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New-look Champions League brings more goals per game and more one-sided wins

Sport

New-look Champions League brings more goals per game and more one-sided wins
Sport

Sport

New-look Champions League brings more goals per game and more one-sided wins

2025-01-30 15:02 Last Updated At:15:12

After a frantic last round of action Wednesday, the inaugural 36-team league phase in Champions League history is over.

Here's a look at some of the numbers that tell the story of how the first season in the new-look format has gone:

The number of games in the 36-team league phase, up from 96 last year in the old 32-team group format.

Goals per game in the new format, up from 3.09 per game in last season's group stage.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy are joint top scorers with nine goals each.

The number of goals scored by Barcelona, six more than any other team in the league phase. Manchester City led the way with last season with 28 goals in its entire Champions League campaign, including knockout games.

Liverpool's winning streak stopped at seven games with a 3-2 loss at PSV Eindhoven. That loss meant there were no unbeaten teams in the league phase. Six teams qualified unbeaten from their groups last season.

The number of games won by a margin of four goals or more. Bayern Munich's 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb on the opening night set the tone as one-sided games were more common. Last year only four group games were won by four goals or more. Having goal difference as the primary tiebreaker — unlike last year — gave stronger teams an incentive to run up the score.

The number of teams from eastern Europe that reached the knockout rounds, despite the expanded format. Clubs from Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine all finished outside the top 24. Zagreb was closest in 25th but missed out on goal difference despite upsetting AC Milan 2-1. No eastern European team has played a Champions League knockout game since Shakhtar Donetsk in 2017-18.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, centre, scores his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk in Dortmund, Germany, Jan. 29, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)

Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, centre, scores his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk in Dortmund, Germany, Jan. 29, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, top, heads the ball next to Atalanta's Isak Hien during a Champions League opening phase soccer between Barcelona and Atalanta match at the Lluis Companys Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, top, heads the ball next to Atalanta's Isak Hien during a Champions League opening phase soccer between Barcelona and Atalanta match at the Lluis Companys Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Brest's Edimilson Fernandes attempts a goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Brest and Real Madrid at Roudourou stadium in Guingamp, France, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Brest's Edimilson Fernandes attempts a goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Brest and Real Madrid at Roudourou stadium in Guingamp, France, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

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Trump says federal government should 'take over' DC, backing congressional GOP push

2025-02-20 11:08 Last Updated At:11:10

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday threw his support behind congressional efforts for a federal takeover of the nation's capital, saying he approves putting the District of Columbia back under direct federal control.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump complained about crime and homelessness in the district, saying, “I think we should take over Washington, D.C. — make it safe.” He added, "I think that we should govern District of Columbia.”

Under terms of the city’s Home Rule authority, Congress already vets all D.C. laws and can outright overturn them. Some congressional Republicans have sought to go further, eroding decades of the city’s limited autonomy and putting it back under direct federal control, as it was at its founding.

Trump said he liked District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser personally, but complained about the city's governance.

“They’re not doing the job,” Trump said. “Too much crime, too much — too many tents on the lawns — these magnificent lawns.”

He argued that he can't have sights of homelessness when he hosts foreign leaders in Washington. “You just can’t let that happen,” Trump said. “You can’t have tents on all your beautiful — your once magnificent plaza and lawns.”

President Donald Trump, followed by Elon Musk, arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md, after returning from Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump, followed by Elon Musk, arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md, after returning from Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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