressing style – first for duels/aerial duels 17 Kieran Tierney 2 66 BORN: 24/01/1977, Kuchl (AUT) • Defend with high intensity always putting the 6 Samson Baidoo 5 302
Orio (ESP) contested up to round of 16 18 Hamari Traoré 7 530 NATIONALITY: Austrian opponents under pressure 17 Andreas Ulmer 3 219
NATIONALITY: Spanish • First in group stage for possession won in attacking HEAD COACH: From 31/07/2023 • Pavlović leader in defence: effective in 1v1s, defending
HEAD COACH: Since 27/12/2018 third – 48 20 Jon Pacheco 5 121 to 15/04/2024 space between lines, and composure with ball 22 Oumar Solet 3 154
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Forward-looking full-backs playing high with 24 Robin Le Normand 7 573 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 • Fast transitions to attack with quick forward 31 Strahinja Pavlović 6 494
wingers inside 25 Javier Galán 2 178 combinations and powerful runs 39 Leandro Morgalla 1 45
Matches W D L Win% • Zubimendi bringing balance as midfield pivot Matches W D L Win% • Influential midfielders – Bidstrup bringing balance
29 Aihen Muñoz 6 474 1 and Sučić the ability to combine 70 Amar Dedić 6 540
UEFA Champions League • Intelligent No10 Oyarzabal influential between the UEFA Champions League
(Group stage to final) 8 3 3 2 38% lines, linking play 42 Jon Aramburu 1 2 (Group stage to final) 6 1 1 4 17% • Potential of Gloukh with technique, game MIDFIELDERS
• Kubo second for key passes between group stage intelligence, 1v1 ability and set-piece delivery
UEFA club competition 24 9 9 6 38% MIDFIELDERS UEFA club competition 16 7 2 7 44% 7 Nicolás Capaldo 4 210
(including qualifying) and round of 16 (19) (including qualifying) • Fewest goals scored in group stage – 4
4 Martin Zubimendi 8 713 8 Dijon Kameri 1 8
5 Igor Zubeldia 8 693 10 Luka Sučić 6 391 1
SHAPE AVERAGES 8 Mikel Merino 7 630 2 1 SHAPE AVERAGES 14 Maurits Kjærgaard 3 206 1
1-4-3-3; 4-5-1, 1-4-1-4-1 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 10 Mikel Oyarzabal 7 587 2 1-4-4-2 midfield diamond; 1-4-1-3-2, 1-4-2-3-1 out of possession
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 18 Mads Bidstrup 6 495
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 12 Arsen Zakharyan 5 217 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 27 Lucas Gourna-Douath 5 400
52% First third 26%
16 Jon Ander Olasagasti 1 7
43% First third 37%
30 Oscar Gloukh 6 481 2 1
Middle third 54% Middle third 47%
Max. 71% v Salzburg (h) 22 Beñat Turrientes 6 188 Max. 50% v Inter (h) 32 Amankwah Forson 4 66
Min. 38% v Paris (a) Attacking third 20% Min. 29% v Real Sociedad (a) Attacking third 16%
UCL rank: 12 23 Brais Méndez 7 531 3 1 UCL rank: 27= FORWARDS
28 Jon Magunacelaya 1 13 11 Fernando 1 35
461 82% FORWARDS 392 78% 19 Karim Konaté 5 238
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 7 Ander Barrenetxea 7 399 1 1 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 20 Sékou Koita 2 66
Max. 603 v Salzburg (h) Max. 87% v Benfica (a) Max. 437 v Benfica (h) Max. 83% v Inter (a), Inter (h)
Min. 337 v Paris (a) Min. 74% v Paris (h) 9 Carlos Fernández 4 65 Min. 255 v Real Sociedad (a) Min. 68% v Real Sociedad (a) 21 Petar Ratkov 6 211
UCL rank: 15 UCL rank: 19= UCL rank: 25 UCL rank: 30=
10
14 11 Sheraldo Becker 1 61 23 Roko Šimić 6 340 1 1
7 19
10 11 Mohamed-Ali Cho 4 130 23 45 Dorgeles Nene 4 139
14 19 23
7 8 23 PASS DISTANCE* 14 Takefusa Kubo 8 563 PASS DISTANCE*
8 30
23 Long 49 (11% of total) UCL rank: 8= 30 Long 52 (13% of total) UCL rank: 3=
19 Umar Sadiq 4 101 14
3 4 6 Medium 186 (40%) UCL rank: 7= Medium 158 (40%) UCL rank: 7=
3
4 6 Short 226 (49%) UCL rank: 24= 21 André Silva 2 92 14 18 Short 182 (46%) UCL rank: 31=
24 3 18 70
24 5 5 27
PASSES PER Average UCL rank 27
70 PASSES PER Average UCL rank
3
DEFENSIVE ACTION 10.2 4
31 31 6 DEFENSIVE ACTION 11.5 6
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists 6 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 9 1 AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

