Data drop: Everything you need to know about the Champions League round of 16

Champions League football is back as the first round of knockout ties take centre stage.

Ahead of several mouth-watering fixtures, we have delved into the Twenty3 Toolbox to analyse the key stats and the players that could make the difference.

FC København vs Manchester City (Tuesday, 13th February, 8pm)

• FC København won more than twice as many aerial duels (99) as their upcoming opponents (44) in the Champions League group stages.
• Unsurprisingly, Pep Guardiola’s men have averaged a tournament-leading 69.6% possession — the next most dominant side is PSG with 60.2%.
• Lukas Lerager is the hosts’ most dangerous attacker, with three goals and one assist to his name from six appearances.
• No side has attempted (57) or completed (55) more key passes than the Citizens.
• Erling Haaland has scored five goals from five appearances in the competition and has the most non-penalty shots on target (14).

RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid (Tuesday, 13th February, 8pm)

• RB Leipzig have overperformed their expected goals total by 4.94 — no team from the group stages had a bigger margin of efficiency.
• Real Madrid, though, have found the back of the net more times (16 versus 13) than the German outfit.
• Marco Rose’s side typically take a front-footed approach defensively, attempting more than twice as many pressing duels (377) as Real (172).
• Los Blancos are among the best-performing attacking teams in the Champions League, having recorded 83 shot assists.
• Jude Bellingham has been central for the visitors, leading the team in goals (four), passes received (303) and progressive runs (20).

PSG vs Real Sociedad (Wednesday, 14th February, 8pm)

• PSG look to combine in attack when attempting to break teams down — as a result, they average more link-up plays per 90 minutes (20.83) than any other Champions League team.
• However, Real Sociedad are solid defensively, keeping four clean sheets and averaging just 0.72 xG conceded per 90 — only City allowed less in the group stages.
• Luis Enrique’s side will need to improve their finishing having so far underperformed their xG by 4.89 — only Milan have been worse (4.96).
• Two of Kylian Mbappe’s three goals in the tournament have come from the penalty spot, and the Frenchman has the most touches in the opposition box (50).

Lazio vs Bayern Munich (Wednesday, 14th February, 8pm)

• Bayern Munich have outscored Lazio with 12 goals to seven in the 2023-24 Champions League.
• I Biancocelesti look to create chances in behind defences, registering more successful through balls (15) than the visitors (nine).
• The German champions have been more dangerous when counterattacking, with their 1.42 xG on the break bettered by only one other team in the competition.
• Still, Lazio are astute defensively, with a better xG conceded than Bayern (6.92 vs 7.33).

PSV vs Dortmund (Tuesday, 20th February, 8pm)

• PSV scored one more goal than Dortmund (eight vs seven) and there was little to split the two in xG (8.17 vs 8.34) during the group-stages.
• The Yellow Wall have been superior in defence, keeping more clean sheets (three to one) and conceding far fewer goals (three to 10).
• PSV play with a real freedom in attack, particularly winger Johan Bakayoko, who has completed 27 of his 50 dribble attempts.
• Dortmund take a ball-playing approach, with 76 link-up plays completed so far this season in the Champions League.

Inter vs Atletico Madrid (Tuesday, 20th February, 8pm)

• Atletico Madrid have been far more potent in attack than Inter, scoring more than twice as many goals in the group stages (17 vs eight), despite having a worse xG (10.15 vs 11.25).
• Three of the hosts’ goals have come from the penalty spot — joint-most with Manchester City.
• The two teams have been equally effective defensively, with Inter keeping just one more clean sheet and conceding one fewer non-penalty efforts (60 vs 61).
• Antoine Griezmann is Atletico’s chief goal threat, with five to his name in the Champions League so far.

Porto vs Arsenal (Wednesday, 21st February, 8pm)

• Arsenal scored one goal more than Porto (16 vs 15) in their respective groups, with both teams outperforming their xG of 12.16 and 12.03.
• The Gunners have been among the best-performing teams defensively, keeping three clean sheets and allowing just four non-penalty goals.
• Meanwhile, Sérgio Conceição’s side have proved adept at breaking teams down, registering the fifth-most successful ‘intelligent’ passes in the Champions League (14).
• Gabriel Jesus (0.46) and Bukayo Saka (0.45) are first and second respectively for expected assists per 90.
• Galeno has been Porto’s key man offensively, scoring four and registering three assists in just five appearances.

Napoli vs Barcelona (Wednesday, 21st February, 8pm)

• Barcelona typically dominate possession under Xavi, averaging 534.17 successful passes per 90, sixth-most in the competition.
• However, Napoli rank fourth for dangerous ball recoveries in the opposition’s half (41) — often forcing their opponents into fatal mistakes.
• Barca use wide areas to consistently provide deliveries into the box and have attempted 118 crosses, with 39 finding their target.
• İlkay Gündoğan is the Spanish champions’ key creator with three assists to his name so far.

All graphics in this article were produced with the Twenty3 Toolbox. For more information, please get in touch below.