Tagged: Barcelona

June 9, 2015

Champions League Team of the Season for 2014/15 based on stats

When news filtered through that Giorgio Chiellini was to miss the Champions League final with a calf injury, many felt that Barcelona’s precession to their fifth European championship had become that much easier. Juventus’ vice-captain is arguably the Old Lady’s best defender, so to lose a player of his calibre was always going to hinder the Serie A side’s chances of securing glory in Berlin at the weekend.

As expected, Barcelona exploited his absence to romp to a 3-1 win, though it’s perhaps reasonable to suggest that the Blaugrana could have won by more after an early onslaught. With Europe’s elite competition having now come to a head for another campaign, we at WhoScored.com have formulated a highest rated XI using our unique rating system from the 2014/15 competition.

Thibaut Courtois – Chelsea

While Chelsea crashed out at the last-16 stage of the competition, the Blues were the only team who did not lose a game in the Champions League this season having been knocked out by PSG on away goals. An underwhelming campaign in the Champions League did not overshadow what was an impressive showing from Thibaut Courtois in Europe’s elite tournament. The young Belgian earned a better WhoScored rating (7.21) than any other goalkeeper, with his average of 2.4 crosses claimed per game bettered only by Roberto (2.5) of all shotstoppers to feature more than once.

Dani Alves – Barcelona

The Brazilian – as one might expect – was the best rated right-back in the Champions League this term after yet another impressive campaign for Barcelona. Some suggested Dani Alves was past his best, but he once again proved his critics wrong, claiming 4 assists in the tournament; only teammates Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta and Porto’s Héctor Herrera (all 5) provided more than the marauding full-back. Alves also exhibited his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘passing’ throughout the competition, with his average of 73.4 passes per game better than every Barcelona star and ranked among the top 10 players.

Emir Spahic – Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen were unlucky to crash out on penalties at the hands of Atletico Madrid at the last-16 stage, with centre-back Emir Spahic playing a central role in the German’s progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Only Chancel Mbemba Mangulu (8.2) made more clearances per game than Spahic (8), while only former Malmo FF frontman Isaac Thelin (5.2) won more aerial duels per game than the experienced Bosnian (5). 3 WhoScored man of the match awards were bettered only by Lionel Messi (9), with Spahic hugely impressive for Leverkusen this term.

Diego Godín – Atletico Madrid

Last year’s finalists once again fell to Real Madrid this season, this time stuttering over two legs at the quarter-final stage. Atletico Madrid were only narrowly beaten by their local rivals however, with Diego Godín pivotal once more to Los Rojiblancos’ efforts. The Uruguay international averaged a commendable 7.3 clearances per game and won 72.5% of his 51 aerial duels in the Champions League.

Alex Sandro – FC Porto

The Brazilian was a stand out performer in Julen Lopetegui’s FC Porto side in the Spaniard’s debut campaign at the Dragões helm. The Portuguese outfit looked a far worse side without Alex Sandro in the starting XI for the second leg quarter-final meeting with Bayern Munich, with Porto underwhelming at the Allianz Arena. Sandro, though, enjoyed a notable Champions League campaign, making more interceptions (39) than any other player. 76 tackles and interceptions combined was also the most in the competition and helped the 24-year-old gain a WhoScored rating of 7.87.

Lionel Messi – Barcelona

The player of the tournament with an average rating of 8.90, Lionel Messi was more than deserving of a Champions League winners’ medal. No player scored more goals (10) or registered more assists (5) than Messi, who was awarded the WhoScored man of the match award in 9 of his 13 appearances in Europe’s elite competition. Messi also completed more successful dribbles (92) than any other player and played the most key passes (36) in the Champions League. The Argentine worked hard off the ball for his team, winning possession in the attacking third (12) more times than any other player in what was a majestic campaign in Europe for Messi.

Casemiro – FC Porto

The on-loan midfielder showcased his talents for Porto, with Casemiro arguably one of the stars of the Champions League this term. An average rating of 8.16 was the fourth best of all players in this season’s edition, with his 75 tackles and interceptions combined bettered only by teammate Sandro (76). Meanwhile, an average of 5.6 tackles per game was bettered only by Nemanja Matic (5.8), with the 23-year-old arguably Porto’s most important player in the competition this campaign.

Nemanja Matic – Chelsea

Nemanja Matic has established himself as one of the finest holding midfielders in football, with his average of 5.8 tackles per game more than any other player in the Champions League this season, and only Toni Kroos (56) and Xabi Alonso (55) won possession more times in the midfield third than Matic (49). The Serb was crucial in Chelsea’s progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League, with Matic one of the Blues’ most consistent performers once more.

