PSG's first-half blitz leaves Guardiola's Etihad return in ruins
Paris Saint-Germain scored three times in 32 first-half minutes and held off a Manchester City fightback led by Erling Haaland to win 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
Data Analysis
Explainers on football metrics, what they measure and where they mislead.
The WSL's Big Four Are Losing Their Grip on the Table
Five matchdays into 2026-27, Arsenal sit tenth and Manchester United are above them as London City and Tottenham push for Europe — Opta's data shows why the hierarchy is wobbling.
Manchester United's Numbers Expose a Pattern Against Ten Men
Opta data examined by The Analyst shows United have repeatedly failed to punish depleted opponents, with Saturday's 1-1 draw against ten-man Tottenham the latest example of a recurring problem.
Pascal Groß, 35, Is Rewriting Brighton's Creative Ceiling
Brighton sit third in the Premier League, and data from The Analyst (Opta) shows the 35-year-old German is still the side's chief chance-creator.
Chelsea's early-goal habit under Xabi Alonso defies easy explanation
Chelsea have raced into early leads all season under Xabi Alonso, and the data shows these aren't simple chances they're converting — they're difficult ones, finished with unusual precision, before the team fades later in games.
Martínez's Investment Complaint Exposes United's Real Problem: The Dead Zone at Left-Back
Lisandro Martínez called for more signings after Manchester United's loss in Madrid, but the data points to one specific position United ignored all summer.
Why the Premier League's club scoring charts are not all strikers
Data from The Analyst shows who leads the all-time Premier League scoring list at every one of the competition's 51 clubs, and the figures reveal as much about role and era as about raw totals.
Why expected goals is not a betting system
xG tells you how good a team's chances were. It does not tell you what the next match will do, and it says nothing about the price a bookmaker is offering. Here is what the number can and cannot carry.
Messi's Argentina Farewell Closes a Career That Rewarded Patience
As Lionel Messi plays his last match for Argentina against Benin, the numbers and history behind his international career show how close his story once came to ending very differently.
Arsenal's goal drought meets Manchester City's perfect record
Arsenal arrive at the Etihad with two goals in four WSL games and a seven-point gap to close, against a City side that has not lost at home in 14 matches.
What Expected Goals Measures, and Where It Misleads
Expected goals is now part of everyday football conversation. Understanding how the metric is built makes it far more useful and far less misunderstood.
PPDA and the Problem of Measuring the Press
Passes allowed per defensive action became a popular shorthand for pressing intensity. It is a useful number, but only if you know what it leaves out.