1
1
DISTANCE COVERED 25.7 18 0
24
24
DISTANCE COVERED 22.6 18 0
Max. 118.8 v Inter (a) Max. 128.0 v Benfica (a)
116.3 km Min. 112.3 v Salzburg (h)
UCL rank: 23 GOALS G S OT xG
123.0 km Min. 116.7 v Real Sociedad (a)
UCL rank: 7 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Benfica (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Brais Méndez 3 14 6 1.9 Example: v Benfica (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Oscar Gloukh 2 7 4 1.2
2 Mikel Merino 2 14 4 2.1 2 Roko Šimić 1 8 4 1.2
3 Mikel Oyarzabal 2 10 9 2.2 3 Luka Sučić 1 8 2 0.3
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

8 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Mikel Merino
A
1
KP xA
8 0.5
4 GOALS
0.7 per match; UCL rank: 32
CHANCE CREATION
1 Oscar Gloukh
A
1
KP xA
8 1.1
2 Brais Méndez 1 7 0.5 2 Roko Šimić 1 3 0.6
10.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Ander Barrenetxea
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 5 1.2
7.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Maurits Kjærgaard
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 2 0.1

107 GOAL ATTEMPTS

13.4 per match; UCL rank: 15
PASSES
1 Martin Zubimendi
Att R S% PF%
441 335 88 29
73 GOAL ATTEMPTS
12.2 per match; UCL rank: 20
PASSES
1 Strahinja Pavlović
Att R S% PF%
315 214 82 39
2 Igor Zubeldia 429 302 87 32 2 Alexander Schlager 236 150 75 51
35 ON TARGET
4.4 per match; UCL rank: 19
3 Mikel Merino 321 257 79 37
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
23 ON TARGET
3.8 per match; UCL rank: 23
3 Lucas Gourna-Douath 215 159 86 21
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 7% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 5% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 29% 1 Mikel Merino 55 8 4 SAVED 29% 1 Mads Bidstrup 41 15 7
BLOCKED 23% 2 Martin Zubimendi 53 7 7 BLOCKED 31% 2 Strahinja Pavlović 35 6 5
WOODWORK 4% 3 Igor Zubeldia 42 12 8 WOODWORK 1% 3 Lucas Gourna-Douath 32 8 12
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 38% OFF TARGET 33%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

