Chelsea v Manchester United: A Battle Of Widths - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

According to Castrol EDGE Performance analysis, both Manchester United and Chelsea's wingers have been key to both club's positive play this season, with Antonio Valencia, Nani, Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge all enjoying impressive campaigns.

Zamora and Cissé Can they keep QPR in the Premier League? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Mark Hughes was very active on transfer deadline day, signing ex-Liverpool front man Djibril Cissé from Lazio and re-uniting himself with Bobby Zamora from Fulham. Castrol EDGE Performance analysis shows that with an impressive shooting accuracy of 57% and the ability to create a chance for his teammates every 40 mins, Zamora looks set to play an important role in QPR's battle to avoid relegation.

Arsenal relying on van Persie and midfield strength to beat Manchester United - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

In August Manchester United and Wayne Rooney inflicted a resounding 8-2 defeat on Arsenal, with Rooney netting a hat-trick. However, since then it is Robin van Persie who has lit up the Premier League.

Manchester City Enjoying Home Comforts In Title Race - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Castrol EDGE analysis shows that Manchester City's strength at the Etihad Stadium has been central to their challenge for the Premier League title.

Roberto Mancini's side have won each of their last 15 home league games, a home winning streak only bettered once in Premier League history, by none other than their Manchester rivals United.

Forward-thinking Richards Can Add Attacking Edge To England - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Castrol EDGE performance analysis shows that Manchester City's muscular full-back, Micah Richards, has rediscovered his best form this season, providing his star-studded City side with a potent and creative attacking threat.

Bale living up to the hype for Tottenham - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

According to Castrol EDGE Performance analysis, Gareth Bale has been one of the Premier League's best performers this season, with the Welsh winger both scoring and creating regularly for his high-flying Tottenham side.

El Clasico Stats: The World's Best - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Don't miss Real Madrid v Barcelona, live on ESPN Deportes on Saturday, December 10 at 4PM ET.

According to Castrol EDGE Performance analysis, this weekend's "Clásico" at the Bernabéu will feature the best players in Europe in various disciplines.

Stoke City stats in Europe making direct football work - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

According to Castrol EDGE Performance analysis 34% of Stoke City's attempts on goal in the Europa League this season have been headers.

The English team have been put down for only posing a threat from set pieces and long balls, a view backed up by 14 of Stoke's 41 shots in this season's Europa League being headers.

Stoke City stats in Europe making direct football work - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

According to Castrol EDGE Performance analysis 34% of Stoke City's attempts on goal in the Europa League this season have been headers.

The English team have been put down for only posing a threat from set pieces and long balls, a view backed up by 14 of Stoke's 41 shots in this season's Europa League being headers.

The beautiful game in black and white; the numbers behind 2011-12 campaign - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

In any game of football luck is a key issue in the outcome; refereeing decisions, the bounce of the ball and a lick of paint all have the ability to make or break your team's fortunes in a split second.

In a sport desperate for stars, the two biggest, Beckham and Donovan, play on the same team. They get their second chance at a first title on November 20th at home (They lost their first MLS final to Real Salt Lake two seasons ago).
This match will likely exceed expectations on all fronts; ratings, coverage and sales of paraphernalia.

By Chris Wright

From a home perspective, the good news seems to be that Vicente Del Bosque is going to give some of his 'second string' a run out against England at Wembley on Saturday afternoon. The depressingly bad news being that most of said second string would probably, nay definitely, meander straight into Fabio Capello's first XI.

Alex Ferguson's worst defeats as a manager - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Sir Alex Ferguson has said that the 6-1 defeat to Manchester City was his worst day in football. But is is it his biggest defeat as a manager?

It turns out that this is only the third time (in 2,061 games spread over 37 years) that a team managed by Ferguson has conceded six goals in a game.

Alex Ferguson's worst defeats as a manager - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Sir Alex Ferguson has said that the 6-1 defeat to Manchester City was his worst day in football. But is is it his biggest defeat as a manager?

It turns out that this is only the third time (in 2,061 games spread over 37 years) that a team managed by Ferguson has conceded six goals in a game.

There are bad days, and there are really bad days. Yesterday was one of those days for United and United supporters, with the embarrassment of embarrassments at Old Trafford.

Losing to City is one thing, but losing 6-1 to City, at home no less, and losing to City in the manner that it all unfolded, makes it even harder to swallow.

Football Manager: Advanced Stats, Live Odds and Scouting+ - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Football Manager will be released on 21 October 20112 here's a look at how Miles Jacobson and co. can make the game even better for the millions of football fans who religiously play the game every year.

King, Parker, and Adebayor can help Spurs get back in the Champions League - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Scott Parker has the best passing accuracy in the opposition half in the Premier League this season, completing 88.9% of his 126 passes.