Eden Hazard – Chelsea

Edging out final goalscorer Neymar, Eden Hazard features on the left wing in WhoScored’s Champions League team of the season. Hazard averaged more dribbles per game (7.3) and was fouled more times per game (4.7) in this term’s competition than any other player as opposition sides struggled to contain the sprightly Belgian. His 15 successful dribbles against Maribor was the most in a single Champions League match this season as Hazard continued his development into one of the game’s finest.

Team Focus: Champions League Team of the Season

Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid

No player scored more goals in the Champions League this season than Cristiano Ronaldo (10), though it was not enough to help Real Madrid become the first team to defend the Champions League as they succumbed to defeat to Juventus at the semi-final stage. The Portuguese averaged more shots per game (5.9) than any other player as he strived to help Los Blancos to their 11th European Cup, but to no avail. Nevertheless, it was yet another commendable showing in Europe’s elite competition from Ronaldo.

Luis Suarez – Barcelona

The scorer of the decisive goal in Saturday’s final partners Ronaldo in attack having formed part of the most destructive offensive triumvirate in Europe. 7 goals and 3 assists for Luis Suarez was a noteworthy return given he did not make his first appearance in the competition until mid-November. Suarez spearheaded the Barcelona attack with aplomb once he established himself as the Blaugrana’s lead striker, with his average of 3.8 shots, 1 key pass and 1.7 successful dribbles per game contributing to a WhoScored rating of 7.89.

Published with permission from WhoScored.

April 24, 2015

How Luis Suarez and Neymar have allowed Messi to do what he does best| Analysis..

Luis Suarez Neymar Messi — The trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar stands as 2015’s best trio.

If we take a little trip down memory lane, it wasn’t so long ago when we, as consumers of the La Liga product and supporters of various clubs within, were being told that Barcelona were a fading giant. Crippled by the success of the Pep Guardiola era, no future manager could possibly live up to the standards set by Barca’s 2008-2012 vintage.

The signing of Neymar sent the naysayers and doom-mongers into overdrive. Never one to resist a dig at the club he served with aplomb as player and manager, Johan Cruyff was adamant that the purchase of the Brazilian wunderkind was absolutely the wrong move.

Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail detailed Cruyff’s words to Spanish daily Marca at the time of Neymar’s capture, and they were far from complimentary:

“The problem that Barca have now is Neymar. He is a great player, that is not in question but you cannot sign a 21-year-old and pay him more than players who have won everything there is to win. No-one is God when they are just 21 years old. You cannot have two captains on one boat.”

Proving Johan Cryuff wrong

Whilst it’s true that it has taken the Brazilian the best part of a year to settle into life in Catalonia, there isn’t too much doubt that Neymar is now one of the first names on the team-sheet. He has worked hard and displayed maturity both on and off the pitch, in order to prove Cruyff and everyone else who weighed in on the subject wrong.

Ditto Suarez.

The situation was supposedly professionally unworkable a season before so imagine the outcry at Suarez’s arrival.

More so because of a certain indiscretion at the World Cup. It didn’t seem possible to many Barca fans that a club with such a proud heritage were eroding yet more vestiges of the “Mes Que un club” banner that the Catalans were incredibly proud of.

It didn’t matter a jot that Suarez had come in off of the back of a record-equalling Golden Shoe tally of 31 goals, to see him tie with Cristiano Ronaldo as the top European marksman for league goals.

No, this was one signing too far and there was our man Cruyff again, at the coal face chirping like the proverbial canary. This time Marca printed words he had given via his weekly column in Dutch paper De Telegraaf:

“I can’t see how Barça intends to continue playing the same way, with a keen focus on team play if Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are in the side. The three of them are too individual. In signing him, the club are showing a preference for individual genius over a team that plays great football”

Now, no one is questioning the impact that Cruyff has made on the game of football. He stands alone as the pioneer of Barca’s attacking style of play.

But his comments have been shown to be largely inaccurate. Given that he informs so many, might it not have been a better idea for him to see exactly what each player brought to the table before passing commentary? And what exactly have they brought to the table?

MSN more productive than BBC?

How have the signings of both Luis Suarez and Neymar benefitted Messi, allowing him to do what he does best? What ingredients have they got that sees their triplet working in a much more productive way than the “BBC” at Real Madrid?

For a start, Neymar has really come into his own this season both individually and as a foil for Messi. Much of the last campaign was, in essence, a fact-finding mission for the Brazilian. Getting used to a new team, new colleagues and a completely different way of working.