100 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 101
 SEVILLA FC ESP FC SHAKHTAR DONETSK UKR
GROUP B ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP H ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
LEN PSV ARS ARS PSV LEN App Min G A POR ANT BAR BAR ANT POR App Min G A
D 1-1 D 2-2 L 1-2 L 2-0 L 2-3 L 2-1 L 1-3 W 2-3 L 2-1 W 1-0 W 1-0 L 5-3
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Marko Dmitrović 4 360 31 Dmytro Riznyk 6 540
13 Ørjan Nyland 2 180 DEFENDERS
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
DEFENDERS 3 Stav Lemkin 1 65
• Use left-right switch of play to release full-back • Compact and organised defensively, often sitting
DIEGO ALONSO Navas 3 Adriá Pedrosa 4 329 MARINO PUŠIĆ back in mid/low block 5 Valeriy Bondar 4 360
BORN: 16/04/75, Montevideo (URU) • Attempt passing game through the thirds 4 Sergio Ramos 5 450 2 1 BORN: 18/08/71, Mostar (CRO) • Patient in build-up if more direct at times with 13 Giorgi Gocholeishvili 4 284 1
NATIONALITY: Uruguayan • Ability to carry the ball of Navas, Lukebakio, NATIONALITY: Croatian diagonal balls out wide
14 Tanguy Nianzou 2 31 16 Irakli Azarov 4 295 1
HEAD COACH: From 10/10/23 to Ocampos HEAD COACH: Since 24/10/2023 • Experienced Stepanenko shielding in front of back
16/12/23 19 Marcos Acuña 3 197 1 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 four, launching counterattacks 22 Mykola Matviyenko 5 450 1
• Set-piece excellence and eye for pass of Rakitić –
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 three assists 22 Loïc Badé 2 93 • Switches of play to find 1v1s in wide areas, using 26 Yukhym Konoplia 3 256 1
*Patrick van Leeuwen in charge MD1-2 pace of attackers
*José Luis Mendilibar in charge MD1-2 • Joint-first for goals from corners in group stage – 3 27 Kike Salas 2 166 44 Yaroslav Rakitskyy 5 344 1
• No10 Sudakov the leader in attack: quick, technical
Matches W D L Win% • Experienced older squad, struggled to sustain Matches W D L Win% and eye for pass
intensity at times MIDFIELDERS MIDFIELDERS
UEFA Champions League 4 0 0 4 0% UEFA Champions League 4 2 0 2 50% • Good attacking transitions, with penetrating runs
(Group stage to final) • Four points dropped due to goals in added time 6 Nemanja Gudelj 6 540 2 (Group stage to final) and passes in behind 6 Taras Stepanenko 6 496 1
UEFA club competition 4 0 0 4 0% 8 Joan Jordán 2 82 UEFA club competition 6 2 1 3 33% • Zubkov joint-first in group stage for big chances 7 Eguinaldo 3 15 1
(including qualifying) (including qualifying) created – 5
10 Ivan Rakitić 6 459 3 8 Dmytro Kryskiv 5 391
18 Djibril Sow 6 372 9 Marian Shved 2 4
SHAPE AVERAGES 20 Fernando 4 330 SHAPE AVERAGES 10 Georgiy Sudakov 6 540 1
1-4-2-3-1, morphing to 1-4-3-3 on the ball; 1-4-4-2 when defending
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 21 Óliver Torres 3 101 1-4-2-3-1; 1-4-4-2 in defence
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 11 Oleksandr Zubkov 6 535 2
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 24 Boubakary Soumaré 4 215 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 21 Artem Bondarenko 4 220
49% First third 34%
26 Juanlu 6 321 1
44% First third 41%
25 Novatus Miroshi 1 90
Middle third 52% Middle third 46%
Max. 65% v Lens (a)
FORWARDS Max. 51% v Porto (a) 29 Yehor Nazaryna 4 203 1
Min. 37% v PSV (a) Attacking third 15% Min. 33% v Barcelona (h) Attacking third 13%
UCL rank: 14= 5 Lucas Ocampos 5 347 1 UCL rank: 22= 39 Newerton 4 217
7 Suso 2 82 90 Olexiy Kashchuk 1 25
412 80% 9 Rafa Mir 2 37 421 83% FORWARDS
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 11 Dodi Lukébakio 4 247 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 14 Danylo Sikan 6 479 4 1
Max. 568 v Lens (a) Max. 85% v Lens (a) Max. 461 v Antwerp (a) Max. 89% v Porto (h)
Min. 267 v PSV (a) Min. 70% v PSV (a) 12 Mariano Díaz 3 60 Min. 343 v Barcelona (h) Min. 75% v Barcelona (h) 18 Kevin Kelsy 5 131 1
UCL rank: 23 UCL rank: 25= UCL rank: 21 UCL rank: 15=
15
15 Youssef En-Nesyri 6 513 2 14
5 16 Jesús Navas 4 219 14 11
15
11
PASS DISTANCE* 17 Erik Lamela 3 186
8 PASS DISTANCE*
5 10
10 Long 53 (13% of total) UCL rank: 3= 10 Long 47 (11% of total) UCL rank: 8=
11 11
10 Medium 158 (38%) UCL rank: 14= 8 Medium 146 (35%) UCL rank: 29=
19 6 29
18 16 Short 200 (49%) UCL rank: 24= 26 Short 227 (54%) UCL rank: 8=
1824 16 29
6
24
19 4 PASSES PER Average UCL rank PASSES PER Average UCL rank
6 16 26
4 DEFENSIVE ACTION 16 22 44 DEFENSIVE ACTION
6 12.6 13
22 44
15.1 24=
App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists

RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank

ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

29.2 24
Sent off:
13
13
16 2 Ocampos v PSV (h),
Fernando v PSV (h)
15 0
DISTANCE COVERED 31 DISTANCE COVERED
Max. 116.6 v Arsenal (h) 31 Max. 123.7 v Barcelona (a)
114.5 km Min. 113.4 v Lens (h), PSV (h), Lens (a)
UCL rank: 29 GOALS G S OT xG
117.3 km Min. 112.6 v Porto (a)
UCL rank: 19 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Arsenal (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Youssef En-Nesyri 2 10 5 1.8 Example: v Antwerp (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Danylo Sikan 4 11 7 3.0
2 Sergio Ramos 2 8 2 1.8 2 Georgiy Sudakov 1 10 2 1.1
3 Nemanja Gudelj 2 4 3 0.4 3 Mykola Matviyenko 1 3 2 0.5
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

7 GOALS
1.2 per match; UCL rank: 17=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Ivan Rakitić
A
3
KP xA
14 1.9
10 GOALS
1.7 per match; UCL rank: 10=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Oleksandr Zubkov
A
2
KP xA
7 0.8
2 Sergio Ramos 1 2 0.4 2 Danylo Sikan 1 6 0.1
5.9 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1 per match; UCL rank: 27=
3 Juanlu
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 1 0.3
7.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.3 per match; UCL rank: 17=
3 Irakli Azarov
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 5 0.5

53 GOAL ATTEMPTS
8.8 per match; UCL rank: 31
PASSES
1 Sergio Ramos
Att R S% PF%
316 238 85 33
69 GOAL ATTEMPTS
11.5 per match; UCL rank: 25
PASSES
1 Georgiy Sudakov
Att R S% PF%
280 252 82 26
2 Nemanja Gudelj 315 242 88 37 2 Mykola Matviyenko 254 198 86 42
18 ON TARGET
3 per match; UCL rank: 31
3 Ivan Rakitić 260 189 81 33
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
28 ON TARGET
4.7 per match; UCL rank: 13=
3 Taras Stepanenko 227 176 86 28
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 11% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 13% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 29% 1 Ivan Rakitić 36 4 3 SAVED 35% 1 Oleksandr Zubkov 28 6 2
BLOCKED 14% 2 Sergio Ramos 25 2 4 BLOCKED 21% 2 Dmytro Kryskiv 28 3 1
WOODWORK 5% 3 Juanlu 24 8 2 WOODWORK 1% 3 Georgiy Sudakov 25 2 6
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 41% OFF TARGET 30%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

