Manchester City are the third-biggest ball-hogs in all of Europe’s Big Five leagues, behind only Borussia Dortmund and PSG
Pep Guardiola's side have seen 67.1 per cent of possession this term, with Tottenham the next best Prem side in sixth place
MANCHESTER CITY have enjoyed a flying start to the 2017-18 Premier League season.
Pep Guardiola's men have charged to the top of the table, dropping just two points from their opening six games while finding the back of the net an astounding 21 times.
But what is the secret to City's success? According to the numbers, it would appear to be their ball-hogging skills.
In all of Europe's Big Five leagues, Guardiola's side boast the third-highest possession rate, averaging an incredible 67.1 per cent of the ball.
Only Borussia Dortmund (70.2 per cent) and Paris Saint-Germain (67.7) sit about the Premier League giants, according to stats from the .
Outside of the top five divisions in Europe, Celtic are the team with the highest possession rate, at an impressive 70.8 per cent.
Back to the continent's top leagues, Barcelona come in fourth with 64.1 per cent of the ball - ahead of fellow giants and another of Guardiola's former clubs Bayern Munich (64 per cent).
Tottenham are the second-highest Premier League club - and sixth overall - level with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on 63 per cent.
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Real Madrid (61.1 per cent) come in at No7, ahead of Italian giants AC Milan (60.4) and Juventus (59.8).
Bayer Leverkusen and Celta Vigo round out the top ten, with Southampton and Manchester United the only other Prem teams breaking into the top 20 on 56.9 and 56.2 per cent respectively.
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