Copenhagen drew at Crvena Zvezda from far fewer chances than usual

Crvena Zvezda and Copenhagen drew 2-2, Copenhagen created little in front of goal, and the home side finished with ten men.

Stefan Gudelj was sent off for Crvena Zvezda in the 90th minute, so the home side finished with ten men. That changed very little, because the shape of this match was set well before the final whistle. A red card that late means the last moments were played a man short, but the chances had already been shared out earlier.

Copenhagen had 43% of the ball, a little under their usual 45.4% in away games, so their share was close to normal. Where they fell well short was in what they created. They had six shots, against their usual 12.4 in away matches, and their expected goals total was 0.25. Expected goals is a way of rating each chance by how often such chances go in, so a total that low means very few clear openings, against their usual 1.03.

Zvezda had the ball more, with 57% of possession and 496 passes, 88% of which found a team-mate. They also took nine shots, five of them on target, but nine is below the league average of 12.4 per side. Their expected goals of 0.41 was also under the league figure of 1.32, so the quality of their chances was below what is typical in this competition. More of the ball and more shots, then, but not more dangerous ones.

The match itself was more open than most. Four goals were scored, against a league average of 3.3 per game. Copenhagen scored two, where they usually score 3.4 in away games, and conceded two, where they usually concede 0.6. For a side that rarely lets in many chances, they had a worse evening at the back than their own record would suggest.

Maher Carrizo's goal in the 70th minute stands out because Copenhagen had created so little before it. Carrizo was rated 8 by the match statistics, the highest of anyone on the pitch, and he had two shots, both on target. Zvezda's goal came from Timi Max Elšnik in the 34th minute, with Vladimir Lučić providing the assist. Elšnik was also rated 8, reflecting a strong display in front of goal for the home side.

Both sides, then, scored from fewer chances than the expected goal totals of the match might suggest. Zvezda had more of the ball and more shots, but their chances were no better than average. Copenhagen had less of the ball and far fewer chances, yet still picked up a point, which says more about how well they took what came their way than about how much they tried.

Copenhagen's recent run is strong, with five wins in their last six matches. The one blank in that sequence was a goalless draw away from home, so a point at Crvena Zvezda fits the wider pattern more than the chance count does.

Player of the matchTimi Max Elšnik1 goal8.0

Maher Carrizo1 goal8.0

Vasilije Kostov1 goal7.9

Vladimir Lučić1 assist7.2