Paris Saint-Germain smash group stage record
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
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Paris Saint-Germain have smashed the record for most goals in a group stage, plundering 25 in claiming first place in Group B despite losing their final fixture.
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Paris Saint-Germain have smashed the record for most goals in a UEFA Champions League group stage, taking their tally to 25 despite losing their final fixture at Bayern.
Unai Emery's team had set a new mark on matchday five following their 7-1 home win against Celtic, attacking trio Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappé all scoring as the French side recovered from falling behind inside 60 seconds. Having won their earlier outings 5-0, 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0, Paris duly raised their average to 4.8 goals per game in Group B. That figure slipped to 4.17 after the 3-1 defeat in Munich on matchday six, yet their overall 25-goal haul is still four more than any other club have ever managed.
The previous record of 21 belonged to Borussia Dortmund, and Paris have also bettered Napoli's UEFA Europa League best of 22 (though Benfica's 29 goals in the 2015/16 UEFA Youth League remain the record for a six-game UEFA club group).
Most goals in a group
25 Paris Saint-Germain 2017/18
21 Borussia Dortmund 2016/17
20 Manchester United 1998/99
20 Barcelona 2011/12
20 Real Madrid 2013/14
20 Barcelona 2016/17
19 Barcelona 1999/2000
19 Real Madrid 2011/12
19 Real Madrid 2015/16
19 Bayern München 2015/16
Paris nonetheless missed out on another record after losing at Bayern – even if they did at least hold onto top spot in Group B thanks to a superior head-to-record with the Bavarians, with whom they finished level on 15 points.
Striving for perfection
Only six teams had ever won six out of six in a UEFA Champions League group stage. It was a target in Parisian sights after five successive wins in their section, including a 3-0 against Bayern, but they were denied a sixth in Munich. Manchester City (goal difference +10) are still in contention to join this elite band.
100% group stage records
Real Madrid (2011/12) +17 goal difference
Real Madrid (2014/15) +14
Spartak Moskva (1995/96) +11
AC Milan (1992/93) +10
Barcelona (2002/03) +9
Paris Saint-Germain (1994/95) +9
Keep it tight at the back
No side had ever gone through a group stage without conceding, and on matchday five in Paris, Celtic's Moussa Dembélé ensured this statistic stayed intact with a quick-fire strike. The closest any club had come was in 2010/11 when Manchester United lasted until 32 minutes into their final group fixture – and Valencia's Pablo Hernández blotted their copy book. Ten teams have let in only one goal, which was the case for Paris before they shipped three in Germany.
Fewest goals conceded in a group
1 AC Milan 1992/93
1 Ajax 1995/96
1 Juventus 1996/97
1 Juventus 2004/05
1 Chelsea 2005/06
1 Liverpool 2005/06
1 Villarreal 2005/06
1 Manchester United 2010/11
1 Monaco 2014/15
1 Paris Saint-Germain 2015/16