What are the key metrics of the Classic?

Mediacoach, LaLiga’s advanced statistics platform, has taken advantage of the El Clásico dispute this Saturday night between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, ​​to analyze the state of the two teams and shed light on the keys that can make the difference.

According to LaLiga, this tool collects more than 3.5 million data obtained per match thanks to the 16 optical tracking cameras and 3 tactical cameras in each LaLiga stadium and some of its technical services use ‘Machine’ technology. Learning’ and artificial intelligence from ‘Microsoft Azure’, such as the developments of the ‘Beyond Stats’ project.

The Santiago Bernabéu will be the scene of this match where FC Barcelona will try to maintain or expand its three-point distance in the lead over Real Madrid, in a clash that focuses a lot of attention on the attacking potential of both teams.

In this sense, with regard to the offensive phase, the biggest difference between the two is in their ability to convert their chances into goals. FC Barcelona arrives at the Clásico with the best LaLiga EA Sports ratio in chances materialization and the statistics show that it needs five shots to score a goal, compared to the eight that Real Madrid need.

These statistics are also appreciated at an individual level and the 12 goals that Robert Lewandowski has already scored are a good reflection of this, double that of Kylian Mbappé, despite having made fewer shots than the Frenchman. And the Pole’s precision means that 30 percent of his shots end in a goal compared to the Real Madrid player’s 14 percent.

At a style level, both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are being the most dominant teams with the ball in the competition, they are in the ‘Top 3’ of the championship in possession ratio, game initiative, passes per possession and pace of circulation, while at a defensive level, the main difference lies in the ability to recover the ball quickly.

Thus, Real Madrid is eighth in the ranking of recovery rate compared to the first position held by FC Barcelona, ​​which is recovering much closer to the rival goal and faster. This fact is allowing the culés to be the one that receives the fewest shots, although, on the contrary, the meringues have consolidated themselves as the one that is blocking the most percentages of shots (leader in this metric in the competition compared to the 13th place occupied by FCB) and averaging more stops than Hansi Flick’s, who are 16th.

Regarding the game system and positional aspects, both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are high block teams, they are 2nd and 1st in the League in height of their block, respectively, and in height of defensive line. The difference is in the depth of their block, since the Blaugrana attack very close together, preparing well for the moment of pressuring the loss of the ball, while the Madridista is one of the longest teams in the competition, more accustomed to attacking space and depth with their attackers.

Focusing on the context and the type of goals, Real Madrid has conceded 6 of its 7 goals in the second half of its matches, with 3 starting in the 75th minute, being the team in the competition with the highest percentage of goals conceded in the second times. The same thing is happening to him at the scoring level, he has scored 16 of his 21 goals in the second half, being the second most scored after the break.

For its part, FC Barcelona has only started by losing 30 percent of its games and in all the ones it went ahead, it also ended up winning, something that does not happen to its rival, which has only won six games out of the eight in the that opened the scoring.

At the player level, Kylian Mbappé is the one who has scored the most in LaLiga EA Sports, although Robert Lewandowski is the one who has scored the most on goal, ahead of the Frenchman, who is also the fourth best dribbler and is in the ‘Top 5’ in high-impact actions. For his part, Fede Valverde is the top rebounder in total and in the opponent’s field, the second midfielder with the most shots and the first with the most shots on goal, and Rodrygo, absent tonight due to injury, and Vinícius are ‘Top 3’ of maximums passers in the final third, with Valverde and Mbappé in the ‘Top 10’.

At FC Barcelona, ​​for his part, Raphinha, who has participated in 9 goals (5 goals + 4 assists) directly, is the player with the most high-impact actions in the domestic championship. The Brazilian is the one who has given the most shot assists and the third highest center scorer in the competition, and only Mbappé and Lewandowski surpass him with more shots and more shots on goal. Lamine Yamal is the top assist in LaLiga EA Sports (6), having participated in 10 goals and having already equaled last season’s figure, being the second top dribbler behind Sevilla’s Chidera Ejuke and ‘Top 3’ in shot assists .