We saw a less-confident version of the player we see now, and one who was reticent to drive forward and at the heart of defences, as he was known to do for Santos.

Fast forward a year and aside from his obvious prowess in front of goal, we can pinpoint Neymar’s world class movement as one of the factors behind the success of the partnership. Next time Barcelona play, track Neymar’s runs when Messi is in control of the football. Watch how easily he opens up the pitch for the Argentine to deliver with quite stunning accuracy, those cross-field slightly arched passes.

Stats — The goal scoring charts as it stands till 18 April.

Equally, when Neymar has the ball and bears down on goal, look at just how many opposition players surround him or the areas in which he intends to play. Like honey to a bee, players are drawn thus allowing Messi to find space that would otherwise not be available.

Of course, “Messi-dependence” has been another catch-all phrase that has come to pass in the last few seasons. Neymar has definitely lightened the load in that respect as his 29 goals and five assists, per WhoScored, would denote.

Furthermore, Messi’s meanderings around the pitch, whilst still noticeable, do not extend to the left side in general terms because the Brazilian is trusted to provide the necessary tools in that area.

Suarez the perfect number 9

Suarez’s role is a little simpler to explain. Barcelona have lacked a true “number nine” for some while now. Probably since the departure of Samuel Eto’o. Of course being the player that he is, Messi filled the position but he is not a centre-forward by definition.

The Uruguayan isn’t your archetypal target man but, as he showed at PSG, Suarez brings a presence and a physicality which is much needed in that particular position. His hybrid skill set allows for him to drift down either channel and flex with both other members of Barca’s front line.

When pulling off to the right, it opens up that central channel for Messi to nip into and be decisive. Often coming from a deeper standpoint in the wide right position, Messi’s runs into the box are extremely difficult to track as a result.

For example, against PSG, Maxwell was the designated marker of Messi because of the particular zone (wide right) that the Argentine began the game at.

If Messi started to make a run inside, then Maxwell had a split second decision to make as to whether that run should be tracked. Assuming he did not, then either Marquinhos or David Luiz had to stand tall, but with Suarez causing all sorts of problems, both the Brazilian defenders were left with an impossible choice.

Face up to Messi knowing he could put the ball in behind for Suarez or Neymar, or go with Suarez leaving the gaps for Messi to exploit centrally. If Maxwell tracked Messi’s run, then we saw how he would pop the ball out wide for Montoya to cross.

Watch the above unfold in the second leg, and with Dani Alves added to the mix we’re likely to see a lot more chances created.

After a four-month sabbatical, we are only just seeing the fruits of Suarez’s labour too and he deserves much credit for studying the various facets of Messi’s game and adapting his own to fit. No easy task when you’ve been the main man elsewhere.

With 91 goals and innumerable assists between the three players, all in all it’s been a very satisfying experiment from Barcelona’s point of view.

What will Johan Cruyff say now?

April 24, 2015

Champions League & Europa League semi-final draw and each club’s record in semi-finals|Analysis

The draw for the Champions League and Europa League semi-finals was held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday. In the Champions League, La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid avoided each other with Barcelona drawing Bayern Munich. This will be Pep Guardiola’s first competitive game against his old club.

Serie A champions Juventus were drawn against 10-time Champions League winners Real Madrid. The two Champions League fixtures will be played on 5/6 May (first leg) and 12/13 May (second leg). The winner of the second semi-final will be the home team in the final in Berlin on 6 June 2015.

In the Europa League, the two Seria A clubs avoided each other with Napoli drawing Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk while Sevilla drew Fiorentina. The winner of semi-final 1 (Napoli vs Dnipro) will be the home team in the Europa League final.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS
6 & 12 May	FC Barcelona (ESP)	vs	Bayern Munich (GER)
5 & 13 May	Juventus (ITA)	vs	Real Madrid (ESP)
EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS
7 & 14 May	Napoli	vs	FC Dnipro
7 & 14 May	Sevilla	vs	Fiorentina

**CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL HISTORY**
CLUB	SEMI-FINALS	WON	LOST	TITLES
Bayern Munich	16	10	6	5
Barcelona	14	6	8	4
Juventus	10	7	3	2
Real Madrid	25	13	12	10

**EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL HISTORY**
CLUB	SEMI-FINALS	WON	LOST	TITLES
Sevilla	3	3	0	3
Napoli	2	1	1	1
Fiorentina	6	4	2	0
Dnipro	0	–	–	0

One for the diary: semi-final schedule in full #UCLdraw