102 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 103
 1. FC UNION BERLIN GER BSC YOUNG BOYS SUI
GROUP C ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP G ROUND OF 16 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL
PLAYER STATISTICS PLAYER STATISTICS
RMA BRA NAP NAP BRA RMA App Min G A LEI CRV MCI MCI CRV LEI App Min G A
L1-0 L2-3 L0-1 D1-1 D1-1 L2-3 L1-3 D2-2 L1-3 L3-0 W2-0 L2-1
Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS Matches: Pink = home, white = away, blue = neutral; see page 5 for full club names GOALKEEPERS
1 Frederik Rønnow 6 540 1 Anthony Racioppi 5 450
DEFENDERS 26 David von Ballmoos 1 90
COACH KEY FEATURES COACH KEY FEATURES
3 Paul Jaeckel 3 175 DEFENDERS
• Well-organised, disciplined team often sitting deep, • Compact shape in mid-block; looking to fast wide
NENAD BJELICA set up to counter 4 Diogo Leite 6 540 RAPHAËL WICKY players on transitions 4 Aurele Amenda 4 314
BORN: 20/08/71, Osijek (CRO) • Goalkeeper varies in opening the game up to his 5 Danilho Doekhi 3 260 BORN: 26/04/77, Leuggern (SUI) • In build-up working the ball wide for crosses into box 13 Mohamed Ali Camara 5 450 1
NATIONALITY: Croatian defenders and kicking long NATIONALITY: Swiss • Use of diagonal balls to full-backs e.g. mobile,
6 Robin Gosens 6 443 1 17 Saidy Janko 5 324
HEAD COACH: From 27/11/2023 • Tight defensive structure, looking to close space centrally HEAD COACH: From 01/07/2022 athletic Garcia on left
to 06/05/2024 • Building up using wing-backs (Rousillon) – 18 Josip Juranović 5 416 to 04/03/2024 • Garcia third in group stage for completed crosses 19 Noah Persson 3 36
UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 responsibility to get forward and provide crosses 23 Leonardo Bonucci 3 260 UEFA CLUB TROPHIES WON: 0 (13) with 34.2% cross success rate 21 Ulisses Garcia 6 505
*Urs Fischer in charge MD1-4 • Balanced attacks with four players to defend against 26 Jérôme Roussillon 4 262 1 • Creator Ugrinic able to control tempo with vision, 23 Loris Benito 5 407 1
Matches W D L Win% counterattack Matches W D L Win%
awareness, good positions between lines
28 Christopher Trimmel 3 124 • Physical team with strength and presence in box – 27 Lewin Blum 4 217 1
UEFA Champions League
• Fast attacking transitions, with Becker’s penetrating UEFA Champions League
(Group stage to final) 14 2 5 7 14% runs in behind 31 Robin Knoche 3 270 (Group stage to final) 14 6 1 7 43% two goals from corners 28 Fabian Lustenberger 1 90
UEFA club competition • Highest percentage of forward passes in group stage UEFA club competition
• Showed character, e.g. with aggressive high press
53 22 16 15 42% – 41% MIDFIELDERS 32 14 4 14 44% at home v City MIDFIELDERS
(including qualifying) (including qualifying)
7 Brenden Aaronson 6 134 7 Filip Ugrinic 6 518 1 1
8 Rani Khedira 4 293 8 Łukasz Łakomy 1 20
SHAPE AVERAGES 19 Janik Haberer 5 358 SHAPE AVERAGES 14 Miguel Chaiwa 3 57
1-5-3-2, 1-3-5-2, 1-4-1-4-1
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 20 Aïssa Laïdouni 6 276 1 1-4-2-3-1, 1-4-3-3, 1-4-4-2; also used back five
POSSESSION POSSESSION POSITION 20 Cheikh Niasse 6 535 1
3 In possession 3 Out of possession 29 Lucas Tousart 5 238 1 3 In possession 3 Out of possession 22 Donat Rrudhani 1 9
33% First third 35%
33 Alex Král 6 247 1 1 43% First third 36%
30 Sandro Lauper 4 280
Middle third 50% Middle third 48%
Max. 47% v Braga (a) 36 Aljoscha Kemlein 1 7 Max. 55% v Leipzig (h) 39 Darian Males 6 164
Min. 25% v Real Madrid (a) Attacking third 15% Min. 29% v Manchester City (a) Attacking third 17%
UCL rank: 32 FORWARDS UCL rank: 27= FORWARDS
10 Kevin Volland 5 233 1 9 Cédric Itten 4 280 1
334 76% 11 David Fofana 4 198 1 369 79% 11 Ebrima Colley 2 127 1
PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 17 Kevin Behrens 5 301 PASSES ATTEMPTED PASS ACCURACY 15 Meschack Elia 6 500 2
Max. 475 v Braga (a) Max. 86% v Braga (a) Max. 502 v Leipzig (h) Max. 85% v Manchester City (h)
Min. 263 v Real Madrid (a) Min. 68% v Real Madrid (a) 27 Sheraldo Becker 5 365 2 1 Min. 282 v Manchester City (a) Min. 72% v Crvena zvezda (a) 18 Jean-Pierre Nsame 4 160 1
UCL rank: 31 UCL rank: 32 UCL rank: 29 UCL rank: 27=
35 Silvère Ganvoula 6 113
15 99 77 Joel Monteiro 4 264 1
77
17 PASS DISTANCE* PASS DISTANCE*
10 Long 47 (14% of total) UCL rank: 1= 15 39 Long 49 (13% of total) UCL rank: 3=
7 39 77
17
10 Medium 128 (38%) UCL rank: 14= Medium 142 (38%) UCL rank: 14=
7
6 19
Short 159 (48%) UCL rank: 27= 21 2320 Short 178 (48%) UCL rank: 27=
17
26 19 18 21 20
PASSES PER Average UCL rank 23 17 PASSES PER Average UCL rank
6 8
8
DEFENSIVE ACTION 22 32 13 DEFENSIVE ACTION 10.8 5
26 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists 13 App = Appearances; Min = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists
44 318
31 31
3 RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank RECOVERIES IN Average UCL rank
ATTACKING THIRD 5 12= AVERAGE AGE CARDS ATTACKING THIRD 6 3= AVERAGE AGE CARDS

