The rich goalscoring form of the Premier League has sensationally transferred to the Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen are proving to be Europe’s most successful club. Gary Lemke highlights a few talking points ahead of the weekend’s football.
GOALS EXTEND TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The goal glut that has been so prevalent in the EPL this season seems to have caught on in Europe. But, which table-toppers score the most goals in the five top leagues? They are Bayer Leverkusen (2.46 goals per game), Arsenal and Internazionale (2.42), PSG (2.32) and Real Madrid (2.2).
Which means that when it came to the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, only one team conceded fewer than two goals – Atletico Madrid (1). Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, Barcelona and Dortmund each leaked two, while Real Madrid and Man City scored three each.
LEVERKUSEN KEEP ON WINNING WAYS
With Bayer Leverkusen beating West Ham 2-0 on Thursday they stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 42 for the season, far and away Europe’s most successful club. However, especially with the Masters on, I’m reminded what the Bayer stands for. Gary Player always says of putting to win a Major. “The hole swells up to the size of a Bayer aspirin”, There seem to be no such headaches in sight for the German club this season.
WHAT’S IN A NUMBER?
Phil Foden, the mercurial Man City midfielder, is being widely touted as a potential winner of the EPL Player of the Year at the end of this season. He has worn seven different numbers for England, but only one with City. He was offered the iconic No10 shirt when Sergio Aguero retired but chose the No47 instead.
It is in tribute to his grandfather, Ronnie, who passed away at the age of 47. “The ten shirt is such a big number, but I just have a thing with 47,” Foden told the media. “I’d like to create my own legacy and keep that number.”
MASTERS DUO GET LEEDS SHIRTS
With golf’s Masters taking place this weekend it’s probably worth noting that two American Ryder Cup teammates, and close friends, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, were handed personalised Leeds United shirts ahead of the year’s first Major.
Both hold small shares in the Championship side, as United States involvement in English club ownership continues to grow. Thomas requested the number 34 on the back, while Spieth asked for 00.
LUFC fans Billy Foster and Jordan Spieth with a Leeds salute in the golf #lufc pic.twitter.com/TUhMqz5HkD
— Jacques (@jacqueslufc) April 16, 2023
WIN A FREE-KICK, THEN SCORE
It was while watching a YouTube replay of Roberto Carlos’ free-kick goal for Brazil in France from 1997 that I thought I’d dive a bit deeper into where it ranks in the pantheon of great free-kicks. It remains No1 for me. And then, the stats kicked in.
According to the Daily Mail – yes, you can get a handful of salt and throw it over your shoulder – the first “known” name is Ronald Koeman (60), followed by Zico and Maradona (62), Cristiano Ronaldo (63), Messi and David Beckham (65), Ronaldinho (66) and Pele (70). But the most, unratified, is Juninho (77), who scored most of his goals for Ligue 1 side Lyon.
The streets won’t forget that roberto Carlos goal
— The Streets won’t forget (@tswfclub) April 12, 2024
pic.twitter.com/L3sF2X8dQh
AI GETS A ‘Z’ FOR FORECASTS
Some of the youngsters reading this can tell me how it works but Artificial Intelligence (AI) has predicted the winners of the Champions League until the year 2103. Hollywoodbets can help me out by giving me odds for 2025, let alone an accumulator until 2102. It’s hard though to expect AI to even get 2025 right – they’ve forecast Man United, who might not even qualify!
Real Madrid are predicted to win another nine, although 13 different clubs are forecast to lift the trophy over the next 16 years. Oh yes, Arsenal won’t win it anytime within the next 93 years. Can someone just stop the planet for me, I’d like to get off.
