Numbers Narrative: Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica

The brand new format of the UEFA Champions League affords one thing unattainable within the earlier format – three consecutive video games in opposition to the identical opponent. Actual Madrid performed Benfica in these video games over the previous few weeks, and eventually the collection is over, with Actual Madrid making it to the spherical of 16, the tough manner, with a 2-1 win at residence, due to objectives from Aurelien Tchouaméni and Vinícius Jr.

For the primary quarter-hour on the Bernabeu, Actual Madrid barely existed as an attacking drive. By the fifteenth minute, Benfica had collected an xT of 1.14 to the hosts’ 0.62, and their 22 touches within the closing third in opposition to 9 strengthened that recreation state. Benfica ran six first-half sequences, two of which have been affected person in nature. Madrid, with seven sequences in the identical interval, was predominantly average in tempo. The guests have been doing the extra deliberate work.

By the half-hour mark, Benfica’s xT had grown to 2.07 in opposition to Madrid’s 0.75. Madrid’s xT rose to 1.46 by the interval, and so they had edged forward in final-third touches 65 to 56. However Benfica nonetheless went into half-time with the extra threatening combination image at 2.25 in xT phrases.

Fredrik Aursnes completed as the best xT-generating participant on the pitch with a price of 1.284. He appeared throughout almost each class: eight progressive passes, six progressive carries, two key passes, three ball recoveries, and 13 final-third touches. Benfica’s most broadly lively participant by a ways.

Trent Alexander-Arnold led all gamers from each side in progressive passes with 14, completed second in xT achieve at 1.194, made three key passes, recovered 5 balls, and collected 65 touches with 17 within the closing third.

Federico Valverde made ten progressive carries, probably the most of any participant within the match, alongside 4 key passes, 12 progressive passes, and an xT achieve of 1.159. Andreas Schjelderup matched him on key passes with 4, added 4 take-ons – the best of anybody on the pitch – and registered 23 final-third touches and 5 progressive carries.

Tomás Araújo made 13 progressive passes from the again, second solely to Alexander-Arnold, and accomplished 90.7 % of his passes with an xT contribution of 0.764. Arda Güler made 11 progressive passes, six progressive carries, 5 recoveries, two take-ons, two key passes, and 16 final-third touches.

Aurélien Tchouaméni led all gamers in touches with 84, the best determine within the match throughout each squads. He accomplished 94 % of his passes, made eight progressive carries – second solely to Valverde – and gained 5 ball recoveries. His long-ball completion sat at 60 %. No participant touched the ball extra usually, and few contributed as persistently throughout each phases of the sport.

Madrid’s 304 touches within the opponent half exceeded Benfica’s 268, and so they accomplished 251 passes within the opponent half to Benfica’s 195. Their staff go completion of 88.9 % sat above Benfica’s 84.5 %, and so they acquired the ball in superior zones 229 occasions to Benfica’s 157. Benfica, nevertheless, made 13 carries into the ultimate third to Madrid’s eight.

Madrid got here out of the interval with significantly extra goal. By the sixtieth minute, their xT had climbed to 2.82 whereas Benfica’s had barely moved to 2.36, and final-third touches stood at 100 in opposition to 68 in Madrid’s favour. The two-1 scoreline was virtually actually settled on this window.

Benfica pushed again within the closing phases. By the ninetieth minute, their xT had risen to five.25 in opposition to Madrid’s 2.95, and final-third touches had equalised at 125 in opposition to 120. Their sequence information after the seventy fifth minute exhibits only one average sequence, in opposition to Madrid’s 4 – two quick, two average – suggesting Benfica have been committing ahead in concentrated bursts whereas Madrid targeted on managing their lead.