The verdict on the new Champions League format still seems to hang in the balance. However, the new format has led to a record number of goals being scored in the group stage. According to the numbers put together by Sportscasting.com, participating teams have scored an average of 3.21 goals per game in the group stage. This scoring rate is the highest in the tournament over the past decade.
347 goals in 108 games so far this season
The UEFA Champions League is arguably the biggest and most prestigious competition in club football. The competition has adopted a new format in 2024-25, and it’s only natural that this new format has dominated football headlines this season. The new format consists of 36 teams, rather than 32, and each team gets to play eight games, rather than six, in the group stage.
Following the conclusion of the first six rounds of the current tournament, we decided to compare the goal-scoring rates in the group stage of the last ten editions of the tournament. Our analysis reveals that the new group format’s goal-scoring rate has increased compared to the past editions.
So far this season, after six rounds, teams have scored 347 goals in 108 games at the rate of 3.21 goals per game. As things stand, the current rate is the highest in the past decade of the tournament.
Barcelona have been the biggest contributor to the goal-scoring charts so far, with 21 goals in six games. The Catalans are followed by two German giants, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, with 18 and 17 goals, respectively.
Last season, the goal-scoring rate was 3.08 goals per game. In some seasons during the past decade, such as 2019-20, 2017-18, and 2022-23, the scoring rate was close to current levels, but it never managed to touch 3.21 goals per game.
The final two rounds of the group stage are scheduled to be played in January, and one can expect teams to play an even riskier brand of football as competition for direct eight spots to the knockouts heats up.
