Once again against AC Milan, Real Madrid ran less than their opponent, a statistic which is far from trivial.
Match after match, the lack of intensity and movement in Madrid's game is glaring and is reflected in particular in the statistics of kilometers covered by the team during the various matches. Against AC Milan, Real Madrid covered 5 kilometers less than their evening opponent. Same against Borussia Dortmund (5 kilometers less), against Lille (12 kilometers less) and against Stuttgart (8 kilometers less).
“Last year, we were not the first in terms of kilometers traveled and we won the Champions,” Ancelotti explained at a press conference in an attempt to calm things down regarding this recurring problem. To which Carletto added: “I can't say that my players are lost, but it is true that we are not in a position, at the moment, to do effective collective work.”
Indeed, last season, Real Madrid covered an average of 114.6 kilometers (28th team having covered the most kilometers), which did not prevent the Merengue club from winning the Champions League. But, this year, the difference remains considerable since Real Madrid covers 108.36 kilometers on average, or 6 kilometers less than last year.
For comparison, during the 2021-2022 season, Real Madrid lifts the Big Ears Cup with an average of 115.4 kilometers covered, or 7 kilometers more than this season. The following season, in 2022-2023, Real Madrid then covered 109.8 kilometers and had a blank season. That year, Manchester City, winner of the Champions League, covered 116 kilometers, or 7 kilometers more than the Madrilenians.
In addition to the data on distances covered, another Opta statistic is significant for Real Madrid's difficulties this season: pressing actions. Indeed, the Merengue club is one of the teams having carried out the fewest pressure actions in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti's players carried out a total of 1,561 “pressures” including 1,183 at high intensity, figures similar to those of Manchester City, with the difference that the Cityzens have 71% possession on average per match…
