Top Speed: Champions League

In modern football, speed is everything. With overlapping full backs, high press & counter attacking football being in fashion in today’s game it’s important that every player in every position has a rapid turn of pace and a high top speed in order to keep up with their opposite number. With Europe’s elite competition coming to an end we take a look at the top performers from each semi-final to answer the question of speed.

Real Madrid Vs Chelsea

Finishing at 1-1 Chelsea would have been the happier of the two teams with N’Golo Kante running the game in the middle. He and Jorginho comfortably ran more than any player in the game racking up over 10km. But what about speed?

For Real Madrid surprisingly it was a defensive trio who took their top 3 spots. Spaniard Nacho and Brazilian pair Casimero & Eder Militao were the quickest on the pitch for Real which is perhaps a sign of Chelsea being on top for much of the game. Nacho reached a top speed of 31.3 km/h and this was matched by Eder Militao. Casemiro in third place reached a top speed of 30.6 km/h. The trio were followed by the more attacking teammates of Vinicius Junior at 30.4 km/h and Benzema who, not only cannot stop scoring but is also one of the quickest in the team at 29.9 km/h.

The Chelsea team however featured the quickest player on the pitch. With several speed merchants up front in Ziyech, Havertz, Werner & Pulisic it was bound to be one of those but clocking in 32.2 km/h it was the German substitute Kai Havertz who was on the pitch less than 30 minutes. Chelsea also featured a speedy defensive player with Andreas Christensen reaching over 30.2 km/h and Mount, Werner and Rudiger all coming in over 29 km/h.

With the tie tightly poised, the return leg will be an interesting one and with more on the line perhaps there will be quicker speeds recorded.

Man City Vs Paris St Germain

It’s difficult to say this is the glamour tie of the round with Real Madrid the other side of the draw but with Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria Vs a Pep Guardiola team with De Bruyne and Foden on fire it had it all. The first leg was decided by a couple of shakey moments from PSG keeper Keylor Navas and the PSG wall but in terms of top speed it featured the quickest player between the two semi finals.

If you put speed and PSG together the answer is normally Mbappe. However, he was only second on the list for PSG coming in at 30.6 km/h which is perhaps a sign of how City managed to come out of the tie with a win. PSG’s quickest player was the Argentinian Angel Di Maria who reached a top speed of 31.7 km/h. Bakker, goal scorer Marquinhos and Neymar made up the rest of the top 5.

Phil Foden seems to be the star of the show at the minute for both Man City and the hope of England fans for the upcoming Euros and he surprisingly beat Kyle Walker to the top spot of fastest player on the pitch over the two semi finals clocking in a speed 33.2 km/h. Walker came in at 32.4 however in the Quarter Final second leg against Borussia Dortmund he managed to top out at 34 km/h. Likely an outcome from being more defensive minded against PSG’s attacking trio. De Bruyne and defensive duo John Stones and Ruben Dias made up the rest.

What’s with all the speed stats?

Well, now you know how quick the pros are you can give it a go yourself by using the free Maestro Football Challenges app. Download our iPhone app or head over to our Max Speed challenge to take part and see how you compare against other players and the pros. Simply use the timer to record a player running from the start of the 18 yard box to the goal line to calculate their top speed.

Fastest wins. Go!