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5 Surprising Stats From 2015 - Feat. German Penalty Woes & Goal Shy Spaniards

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As is often the case when a season ends, statistics begin circulating in the media that heap praise on teams and players worthy of recognition. Strikers with exceptional goalscoring records are congratulated, highlighting a strike ratio unsurpassed by Europe’s elite. Midfield tricksters are commended, with figures revealing their ability to beat opposing players time and time again. And metronomic playmakers, able to effortlessly control proceedings with an air of authority, are applauded having achieved a considerable number of completed passes.

That’s great. These players make football the beautiful game it is. But sometimes it’s fun to dig deeper, separating the wheat from the chaff in order to focus on the players and teams who achieved less glamorous records. Achievements that often fly under the radar, even though their impact on success and failure are equally as important.

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We have handpicked five of these beauties for your perusal. Five uncommon statistics from the 2014-15 campaign throughout Europe’s top-5 leagues, which you may very well be unaware of. Feel free to chuck these out next time you are at the pub with your mates, they can thank us later.

Unlucky Lekic

Dejan Lekic had the worst pass accuracy of any outfield player to make more than 10 appearances last season. The forward, competing in his debut season at Eibar in Spain’s La Liga, made 18 appearances in total (17 from the substitutes bench), clocking up 384 minutes of football. In that time, the Serbia international only managed to complete 50% of attempted passes.

Lekic’s abysmal pass accuracy in all its glory.

It was recently announced, as reported by Sky Sports, that Eibar would stay in the top-flight of Spanish football even though they finished in 18th place. The reason for their reprieve is the demotion of 13th placed Elche, who dropped into the Segunda Division due to “unpaid debts to the tax authorities.” With zero goals scored and such an abysmal display of inaccurate passing (predominantly headers), Lekic will hope of a similar reprieve from his club this summer.

Misfiring Cordoba

With an unsatisfactory tally of just 22 goals, Cordoba finished the last campaign with the undesirable record of scoring the fewest goals throughout Europe’s top-5 leagues.

Cordoba will hope for a better time in front of goal next season.

Mexican midfielder Ulises Davila, formerly of Chelsea, scored the decisive goal a year ago to grant Cordoba promotion to La Liga for the first time in 42 years. Needless to say, however, their total of 22 goals wasn’t enough to survive the drop, picking up just three wins from 38 matches.

Their fans will hope that they won’t have to wait another four decades to taste top-flight football once more.

Penalty Nightmares

In his debut season at Ligue 1 side Caen, Remy Vercoutre faced a whopping 15 penalties (six more than any other goalkeeper) in 38 matches – a penalty every 2.5 games. However, the 34-year-old had to pick the ball out of the back of the net 12 times having only saved 20% of penalties faced.

Vercoutre was the last line of defence from the spot 15 times.

I’m sure that Vercoutre, formerly of Lyon, would have hoped for an easier time of things at his new club. Oh well, there’s always next season.

Leverkusen’s 12-yard Curse

In recent memory, German football has been synonymous with well taken penalties, as many opposing managers unfortunate to have faced their prowess from 12 yards will surely testify. Germany, penalty, goal. That’s just how it is.

Not for Bayer Leverkusen though, oh no.

Leverkusen didn’t score a single penalty in the Bundesliga last season.

Leverkusen were the only team not to score a penalty throughout Europe’s top-5 leagues last season. Not one! To make matters worse, justifying my curse titled subheading, Leverkusen also lost 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout against Atletico Madrid (Stefan Kiessling missing the decisive kick) in the Champions League Round of 16, even though Atletico had lost all three previous penalty shootouts in European football.

Fair Play, Klopp

After seven years at Borussia Dortmund, it is time for Jurgen Klopp to say goodbye to a club that he holds dear to his heart. The club’s slogan, “echte liebe” – or “true love” – says it all. The “Yellow Wall”, a sea of passionate Dortmund fans each draped in yellow and black scarves and shirts, waving flags barely visible through circulating smoke, have shown their appreciation for their manager for close to decade. And in return, Klopp has embraced their affection.

Klopp’s Dortmund played a full league campaign without collecting a red card.

But it’s not just in the stands and dugout where amity was shown last season. Dortmund were the only team from Europe’s top-5 leagues not to pick up a red card.

The post Five surprising stats from 2014-15 that you may be unaware of appeared first on Squawka News.


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