Parker sits on top of a group of 121 players who have made at least 100 passes in the opposition half in 2011/12.

The Need For Advanced Football Stats - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

As a sports fan living in America, you're bombarded with statistics of increasing complexity across every sport except football (or soccer, as the US calls it). Media analysis of football still relies on the same statistics we've seen for years, which are generally cumulative totals.

Stat Attack: The Relentless Cristiano Ronaldo - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Just how 'good' is Cristiano Ronaldo? Earlier we shared news on the 'Cristiano Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit' documentary which subjects CR to a series of innovate tests to measure his performances. But that's still lab testing, off the pitch, not a true measure of a footballer's abilities.

On August 16, 2011 the way we can view the Barclays Premier League changed forever. From background interviews with Opta, the football stats company, we have seen the developments made in statistics technology. With the help of FourFourTwo and Opta,...
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By Wrenny While recently perusing the excellent football stats site whoscored.com I came across some numbers concerning Arsenal's much-maligned left back Gael Clichy which I found intriguing. And I thought Untold readers might be intrigued by them too. Before I begin though I would like to make one thing clear I did not set [.

Barcelona's foul play is hidden away in their exorbitantly high percentage of possession says Andy Simanowitz.

FC Barcelona are widely regarded in football circles as not only the best team in the world but perhaps the best team the world has ever seen. This belief is fuelled not only by the team's unprecedented success on the domestic and European stages but also by the aesthetic qualities of their attacking play.

Barcelona's foul play is hidden away in their exorbitantly high percentage of possession says Andy Simanowitz.

FC Barcelona are widely regarded in football circles as not only the best team in the world but perhaps the best team the world has ever seen. This belief is fuelled not only by the team's unprecedented success on the domestic and European stages but also by the aesthetic qualities of their attacking play.

Bumper goals, international experience and the Scottish Cup 41 Points finished off top place by Blackpool and Birmingham, and were relegated. In 2005 Liverpool finished 37 points adrift, finished fifth (and won Champions League) 2 – Number of teams playing in the Championship next season and in Europe.

Manchester United and Barcelona meet at Wembley on Saturday to battle it out for the mantle of the best side in European club football. Dominant in their domestic leagues, sides laden with international superstars and a track record of success in the competition, the pair have been at the pinnacle for the last decade.

As part of our extensive Barcelona v Manchester United Champions League final coverage on Soccerlens, today we look at key head-to-head stats between the two Champions League finalists.

VAN DER SAR v VALDÉS

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has saved 91% of the shots he has faced this season in the Champions League, a higher ratio than any other ‘keeper.

Wayne Rooney's resurgent goalscoring form in 2011 and his increasingly central role in Manchester United's build-up play means that he is the key man for the Red Devils in the Champions League final at Wembley.

Although Rooney had struggled with injury and off-pitch troubles in the first half of the season, he has gradually proved himself again on the pitch and since the new year has made significant improvements in his performances in a Manchester United shirt.

United at home, RVP and some posh names 41 – Won all 41 games at Old Trafford in the Premier League in which Wayne Rooney has scored 20 – Number of points gained by Spurs from losing positions in the Premier League this season 20 – And after their game against Spurs on Saturday, Sunderland [...

Fortress City Ground, managers tumbling, and goals goals goals 40 – Number of goals in all competitions scored by Lionel Messi this season 43 Number of goals in the Premier League weekend. A record since the league was reduced to 20 teams 1 Newcastle United were the first ever side to come from [.

Out of the top leagues in Europe (Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France), Barcelona have scored the most goals and maintained highest goals per game ratio. They have scored 67 goals in their 21 La Liga games so far this season an average of 3.19 goals per game. Barca have only conceded 11 goals in their matches; roughly one goal every two games.

Arsenal spot on, Spurs need a striker and an expensive window 4 – Number of years since Spurs last lost by four goals. Yesterday was the first time they have done so under Harry Redknapp 14 – Number of penalties awarded to Arsenal in all competitions this season 9 – Goals combined by Jermain Defoe, [.

Darren Bent, return for Liverpool, and a League of Nations 3 Darren Bent has now scored debut goals for three different teams: Charlton, Sunderland and Aston Villa 2 Shots on target in total by Wigan, Stoke and Birmingham 3 Dimitar Berbatov became only the third player to score three hattricks in a [.

Nolan's success, City's second halves and Premier League draws 2 – Not a lot they could have done about it this weekend to be fair, but Liverpool have won two away PL games since December 2009 33 – Shots taken by Raul Meireles before scoring in the Premier League for Liverpool. Before this weekend, he [.

Feed your desires or impress your work colleagues, depending on your level of obsession 15 – QPR have now gone 15 games without a win in the FA Cup. Neil Warnock will be happy to concentrate on the league, but it remains a dreadful record 0 It might have been touch and go for [...]