I would recommend using insights from training to design game-realistic scenarios. The key is to ensure that players consistently practise under conditions that mimic match situations.
UEFA's analysis unit assess the scoring trends from the league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, with Roy Hodgson drawing some key lessons for coaches.
The inaugural league phase of the witnessed a competition-record rate of 3.26 goals per game, with 470 scored across the 144 matches played.
Barcelona were the highest scorers and Inter had the meanest defence. The most common scoreline was 1-0, and while there were spectacular comebacks, such as on Matchday 7 when Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain overcame two-goal deficits to beat Benfica and Manchester City respectively, the team scoring first won 75% of the time – a rise from the 66% seen last season for the entire campaign.
With the dust settling on the first part of the 2024/25 campaign, UEFA's analysis unit have looked deeper into goalscoring in the league phase – beginning with when the goals were scored.
A breakdown of goal timings shows the most productive period was between 76-90 minutes, when limbs and minds are tired and more space opens up for attackers. There were 87 goals scored in that window and if you add those scored in second half added time (21), it means 23% of all the goals came after the 75th minute.
As for how the goals were scored, 76% of them came from open play. Excluding penalties, the total of set-play goals was 16%, of which 11% were corners (a decrease from last term’s 13%).
The location of the goals, meanwhile, is displayed by this map above and it reflects the fact the vast majority came from inside the box (88%), chiming with the growing trend for fewer shots from outside the box.
Coaches should note that with space at a premium in the elite game, 53% of goals were scored after a single touch Рand several examples from Matchday 7 feature in the video above. The clubs most prominent for their first-touch finishes were Bayer Leverkusen, Paris Saint-Germain and Atl̩tico de Madrid, and as UEFA observer Roy Hodgson explains below, this is a "crucial skill" that players should be practising on the training pitch.
The analysts also looked at the pressure that scorers were under when getting in their shots to score – and this is something else for coaches to work on in training, as Hodgson will elaborate later.
One-third of goals (33%) were scored under high pressure, which is when an opponent is within a 1.5m radius of the shooter. Medium pressure (a 3m radius) accounted for 36% and low pressure (4m or more) for 31%. That pressure could intensify in the knockout rounds when the competitive level gets higher still.
Another talking point from this study was the 6% increase in the number of goals which followed moves that began in the attacking team’s own half, as is illustrated in the graphic above.
One reason could be effective counterattacking play; another could be the ability of teams to exploit the space behind high defensive lines, as seen with one of the goals in the video above, Jhon Durán’s winning strike for Aston Villa against Bayern.
Raphinha's brilliant winning strike at Benfica on Matchday 7 leads the goals featured in the video above, and it concludes with a goal from Atlético's Julián Alvarez, another player with a tally (six) far superior to his xG (2.3).
Barcelona were also among the three most productive sides for set plays with six goals – considerably more than the average of two per team – though PSV Eindhoven were top-ranked in this category with seven goals, which represented 44% of their total scored. The Dutch club had the aerial threat of Luuk de Jong, scorer of two headers at Crvena Zvezda on Matchday 7, though the video below of goals from corners includes a different kind of example by Johan Bakayoko.
As for goals conceded from set plays, Crvena Zvezda and Sparta Praha leaked the most (seven each) while, at the other end of the scale, eight teams did not concede any – including the top two in the league standings, Liverpool and Barcelona.
The final aspect under the microscope is crossing and 27% of goals in the league phase came from crosses. Among the goals scored from crosses, more than half (53%) of those balls came from within the box, as is illustrated by the assist-location map above, with the blue dots in the penalty area displaying the points of delivery of every assist. This reflects the well-established trend in elite football for crosses and cutbacks from inside the box. Meanwhile, to score from crosses, teams got an average of four attackers into the box and this shows the need for midfield players to support the attack – witness Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong in the video below – as well as the opposite wide player, as seen with Atalanta's Ademola Lookman in the opening clip.
ROY HODGSON ON GOALSCORING
How can coaches learn from the goalscoring trends seen in Champions League football? Here UEFA observer Roy Hodgson shares some reflections.
First-touch finishing
Forwards must develop the ability to anticipate and judge where the ball is likely to arrive, positioning themselves accordingly and preparing both physically and mentally. If they attempt to control the ball for too long, defenders will have the opportunity to intervene.
At the highest level, this skill is crucial. Coaches must emphasise the importance of training first-touch finishing, ensuring players can confidently finish with all parts of the body.
Location: Scoring in crowded areas
With the penalty area becoming increasingly congested and defenders improving in their ability to block shots, breaking through has become more challenging. Too many bodies in the way make it difficult to find a clear path to goal.
One of the most effective ways to score in these situations is through cutbacks or low-driven crosses from inside the penalty area. These types of goals are common because when defenders drop deeper to stop traditional crosses, space opens for a well-placed cutback. A first-time finish in these scenarios gives attackers a high chance of scoring before defenders can react.
To capitalise, attackers must position themselves well, getting behind the defence and making decisive movements across defenders. Receiving the ball in a crowded area requires an exceptional piece of movement, allowing the attacker to gain that crucial yard of space. When executed well, this can cause serious problems for the defending team.
The art of movement
Top goalscorers master the art of deception, using their movement to fool defenders. A classic technique involves feinting a run toward the near post before pulling back into space—a move once described as 'one for you, then one for me'. This subtle yet effective movement creates a separation from defenders, providing the perfect opportunity for a clean strike on goal.
Heading and movement
To score from headers, attackers must create space by subtly shifting defenders and gaining that extra yard. Movement is critical — staying static makes it easier for defenders to mark. Even a brief moment of separation, by turning a defender or losing them for a split-second, can be the difference between scoring and missing an opportunity.
Quick finishing in the box
Strikers must develop the habit of taking early shots inside the box and avoiding hesitation. In crowded areas, shooting through bodies may be the only chance to score. Decision-making and confidence in taking these opportunities can often determine the outcome of a match.
Training finishing under pressure
Incorporating opposed finishing into 'phases of play' training is essential. Players must refine their technique and develop the habit of quickly assessing the goalkeeper's position. However, to maximise the benefits of these training scenarios, you need to include defenders. Their role is not always to win the ball but to apply 'mental' pressure, ensuring the attackers experience a more realistic game situation.
Practising receiving the ball behind the defence under pressure – especially from crosses – should involve structured opposition. The aim here is not to overwhelm the attackers but to position defenders realistically while allowing attackers to make different runs. When facing opposition, scoring with the first action is not always possible, reinforcing the importance of adaptability and composure in front of goal.
I would recommend using insights from training to design game-realistic scenarios. The key is to ensure that players consistently practise under conditions that mimic match situations.