1
DISTANCE COVERED 28.4 16 0
1
1
DISTANCE COVERED 25.7 15 1 Sent off:
Lauper v Manchester City (a)

118.9 km
1 Max. 128.3 v Napoli (a) Max. 125.7 v Manchester City (h)
123.7 km Min. 120.5 v Braga (a)
UCL rank: 4 GOALS G S OT xG
Min. 112.5 v Manchester City (a)
UCL rank: 13 GOALS G S OT xG
Example: v Real Madrid (h) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Sheraldo Becker 2 11 7 1.3 Example: v Crvena zvezda (a) *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% 1 Meschack Elia 2 7 3 0.7
2 David Fofana 1 8 4 0.9 2 Filip Ugrinic 1 9 3 0.5
3 Robin Gosens 1 5 1 0.4 3 Cédric Itten 1 8 5 1.3
ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals ATTEMPTS G = Goals; S = Shots; OT = On Target; xG = Expected Goals

6 GOALS
1 per match; UCL rank: 23=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Sheraldo Becker
A
1
KP xA
7 0.5
7 GOALS
1.2 per match; UCL rank: 17=
CHANCE CREATION
1 Filip Ugrinic
A
1
KP xA
8 0.5
2 Jérôme Roussillon 1 4 0.5 2 Joel Monteiro 1 4 1.1
5.7 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1 per match; UCL rank: 27=
3 Aïssa Laïdouni
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 2 0.3
6.5 EXPECTED GOALS (xG)
1.1 per match; UCL rank: 26
3 Cheikh Niasse
A = Assists; KP = Key Passes; xA= Expected Assists
1 4 0.4

57 GOAL ATTEMPTS
9.5 per match; UCL rank: 29
PASSES
1 Diogo Leite
Att R S% PF%
303 207 82 47
74 GOAL ATTEMPTS
12.3 per match; UCL rank: 19
PASSES
1 Ulisses Garcia
Att R S% PF%
257 230 78 47
2 Robin Knoche 175 132 86 37 2 Loris Benito 243 170 88 46
21 ON TARGET
3.5 per match; UCL rank: 29=
3 Frederik Rønnow 167 91 63 71
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward
22 ON TARGET
3.7 per match; UCL rank: 24=
3 Cheikh Niasse 231 169 83 25
Att = Attempted; R = Passes Received; S = Successful; PF = Pass Forward

GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I GOALS 9% DEFENDING BR TW I

