Home Advantage?

[jabarinho]

I always wondered why teams play better at home than away, especially in champions league. Also, teams seem to play more defensively in away games. But what is strange is that despite this defensive mindset teams generally concede more goals in away games If you don't believe me check the stats.
One example is Arsenal who are perfect at home but horrible away. They beat Braga 6-0 at home, but lost 2-0 away. Also, beat shaktar 5-1 at home, but lost 2-1 away. Someone plz explain how this happens.
Although one exception is Manutd who suck at home and are perfect away.
Is it the travelling makes away teams tired? Jetlag maybe?
Is it the home crowd singing 'you'll never walk alone' or chanting their crazy slogans that intimidate away teams?
Or does the crowd boost the home players instead?
What about manutd.....does the home crowd put too much pressure and make them play shit in Old trafford?
Are referees influenced by vociferous home support?

[Adi]

There's a difference.  Have you played high school or college soccer?  You can tell the difference even when you play in a small stadium with barely anyone watching.  It's the feel of your home field and the fans cheering you on.  Teams also tend to go into away games with a defensive mind-set which often hurts them, but is seen as necessary due to the disadvantage of playing on the road.

Mourinho hasn't lost a home game in 9 years, so there's definitly a lot to it.

[Buckwheat156]

totally agree with Adi. Sometimes you don't even think about it but naturally you play differently when away from home

[Sule]

its just the feeling of playing in your backyard. It's YOUR city, YOUR field, so it's YOUR game.

Whenever I/my team play at home we all have the same mentality of something along the lines of "You, come here, and expect to win?! How dare you? Kindly fuck off and prepare for a loss. You aren't leaving here with 3 points."

along the lines..

[AznMagic]

it's also being that your home stadium is the one you always play at and feel comfortable in. plus not having to travel at all and go thru a lot of kerfuffel with flying, hotels, large numbers of away fans, etc.

[samfs]

I don't know, I play highschool soccer and surprisingly, we tend to do better in away games! it gets everyone excited and we feel that if we win, we'll go back with our heads held high!

[Buckwheat156]

I always hated losing away because of the ride home. Remember adi how mad butch would be for no reason after we lost. still we did miles better at home

[Adi]

Yeah, we'd be fed pizza on the bus rather than go to a nice restaurant if we had won.