September 30 – Bayern Munich and Barcelona are setting the pace when it comes to actually dictating football matches, according to the latest analysis from the CIES Football Observatory.
CIES’ new ‘game dictating’ index measures teams across three areas – pressure, control and territorial occupation – to build a picture of how much they impose themselves on domestic opponents rather than simply looking at results.
Bayern top both the big-five league ranking and the wider 68-league study with a perfect index score of 100. Vincent Kompany’s side also score the maximum 100 for pressure, alongside 90 for control and 89 for occupation.
Barcelona are not far behind on 97.1, and actually lead Bayern for control and territorial dominance. Their scores of 98 for control and 91 for occupation are the strongest combination among the major European sides, with an 82 pressure rating the only thing keeping them off top spot.
The wider ranking throws up a few less obvious names.
Portuguese side Braga sit third overall on 93.7, helped by scores of 98 for pressure and a perfect 100 for control, while Norway’s Bodø/Glimt are fourth on 92.5.
Defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain follow in fifth on 91.7.
Within the Premier League, Manchester City (who may not be there for much longer) lead the way with an index of 80.1, narrowly ahead of Tottenham on 79.7 and Arsenal on 78.7. Manchester United sit at 77.8, with Liverpool further back on 73.5.
Brentford provide an even better reminder that dominance does not necessarily equal results. Currently fourth in the Premier League, they rank second-bottom among English clubs for the CIES game-dictating index, reflecting a much more opportunistic approach that has clearly worked so far.
The data does not tell you who is best. It does, however, show who is spending the most time making opponents play on their terms.
At the moment, nobody is doing that more consistently than Bayern and Barcelona.
Worldwide ranking (top) and Big 5 ranking (below)
Source: CIES Football Observatory
Click here to see the full report.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at harry.ewing@insideworldfootball.com