Records and statistics from the Champions League group stages

Liverpool were the winners of last season's 2019-20 Champions League. Their triumph against Tottenham in the final meant that they are one of this year's favourites to win the competition.

Everything starts with the group stages and there are several footballers and teams that have hit the history books throughout the history of the competition, since the 1992-3 campaign.

Records and Statistics of players

There is no player that has been in more Champions League group stage matches than Iker Casillas. The goalkeeper has played a total of 94 games with Real Madrid and Oporto. The Spanish international is followed by Cristiano Ronaldo (83), with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus and Xavi Hernandez (80), all with Barcelona.

In regards to the biggest goalscorer in the Champions League group stages, Leo Messi takes the crown. The Argentine has scored 66 goals, 5 more than Cristiano Ronaldo (61). Further down the line is Karim Benzema (43).

Cristiano Ronaldo is a player with a hunger for goal, as he has shown in each campaign. But he had a special eye for goal in the group stages of the 2015-16 edition, where scored eleven goals.

If we move to the scoring records in a single game, we must point to Luiz Adriano. The Brazilian scored five goals against BATE Borisov with Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2014-15 season.

Jonas, with Valencia, scored the fastest goal in the history of the Champions League group stages. He did so against Bayer Leverkusen in only 10.96 seconds. On the other hand, Inigo Martinez holds the record for the fastest own goal, upon scoring in his own net with Real Sociedad in 2 minutes and 9 seconds. The fastest hat trick was by Bafemtivi Gomis, with Olympique Lyonnaise against Dinamo Zaghreb in just 8 minutes.

If we go to records by age, Celestine Babayaro became the youngest player to debut, at 16 years and 87 days; while Peter Ofori-Quaye was the earliest scorer, with 17 years and 195 days. The oldest football player was Marco Ballotta, at 43 years and 253 days. A historian like Francesco Totti holds the highest scorer record, with 38 years and 59 days.

Team records and statistics

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona hold the record of participations, with 23 each. However, Madrid have earned more points, with 297, compared to Barcelona's 287; and more goals (333 to 307).

In addition, Madrid is the club that has passed the group stage more times (23), and also consecutively (22). Barcelona, on the other hand, is the team that has come first the most times (17), also consecutively (12).

Milan, Spartak of Moscow, Barcelona and Real Madrid share being victorious in all matches in the group stage, while AEK of Athens completed the entire round with draws.

PSG scored 25 goals in 2017-18 , while BATE Borisov and Legia de Warsaw conceded 24. Milan, Ajax, Juventus, Valencia, Liverpool, Chelsea, United, Monaco, PSG and Barça are the best defence, with only one.

Match Records

The match with the most goals in the history of the Champions League was Borussia Dortmund 8-4 Legia Varsovia, whilst the Besiktas and Malmö conceded the most goals against Liverpool and Real Madrid, respectively (8-0).

The draw with the most goals in the history of the Champions League was experienced twice. First in Hamburg-Juventus and then in Bayer Leverkusen-Rome, both at 4-4.

Country Records

Spain is the country that has been represented the most times in the history of the Champions League group stages. Spanish clubs have aprticipated in the tournament on 91 occasions, three more than English clubs (88) and 13 more than German and Italian clubs (78).

In relation to teams, Germany and Spain hold the record. 13 different teams have participated in the Champions League group stage. Higher than the 10 English, French and Italian ones. 

A total of 22 countries have never been represented in the group stage of the Champions League: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Estonia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Iceland, Latvia, Liet Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, San Marino and Wales.