New data from the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season has revealed which teams are the quickest to strike and the most likely to score in the dying moments of a game. The research, conducted by iGaming experts at Betmaster, analysed goal times across all teams in the competition’s league phase, calculating both the average first goal time and the percentage of goals scored in the first and last 15 minutes of matches.
The findings show that Bologna FC 1909 leads the pack when it comes to early-game strikes. During the 2023/24 season, the Italian side netted 18.52% of their total goals within the first 15 minutes of play. Of their 54 goals scored in all competitions, 10 came during this period, with their average first goal coming in the 28th minute.
Bologna’s fast start is closely followed by FC Bayern Munich, who scored 18.09% of their goals within the opening 15 minutes. The German champions netted a total of 94 goals last season, with 17 of them coming in the first quarter-hour of matches, and their average first goal coming in the 26th minute. Another team with a penchant for early goals is France’s LOSC Lille, who scored 17.31% of their 52 goals in the first 15 minutes. On average, their first goal was recorded in the 36th minute.
Goal Data on Earliest Scoring Teams (2023/24 Season)
| Rank | Team | Country | Goals between 0-15 minutes (%) | Goals between 0-15 minutes | Total Goals | Average Minute of First Goal |
| 1 | Bologna FC 1909 | Italy | 18.52% | 10 | 54 | 28 |
| 2 | FC Bayern Munich | Germany | 18.09% | 17 | 94 | 26 |
| 3 | LOSC Lille | France | 17.31% | 9 | 52 | 36 |
| 4 | BSC Young Boys | Switzerland | 17.11% | 13 | 76 | 27 |
| 5 | Red Star Belgrade | Serbia | 15.80% | 15 | 95 | 30 |
Other clubs performing well in this category include Switzerland’s BSC Young Boys, with 17.11% of their goals coming early, and Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade, who recorded 15.80% of their strikes in the opening stages of matches.
However, when it comes to late-game drama, Liverpool FC dominates. The Merseyside team recorded 31.40% of their total goals in the final 15 minutes of games, including injury time. This tally amounted to 27 out of 86 goals scored during the 2023/24 season, with their first goal coming on average in the 31st minute.
Following Liverpool, FC Barcelona proved to be another team capable of late strikes. The Spanish club scored 24 goals in the last quarter of an hour, accounting for 30.38% of their total tally. Juventus FC also scored a significant proportion of their goals late on, with 16 of their 54 goals, or 29.63%, coming in the final stages of matches.
Goal Data on Latest Scoring Teams (2023/24 Season)
| Rank | Team | Country | Goals between 75-90 minutes (%) | Goals between 75-90 minutes | Total Goals | Average First Goal Minute |
| 1 | Liverpool FC | England | 31.40% | 27 | 86 | 31 |
| 2 | FC Barcelona | Spain | 30.38% | 24 | 79 | 37 |
| 3 | Juventus FC | Italy | 29.63% | 16 | 54 | 34 |
| 4 | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | Croatia | 28.36% | 19 | 67 | 36 |
| 5 | Celtic FC | Scotland | 27.37% | 26 | 95 | 30 |
GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Celtic FC followed closely, with 28.36% and 27.37% of their goals respectively coming in the last 15 minutes of play.
James Loxdale, a sports analyst at Betmaster Ireland, commented on the findings, saying, “Early goals can give teams a psychological edge, while late goals can dramatically change the course of a game. The timing of goals can significantly influence a match’s outcome and the decisions made by coaches.”
This data underlines the crucial importance of timing in football, where every minute counts in the high-stakes world of the Champions League.
