Why Bayern Munich has been the most entertaining European side to watch in 2013

Entertainment is described in Merriam-Webster as “amusement or diversion provided especially by performers”.

According to this definition, entertainment can be measured by not just one but by several criteria as amusement or diversion can come in several forms.

However, a smaller, perhaps financially constrained, side contesting a historic name of the game does not provide the viewer with the same entertainment as two giants logging heads with each other. This is because, unless both sides are of similar caliber, the superior side tends to dominate or in other words, bully the smaller side.

The competition which comes closest to uniting the best of Europe is of course the UEFA Champions League.

Hence, the first stats compile the results of the UEFA Champions League from 2012-13 and 2013-14 of nine of the best sides in the recent history of the competition.

The first table compares the average number of goals scored by the teams.

EUROPE 2012-13 and 2013-14

This table clearly proves that Bayern scored the highest number of goals on average among the 16 teams which made it past the group stages.

If some teams which exited the group stages in the competition are included, only Chelsea outdid their total; a complete lack of balance in the side however saw the English side sink into the Europa League.

The table on the left has compiled the stats for the same teams from this season’s competition. Bayern is only second to Real Madrid in terms of average number of goals scored. The Bavarians arguably had a tougher group than the side from Madrid in this season’s group stages.

If, hypothetically, all goals were penalties hit down the center in between the keeper’s legs, each goal would seem more common than its predecessor. Therefore, when a team scores different kinds of goals, it is more entertaining. A one-trick pony does not keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

These stats show that aside from Manchester United, Bayern has the most variation in the types of goals they scored. Aiding Bayern’s cause is the fact that United exited the competition after only eight games whereas Bayern played 13 matches and won it of course.

The next table shows the shows that Bayern’s variation has decreased this season in Europe’s major competition. Due to the domination of possession, they are yet to notch up a goal on the counter-attack (even though some of their goals were on the counter, though not perfect ones and are thus not counted). They have scored plenty from set pieces though, with their percentage being the third highest behind PSG and surprisingly, Barcelona. Thus, there is some variation in their play, especially considering the different types of goals they have scored from open play.

The chart on the left provides a good example of balance within a team. Fans do not usually like to watch a side dominate possession all the time unless they play at a breathtaking speed. When teams complete more passes, they are usually more entertaining as they avoid the tag of ‘sloppy’ being put to them. Those passes seize to entertain when they are between the keeper and the defense but that notion is obviously taken away when the team scores lots of goals. Usually, when a team spends more time in the opposition half, they tend to entertain their own fans. Sometimes, they win the grudging admiration of opposition fans too.

Bayern’s possession rate was around the 55% mark which clearly shows that they scored plenty of goals with less possession. Of course, those stats would have been higher had they not demolished Barcelona with such little time on the ball. Dortmund bettered them significantly in this category but BVB’s game is based on the counter-attack, which entertains for about an hour until the team starts to tire.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona all had better pass completion rates than Bayern. Once again, United and Chelsea exited the competition early. Barcelona played plenty of low risk passes as witnessed in the semifinals against Bayern. The Bavarians played high risk football but managed to keep up a good completion rate, proving once again that they can indeed entertain!

Only Barcelona and Chelsea spent more time in the opposition half than Bayern did. Chelsea’s struggles to, at times, break down the opposition saw them exit the competition as did Barca’s. Bayern meanwhile, at only two percent less time in the opposition half, managed to break down defenses more often than not. Fans like to see a tough defensive wall broken down by great mastery as the Bavarians did against Juventus in the quarterfinals.

The same set of stats applied to a chart for the 2013-14 season shows Bayern only had less possession than Barcelona in the group stages. This again shows that Bayern is the most entertaining side as they are showing a completely different face of themselves to the world this season, one that can dominate possession. Their pass completion rate is only behind that of PSG and the Catalan giants. Alongside Barcelona, they have spent most time in the opposition half, and considering the fact that on average, they have scored more goals than Barcelona, they are clearly a more entertaining side to watch.

Finally, these set of stats, comparing both seasons and all nine teams, show that Bayern did not really need too many short passes to score a goal in the 2012-13 season. Only Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Juventus’ numbers are significantly lower than theirs.

Real Madrid also posted lower numbers but not by much. Again, Bayern showed a different face this season, stringing plenty of intricate passes together per goal, namely 653, which is only smaller than Barcelona’s numbers.

BUNDESLIGA 2012-13 and 2013-14

One has to remember that teams play most games in their domestic league rather than in the Champions League. Therefore, an article about entertainment value cannot be ended without a look at stats from the domestic league. The six teams which have been used include Freiburg and Hoffenheim. These two fringe sides have been used mainly for two reasons - Freiburg was the story of the league in 2012-13 when on meager funds, they managed to take up fifth spot, even battling with Schalke for fourth on the final day of the season, while Hoffenheim’s offense has been a breath of fresh air this season.

The tale on the left shows that Bayern was by and far the most exciting side in the league, dominating possession (but not to the extent where the opposition never saw the ball), having the best pass success rate and playing plenty of intricate passes en route to scoring their goals. They were a tad inefficient which added to the entertainment value in closely fought matches; they needed 17.2 shots to finally hit one past the keeper on average.

They also spent more than 30% of matches in the opposition half, a number which only Freiburg came close to matching.

The final table shows that Bayern spent by and far the most time in the opposite half and struck even more passes together per goal (which did initially make them slightly boring due to adjusting to a newer system). However, they have been more inefficient this season, needing 18.6 strikes to finally put one on the board.

This chart demonstrates that the Bavarians have dominated possession to previously unheard of levels (at least in German football) this season. Their passes are astoundingly accurate almost all of the time at 88.9%. In a league which thrives on speed and counter-attacks, this stat shows that Bayern’s football has been coming from a different planet.

In conclusion, Bayern München has entertained fans endlessly by simply showing many different faces in Europe. They have dominated the Bundesliga throughout the year as shown by the stats but more so this season in terms of possession than last. Most will say that they were much more entertaining under Jupp Heynckes but Pep Guardiola’s side has not really done too badly either. Add to the fact that they have played under two different systems throughout the year and have adjusted their tactics to the opposition in tough games more often than not, Bayern München has been the most entertaining side of the current calendar year.