SAVED 33% 1 Diogo Leite 35 5 5 SAVED 27% 1 Ulisses Garcia 44 9 4
BLOCKED 13% 2 Josip Juranović 27 1 2 BLOCKED 26% 2 Filip Ugrinic 34 9 5
WOODWORK 2% 3 Robin Gosens 25 3 3 WOODWORK 0% 3 Cheikh Niasse 31 5 17
BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions BR = Balls Recovered; TW = Tackles Won; I = Interceptions
OFF TARGET 44% OFF TARGET 38%
*Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value *Decimal points account for the extra/missing 1% Where totals are equal, rank is decided by next value

104 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT Rankings on this pages may be based on figures before they are rounded up or down 105
THE CHAMPIONS CREDITS
2024 Real Madrid CF 1989 AC Milan Technical observer group
David Adams, Wayne Allison, Aljoša Asanović,
2023 Manchester City FC 1988 PSV Eindhoven Rafael Benítez, Packie Bonner, Justin Cochrane, Frank de Boer,
Jean-François Domergue, Dušan Fitzel, Steffen Freund,
2022 Real Madrid CF 1987 FC Porto Frans Hoek, David James, Aitor Karanka, Stefan Kuntz,
Dirk Kuyt, Hans Leitert, Claude Makélélé, Roberto Martínez,
2021 Chelsea FC 1986 FC Steaua Bucureşti Ginés Meléndez, Mixu Paatelainen, Marians Pahars,
Stipe Pletikosa, Peter Rudbæk, Willi Ruttensteiner,
2020 FC Bayern München 1985 Juventus Thomas Schaaf, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Gareth Southgate,
Jaap Stam, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Jack Wilshere
2019 Liverpool FC 1984 Liverpool FC
UEFA deputy general secretary
2018 Real Madrid CF 1983 Hamburger SV Giorgio Marchetti

UEFA head of technical development and education

2017 Real Madrid CF 1982 Aston Villa FC Olivier Doglia
2016 Real Madrid CF 1981 Liverpool FC UEFA supervisor performance analysis
Atle Rosseland
2015 FC Barcelona 1980 Nottingham Forest FC
UEFA writer
2014 Real Madrid CF 1979 Nottingham Forest FC Simon Hart

2013 FC Bayern München 1978 Liverpool FC UEFA performance analysis team

Krzysztof Waloszczyk, Jason Todd,
2012 Chelsea FC 1977 Liverpool FC Thomas Churchill-Cooper

2011 FC Barcelona 1976 FC Bayern München Technical observer coordinator

Andrew Sam
2010 FC Internazionale Milano 1975 FC Bayern München
Data and video collection support
2009 FC Barcelona 1974 FC Bayern München RedZone Analysis Limited, StatsPerform,
UEFA Data Services
2008 Manchester United FC 1973 AFC Ajax
Analysis software
2007 AC Milan 1972 AFC Ajax HUDL SportsCode, Catapult, Angles,
VIZ Libero (VIZRT)
2006 FC Barcelona 1971 AFC Ajax Managing editor
Michael Harrold
2005 Liverpool FC 1970 Feyenoord
Art director
2004 FC Porto 1969 AC Milan Oliver Meikle
2003 AC Milan 1968 Manchester United FC Design
André Viegas, Tom Radford, Andrea Silva
2002 Real Madrid CF 1967 Celtic FC
Sub-editors
2001 FC Bayern München 1966 Real Madrid CF Jade Craddock, Andrew Haslam, Luke Nicoli,
Aaryan Parasnis
2000 Real Madrid CF 1965 FC Internazionale Milano
Artworking
1999 Manchester United FC 1964 FC Internazionale Milano Deborah Mullen, Florentyne Katakwe

Production
1998 Real Madrid CF 1963 AC Milan
Stuart Knapman
1997 Borussia Dortmund 1962 SL Benfica Photography
Getty Images, UEFA
1996 Juventus 1961 SL Benfica
Print
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1994 AC Milan 1959 Real Madrid CF

1993 Olympique de Marseille 1958 Real Madrid CF
1992 FC Barcelona 1957 Real Madrid CF
1991 FK Crvena zvezda 1956 Real Madrid CF Designed and produced by TwelfthMan on behalf of UEFA

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