BBC Sport reported that the Champions League has produced its highest goals-per-game rate so far. The 187 goals scored so far have come at an average of 4.16 per game, the highest in Champions League history.
Historic scoring figures
The 4.16 goals-per-game average is also the third highest in European Cup history, behind only 1959-60 at 4.19 and 1955-56 at 4.38.
Matchday totals
40 goals were scored across nine games on Tuesday. The previous Wednesday saw the third highest-scoring day in Champions League history, with 46 goals. The 78 goals scored across the Tuesday and Wednesday of the previous week made matchday two the highest scoring in history. That was nine more than the total scored on matchday one this season, which was 69.
Format changes
For the start of the 2024-25 season, the group stage was replaced with a 36-team league phase, with each side playing eight one-off fixtures instead of six games against three teams. The top eight finishers qualify directly for the knockout stages, with those placed ninth to 24th entering a two-legged play-off stage. The bottom eight are eliminated, meaning that after eight matches, 24 sides are still in the competition.
Reaction
Ashley Young said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Look how many goals have been scored, it's phenomenal. The attackers are being clinical."
Stephen Warnock called it "incredible".
Tom Arnott told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think the entertainment has gone up, although I'm not sure the quality has gone up. If I'm looking at the games it's brilliant to watch and thrilling because the football itself is fantastic - but what do they mean? The lack of jeopardy, why would PSG and Barcelona play for a draw, why not go for it? If you need five wins from the eight games you know you've got some margin there. If you lose it's OK. I think the format allows all the teams to loosen up. The entertainment value is there but I think you come away from these matches sometimes and still think 'what does it all mean?'. The lack of jeopardy early on does deliver entertainment."