"One of the lessons we learned in last season's Champions League league phase was that there's little sense in playing for draws. Twenty-six teams won at least three of their eight matches, and 24 advanced. Feyenoord lost by scores of 4-0 and 6-1, but advanced with three wins. Club Brugge lost by scores of 3-0, 3-1 and 3-1 and advanced. Hell, three wins for Dinamo Zagreb damn near overcame a 9-2 first-matchday loss to Bayern Munich."
"If Matchday 1 of this year's competition is any indication, teams figured this out, too, because teams were going for it. Sixteen of 18 matches featured at least two goals, and 11 featured at least four. We saw 18 goals after the 80th minute, and it only felt like all those were in the epic 4-4 between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund."
Last season's Champions League league phase showed little sense in playing for draws. Twenty-six teams won at least three of eight matches and 24 advanced; Feyenoord, Club Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb advanced despite heavy defeats. Matchday 1 of the new season featured strong attacking intent: 16 of 18 matches had at least two goals, 11 had at least four, and 18 goals came after the 80th minute, including the 4-4 between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. Single matchdays cannot prove long-term trends, as PSG barely beat Girona and Barcelona lost to Monaco last season. Arsenal beat Athletic Club 2-0 without scoring from a set piece, with long periods of little action followed by a decisive result.
Read at ESPN.com
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