The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League group stage saw two contrasting European giants clash: Red Star Belgrade, a Serbian powerhouse steeped in tradition, and Manchester City, a financial juggernaut known for its possession-based dominance. While their recent encounters have been limited to just two matches, the data paints a fascinating picture of their contrasting styles and the tactical chess match that unfolded.This article delves into the key red star belgrade vs man city stats areas that dominated online searches and discussions following their Champions League group stage meetings. We’ll analyze possession, shots, goals, expected goals (xG), clean sheets, and head-to-head win probability to understand the narrative these stats tell.

Possession Battle: City’s Domination, Red Star’s Efficiency

One of the most striking aspects of both encounters was the stark difference in possession statistics. As expected, Manchester City dominated possession in both games.

First Leg (Manchester City): City enjoyed a whopping 67% possession compared to Red Star Belgrade’s 33%.

Second Leg (Red Star Belgrade): Despite playing at home, Red Star still saw less of the ball (43%) with City controlling 57%.

This dominance in possession reflects City’s philosophy under Pep Guardiola – short, intricate passing designed to break down defenses and create scoring opportunities.

However, looking solely at possession doesn’t tell the whole story. Red Star Belgrade, known for their resolute defense and quick counter-attacks, utilized their limited possession effectively.

Shooting the Lights Out: City’s Firepower vs. Red Star’s Efficiency

While City enjoyed far more possession, the number of shots taken wasn’t vastly different across the two matches.

First Leg (Manchester City): City registered 8 shots compared to Red Star Belgrade’s 10.

Second Leg (Red Star Belgrade): This followed a similar pattern, with Red Star taking 7 shots and City managing 8.

This suggests that Red Star were more clinical with their limited opportunities, focusing on creating high-quality chances rather than racking up a high shot count.

Goals Scored: City’s Clinical Finishing vs. Red Star’s Punches

The goalscoring statistics paint a clearer picture of City’s attacking prowess.

First Leg (Manchester City): City emerged victorious with a 3-1 win.

Second Leg (Red Star Belgrade): City edged out Red Star again, winning 2-3.

Despite having fewer shots in both games, City’s superior finishing saw them score more goals. This highlights the efficiency of their attack, particularly with players like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland known for their clinical finishing.

Expected Goals (xG): Unveiling the Underlying Story

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric that analyzes the quality of a chance and the likelihood of it resulting in a goal. Here’s how the xG compares:

First Leg (Manchester City): City had a higher xG of 2.81 compared to Red Star Belgrade’s 2.64.

Second Leg (Red Star Belgrade): City again had a higher xG of 2.37 compared to Red Star Belgrade’s 0.8.

While the goals scored paint a clear picture, xG suggests that both games could have been even closer. City did create more high-quality chances throughout both encounters, but Red Star were also dangerous on the counter-attack, as evidenced by their xG figures.

Clean Sheets and Defensive Stability

Keeping clean sheets signifies a team’s defensive solidity. Here’s how both teams fared:

First Leg (Manchester City): City failed to keep a clean sheet, conceding one goal to Red Star Belgrade.

Second Leg (Red Star Belgrade): Red Star also conceded two goals, meaning neither side managed a clean sheet across both legs.

This suggests that while both teams have strong defenses, vulnerabilities exist. City’s high defensive line can be exposed on the counter, while Red Star’s resolute approach can sometimes leave them susceptible to sustained pressure.

Win Probability: Pre-Match Predictions vs. Reality

Online searches often delve into pre-match win probabilities. Here’s how they stacked up against the actual results:

First Leg (Manchester City): Sports Mole and other data analysis platforms predicted a high win probability for City (around 70%), which aligned with the final result.

Second Leg (Red Star Belgrade): The prediction for the second leg was more balanced, with City having a slight edge (around 55%). This again aligns with City’s narrow 2-3 victory.

FAQs

Q: How many times have Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City played each other?

A: Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City have only met once in a competitive match, which took place on December 13, 2023, in the Champions League group stage.

Q: Who won the last match between Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City?

A: Manchester City won the last match against Red Star Belgrade with a score of 3-1.

Q: What is the head-to-head record between Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City?

A: Manchester City dominates the head-to-head record, winning 1 out of 1 matches played. Red Star Belgrade has not been able to secure a win or a draw against Manchester City so far.

Q: Where can I find detailed stats for the last match between Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City?

A: Several websites offer detailed statistics for the last match between these two teams. Some reliable sources include:

UEFA official website: https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2039190–man-city-vs-crvena-zvezda/

FootyStats: https://footystats.org/europe/red-star-belgrade-vs-manchester-city-fc-h2h-stats

Sports Mole: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/champions-league/man-city-vs-red-star-belgrade_game_191514.html (Match report with pre-match predictions)

Q: How did possession and shots on target compare between the two teams?

A: Manchester City dominated possession with 67% compared to Red Star Belgrade’s 33%. Despite having fewer shots on target (8 vs 10), Manchester City were more clinical with their finishing.

Q: Did either team receive many cards in the last match?

A: The match was relatively clean with Red Star Belgrade receiving 3 yellow cards and Manchester City receiving only 1.

Q: Are there any expected upcoming matches between Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City?

A: As of today, July 9, 2024, there are no scheduled matches between these two teams. The fixture schedule for future Champions League seasons is usually released in the summer.

Q: Where can I find future fixtures between Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City?

A: You can check the official websites of both clubs or UEFA for their upcoming fixtures. Additionally, reputable sports news websites will often publish fixture lists and schedules.

Q: Can I watch highlights of the last match between Red Star Belgrade and Manchester City?

A: Highlights of the match might be available on the official YouTube channels of Red Star Belgrade, Manchester City, or UEFA. You can also search for them on sports news websites or video platforms.

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