I appreciate the effort. Real's isn't that surprising to me but I am surprised to see Bayern this evenly balanced. But then again, it's only since 2013 that Bayern became obsessed with a certain possession style of play.
So, we need to win/draw CL KO away games. How do you think we go about doing this? It can't be solely the managers because this is a trend under all managers (with a couple of exceptions like the golden Pep years and Lucho's 14-15 and maybe Frank's 05-06) and I find it difficult to believe that the players Barca buys/raises come with a mentality to crumble in away CL games.
Look, I have been saying for years, and I am mad at Barca for 20-30 years already due to horrible CL performances.
In the past, I thought that our problem is a weak physique because we were since always bullied, outmuscled, outjumped and outran on away matches since 90s.
But now, when you guys are pushing me to check more numbers, imo, maybe our failures are a mix of:
1. our style is too attacking and is the most suitable: at home matches and against minor teams (La Liga).
But it is often suicidal against 50:50 sides in Europe who play more physical and cautious than us.
2. weak physique for away CL matches
3. low height against corners and crosses on away CL matches (Griezmann header 2016, Juve corner for 3:0 in 2017, Roma corner in 2018 for 3:9, Liverpool headers and corners for 3:0 and 4:0 in 2019).
4. a lack of leaders
5. poor mental strength in away matches
Also, maybe THIS is the answer WHY we have won with Rijkaard.
He has actually moved away from our classical style and he played more cautious in a CL.
We weren't all out attacking Barca, but more like an Italian Barca.
Remember that he played with a CB Oleguer as a RB in 2006.
And our midfielders were workhorses Edmilson, Motta, Van Bommel and Deco. 3 out of 4 picks were tall and strong workhorses.
Plus, we had a good defense and more aerial strength than today.
Also, isn't it logical: if we are the best team at home, that our only duty is to=NOT to lose away from home.
That's all you have to do.
Now, another interesting stat.
Look at Pep and his CL KO results:
Barca Pep:
2009:
1/8: Lyon A1:1, 5:2
1/4: Bayern 4:0, A1:1
1/2: Chelsea 0:0, A1:1
2010:
1/8: Stuttgart A1:1, 4:0
1/4: Arsenal A2:2, 4:1
1/2: Inter A1:3, 1:0
2011:
1/8: Arsenal A1:2, 3:1
1/4: Shakhtar 5:1, A1:0
1/2: Real A2:0, 1:1
2012:
1/8: Leverkusen A3:1, 7:1
1/4: Milan A0:0, 3:1
1/2: Chelsea A0:1, 2:2
Home: 9-3-0, 39:10
Away: 3-6-3, 14:13
Bayern Pep:
2014: Arsenal A2:0, 1:1
Man Utd A1:1, 3:1
Real A0:1, 0:4
2015: Shakthtar A0:0, 7:0
Porto A1:3, 6:1
Barca A0:3, 3:2
2016: Juve A2:2, 4:2
Benfica 1:0, A2:2
Atletico A0:1, 2:1
Home: 7-1-1, 27:12
Away: 1-4-4, 8:13
Man City Pep:
2017: Monaco 5:3, A1:3
2018: Basel A4:0, 1:2
Liverpool A0:3, 1:2
2019: Schalke A3:2, 7:0
Tott A0:1, 4:3
Home: 3-0-2, 18:10
Away: 2-0-3, 8:9
Pep's career TOTAL:
Home: 19-4-3 (26 matches in total), 84:32
Away: 6-10-10, 30:35
Just as I have expected: a father of our football, Pep has similarly horribly numbers to Barca:
He is a GOAT at home and a paper tiger on away matches.
Look at Pep's TOTAL stats in CL KO matches (I will compare his numbers to Barca, Real and Bayern):
Percentage of wins at home:
76% Barca
73% Pep
67% Bayern
64% Real
Percentage of wins away:
46% Real
41% Bayern
28% Barca
23% Pep
Defeats at home:
3% Barca
12% Pep
21% Real
22% Bayern
Defeats away:
41% Barca
38% Pep
37% Bayern
36% Real
Goals scored per match at home:
3,23 Pep
2,83 Barca
2,67 Bayern
2,18 Real
Goals scored per match away:
1,70 Bayern
1,57 Real
1,15 Pep
1,00 Barca
Goals conceded per match at home:
0,72 Barca
1,07 Real
1,11 Bayern
1,23 Pep
Goals conceded per match away:
1,52 Barca
1,35 Pep
1,33 Bayern
1,21 Real
Percentage of wins at home vs away:
73:23% Pep (50 points difference)
76:28% Barca (48 points difference)
67:41% Bayern (26 points difference)
64:46% Real (18 points difference)
Goals scored per match at home vs away:
3,23:1,15 Pep (2,08 goals per match difference)
2,83:1,00 Barca (1,83 goals per match difference)
2,67:1,70 Bayern (0,97 goals per match difference)
2,18:1,57 Real (0,61 goals per match difference)
Goals conceded per match away vs home:
1,52:0,72 Barca (0,80 goals per match difference)
1,33:1,11 Bayern (0,22 goals per match difference)
1,21:1,07 Real (0,14 goals per match difference)
1,23:1,35 Pep (0,12 goals per match difference)
Since Barca and Pep haev similar numbers, we could say that we have a pattern and that "something" related BOTH to Barca and Pep is causing=awesome results at home and horrible results away.
And that "something" is=TikiTaka or our possession/too attacking style of play.
These stats could also explain a mystery:
1. why is Barca winning La Ligas all the time, but struggles in a CL
2. and why is Real struggling in La Liga, but is superior in CL matches
The answer is=it seems that Pep's and Barca's DNA style is the best style for HOME matches and for matches against weaker teams (La Liga teams, EPL teams), where we are winning due to attacking play against inferior teams.
While Real Madrid's game is not as attacking and more often they struggle to beat weaker opponents and thus=we are winning La Ligas.
In a CL, on the other hand, our too attacking (and naive approach) in away CL matches is often resulting in heavy 0:3 and 0:4 defeats.
While Real's more cautious play is a better option for 50:50 CL KO matches.
Also, my feeling was always that Barca style of play is just NOT good enough for a CL level and that we could win only when we have a crazy generation or luck/a perfect season.
Whenever any problem occurs, we are dead and KOd.
From 1992 to 2006, we were losing for 14 years in a row with our classical style.
We won a CL in 2006 only when Rijkaard turned to an Italian tactical football mixed with Barca's DNA.
Lucho also won a CL in 2015 when he actually moved away from our classical play.
In that season, Lucho (the same as Rijkaard) had a strong defense, and gave up from too much attacking and gave up on possession.
So:
1. our style is GOAT for La Liga
2. for group stage of a CL
3. and for HOME CL KO matches
On away KO matches:
= we will need to move away from our Pep's style
.
