Comparing PSG's 2013-14 Stats to Their 2014-15 Figures
The 2013-14 season was a very good one for Paris Saint-Germain.
Not only did the capital club secure a first-ever Ligue 1 and domestic cup double thanks to their Coupe de la Ligue success, but they also finished with a record-breaking 89 points in Le Championnat and added a second consecutive UEFA Champions League quarterfinal finish.
PSG were thoroughly dominant in France and finished the campaign nine points clear of second-placed AS Monaco, beating Olympique Lyonnais to lift the League Cup and losing to Chelsea on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw in Europe.
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This season, although not as dominant as they were last term, Laurent Blanc’s men could actually enjoy more silverware than they did 12 months ago.
Currently one point clear at the top of Ligue 1 with just seven matches remaining, the defending French champions are also in the final of both domestic cups and have once again reached the last eight of the Champions League.
Their lead at the summit might be a slender one, but if they can keep their position at the top of the pile between now and the end of the season, then double cup success would underline their domestic supremacy.
Less Dominant
Last campaign, PSG racked up 27 wins as well as eight draws and three defeats in Ligue 1. In the Champions League, they topped Group C—finishing three points ahead of Olympiakos with 13—and went out to Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
The French capital outfit won the Coupe de la Ligue and beat every opponent, with extra time only needed once to dispose of AS Saint-Etienne in the round of 16. However, they crashed out of the Coupe de France in the round of 32 after a home defeat to Montpellier HSC.
This time around, although less convincing, they are still top of Le Championnat and have won 17, drawn 11 and lost three to date.
The Champions League group-stage performance was less impressive though, as PSG finished second to Barcelona after a 3-1 defeat at Camp Nou in the second group fixture—despite having the same number of points as last season.
On the other hand, PSG knocked out last season’s conquerors Chelsea on away goals to reach the last eight, and in many ways it is more impressive than last term’s route to the same stage.
In addition to that, Blanc’s men are into both cup finals and have not needed extra time in either the Coupe de la Ligue or the Coupe de France. The improvement in the French Cup this term has been particularly positive.
Defence
One of the main reasons for PSG’s dominance last season was a rock-solid defence. However, this season, Les Parisiens have been more vulnerable at the back.
Last term, the team conceded just 23 goals in Ligue 1, nine in Europe and four in each of the two domestic cups.
This time, they have already shipped 30 goals in Le Championnat, as well as 13 on the continental stage. However, a mere two goals conceded in the Coupe de France and one in the Coupe de la Ligue represent improvement—even if there is one game left to play in each.
So it is a mixed bag. There has clearly been some deterioration in the league and in Europe, likely down to a combination of injuries, the replacement of Alex with David Luiz and the latter’s settling-in process, as well as some complacency and the drop in form of the likes of Gregory van der Wiel.
Just three goals conceded across both domestic cups, compared with eight last last term, is impressive. It perhaps denotes some extra focus in this area, likely a result of the club’s strong desire to win the Coupe de France this season, which is the only remaining domestic silverware that Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) have yet to celebrate winning.
Perhaps the clearest proof of an improvement or regression comes in the number of clean sheets kept by the team over the course of both seasons.
Last campaign, PSG boasted a total of 23 clean sheets. Of those 23, 20 were in Ligue 1, and three were in the Champions League. Blanc’s men failed to make a single shutout in either domestic cup.
This season, Les Parisiens’ current total stands at 18. Of that tally, 11 have been collected in Ligue 1, with two added in the Champions League, another three in the Coupe de France and two more in the Coupe de la Ligue.
These numbers confirm that the team’s defensive performance in Le Championnat has become a cause for concern due to a difference of nine, while their European displays at the back are marginally weaker.
However, Blanc has hammered home the importance of domestic cup supremacy with five more clean sheets this season compared with last.
Attack
PSG scored 84 goals in Ligue 1 alone last season, adding 25 in the Champions League, six in the Coupe de France and nine in the Coupe de la Ligue for a total of 124.
This campaign’s figures pale in comparison, with 58 goals in Le Championnat, 13 in Europe, 13 in the French Cup and five in the League Cup for an overall tally of 89.
Even with seven league games, as well as at least two European and two domestic cup fixtures left this term, that is a sizeable gap of 35.
It is clear that PSG are less clinical in front of goal than they were last season.
Zlatan
One contributing factor towards this is the fact that star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic enjoyed arguably his best season as a professional player, scoring 41 goals over all domestic and European competitions.
The Swede is still Les Parisiens’ most influential player but at present is 17 goals worse off than he was last campaign. Admittedly, there is still some way to go this term, but Ibrahimovic also laid on 11 goals in Ligue 1 alone last season. This time around, he has only managed three in the French top flight.
A combination of those 17 missing goals and fewer assists has created this 35-goal gulf between last season’s PSG and this campaign’s incarnation. However, Ibrahimovic cannot be held responsible for this, especially as he was injured for more than two months.
Instead, the likes of Edinson Cavani must shoulder some of the blame. The Uruguayan has been well below his best in every competition except the Champions League. El Matador is in danger of not even equalling last season’s goal haul of 25 in all competitions.
Cavani currently has 18 goals to his name but has yet to even break into double figures in Ligue 1.
Overall
It is clear from the statistics and figures that PSG are less dominant this season than they were last.
However, looking at the numbers and where the club already find themselves this campaign, they have become more adept at grinding out crucial results to progress further in the cup competitions at home and abroad.
There has been plenty of progress in some key areas such as domestic cup performance, but there has also been some regression too, notably in Ligue 1.
PSG’s style of play has also suffered, even if stats and figures cannot really emphasise this. Aesthetically, Blanc’s men were better to watch last season, and the team has become more predictable this term.
But as mentioned before, Les Parisiens are now more formidable opponents on all fronts and have the potential to ultimately dominate to a greater extent that they did last campaign—especially in France.
Statistics in this piece are thanks to Ligue 1.com, UEFA.com and WhoScored.com.
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