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Decoding Winning Strategies in the UEFA Champions League 2023 🏆

Winning Strategies in the UEFA Champions League ⚽️

The UEFA Champions League is renowned for its intense competition and breathtaking matches. In this SQL case study, we embark on a journey to unravel the winning strategies employed by teams in the tournament. By examining match data, team formations, goals scored, possession percentages, and more, we aim to gain insights into the factors that contribute to success in the Champions League. Join us as we delve into the world of tactics and analyze the data to uncover the secrets behind triumphant teams and their strategic prowess! ⚔️🔍⚽️

import pandas as pd
MatchupStats = pd.read_csv('form.csv')
MatchupStats

What team formations correlate with the highest number of victories? 🏆

  • Through data analysis, we aim to uncover the team formations that yield the greatest success in the Champions League.
  • This investigation enables us to ascertain whether particular formations, like 4-3-3, 3-5-2, or 4-2-3-1, demonstrate a higher propensity for leading teams to success.
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DataFrameas
df
variable
SELECT Formation, Count(Winner) AS Cnt
FROM
(
SELECT Winner, 
CASE
    WHEN Winner = Home_Team 
    THEN Home_Formation
    WHEN Winner = Away_Team
    THEN Away_Formation
END AS Formation
FROM MatchupStats
WHERE Winner != 'Draw'
)
GROUP BY Formation
ORDER BY Cnt DESC;

How does the selection of formation affect scoring performance? ⚽️

  • By analyzing the relationship between team formations and goals scored, we can assess the impact of tactical setups on offensive efficiency.
  • This inquiry seeks to determine whether specific formations are more favorable for scoring goals, or if there are other factors that play a role in goal-scoring capability.
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DataFrameas
df1
variable
SELECT 
Formation, CAST(SUM(Goals) AS FLOAT) / CAST(COUNT(Formation) AS FLOAT) 
AS TotalGoalsPerMatch
FROM
(
SELECT Home_Formation AS Formation, Home_Goals AS Goals
FROM MatchupStats
UNION ALL
SELECT Away_Formation AS Formation, Away_Goals AS Goals
FROM MatchupStats
) 
GROUP BY Formation
ORDER BY TotalGoalsPerMatch DESC;

Is there a correlation between possession percentage and match outcomes? ⚖️

  • By analyzing possession percentages and match outcomes, we can explore the impact of ball possession on a team's success.
  • This question helps us understand if teams with higher possession percentages are more likely to secure victories or if other factors come into play.
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DataFrameas
df2
variable
SELECT (CAST(COUNT(CASE WHEN poss>50 THEN 1 END) AS FLOAT) /  CAST(COUNT(*) AS FLOAT) * 100)  AS WinPercentWithPossSuper
FROM
(
SELECT Winner, CASE
    WHEN Winner = Home_Team THEN Home_poss
    WHEN Winner = Away_Team THEN Away_poss 
END AS poss
FROM MatchupStats
WHERE Winner != 'Draw'
);

Do certain formations prioritize defensive stability over attacking flair? 🛡️

  • This query investigates whether particular formations lean towards emphasizing defensive solidity over offensive potency.
  • Through scrutinizing the correlation between formations and goals conceded, we aim to pinpoint tactical strategies that excel in preventing goals and upholding a robust defensive framework.
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DataFrameas
df3
variable
SELECT Formation, CAST(SUM(Goals) AS FLOAT) / CAST(COUNT(Formation) AS FLOAT) AS GoalsConcededPerMatch
FROM
(
SELECT Home_Formation AS Formation, Away_Goals AS Goals
FROM MatchupStats
UNION ALL
SELECT Away_Formation AS Formation, Home_Goals AS Goals
FROM MatchupStats
) 
GROUP BY Formation
ORDER BY GoalsConcededPerMatch;

After analyzing the data on team formations in UEFA Champions League matches, several intriguing conclusions emerge:

⚔️ Formations such as 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 (433 and 4231) consistently exhibit a higher number of victories, indicating their effectiveness in securing wins.

⚽️ The 3-2-4-1 (3241) formation demonstrates notable average goal-scoring performance, highlighting its attacking prowess and capacity to create scoring opportunities.

⚖️ Surprisingly, possession dominance doesn't always correlate with higher win percentages, as evidenced by the win percentage when possession is superior.

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