The 555th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post ranks teams in 68 leagues around the world based on their willingness and ability to dictate the game, as measured by 27 key performance indicators (Impect data*) based on current season domestic league matches.

The highest game dictating scores were recorded for two of the UEFA Champions League favorites: Bayern Munich and Barcelona. The two-time defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain, are in fifth place, just behind their partner team, the Portuguese side SC Braga, and the outstanding Norwegians of FK Bodø/Glimt.

In the Premier League, Manchester City leads Tottenham and Arsenal. Currently ranked fourth in the table, Brentford is second to last in terms of game dictating index, which reflects a less dominant and more opportunistic style of play: one that can also pay off. In the Spanish Liga, José Mourinho’s Real Madrid is only fifth.

>>> Access our performance tool here
>>> New Prospect Sheet with Impect : Adri Mehmeti

*These include nine defensive indicators reflecting the level of pressure exerted on opponents (pressure index), nine indicators related to build-up play reflecting the level of control over the game (control index), and nine offensive indicators reflecting the level of collective presence in the attacking zone (occupation index).