1. Live Scores and Match Statistics
If your app doesn’t already have live scores and match stats, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. Adding this feature is a great way to keep users engaged and up-to-date on the latest results. Using Champions League data, you can provide real-time updates on everything. From goals scored to cards issued to possession percentages. It’s a must-have feature for any football app.
How to retrieve this data
The Sportmonks’ Football API has multiple endpoints to get the needed livescores.
- GET All Inplay Livescores: returns all the live fixtures. Please be aware that in the livescores endpoint, the fixtures will be available 15 minutes before the match has started and 15 mins after it has ended.
- GET All Livescores: returns all the fixtures of the current day.
- GET Latest Updated Livescores: returns all livescores that have received updates within 10 seconds.
Let’s continue with the GET All Inplay Livescores endpoint. The base request can be found below.
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/livescores/inplay?api_token=YOUR_TOKEN
However, we can use includes to enrich the base request to get more detailed and specific data in our response. For example, we need to know when a goal is scored, a player is substituted or a card has been given. To receive this data, you can simply add “&include=events” to your base request. Also, we have filtered on the Champions League because we only want to show the Champions League live matches. Simply add the filter &filters=fixtureLeagues:2.
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/livescores/inplay?api_token=YOUR_TOKEN&include=events&include=events&filters=fixtureLeagues:2
Remember that you will only receive results if matches are inplay/live at the moment you make an API request at this endpoint.
More information about retrieving live scores and match statistics can be found on our how-to-build live score website and match page.
2. Fantasy Football
Another great way to use Champions League data is for fantasy football. If your app already has a fantasy football feature, you can use this data to improve it.
By providing data on player performance, such as goals scored, assists provided and a player rating, your users can make informed decisions on which players to pick for their fantasy team. Plus, you can create custom leagues based on the Champions League, which will surely be a hit with users.
How to retrieve this data
Alright, you need to receive a lot of information if you want to create a successful fantasy game. You need all information about the players you want to include. Names, number, length, and many more statistics are needed if you want to make the next big fantasy game.
You need all teams and players participating in the Champions League.
https://soccer.sportmonks.com/api/v2.0/teams/season/19699?api_token={API_TOKEN}&include=squad.player
"player": {
"data": {
"player_id": 129820,
"team_id": 8,
"country_id": 5,
"position_id": 1,
"common_name": "A. Becker",
"display_name": "Alisson",
"fullname": "Alisson Ramsés Becker",
"firstname": "Alisson Ramsés",
"lastname": "Becker",
"nationality": "Brazil",
"birthdate": "02/10/1992",
"birthcountry": "Brazil",
"birthplace": "Novo Hamburgo",
"height": "193 cm",
"weight": "91 kg",
For this, you need to retrieve information from multiple endpoints. For example, you need to use our ‘seasons’ endpoint to retrieve all the statistics from a particular season.
https://soccer.sportmonks.com/api/v2.0/seasons/19699?api_token={API_TOKEN}&include=stats
{
"data": {
"id": 19699,
"name": "2022/2023",
"league_id": 2,
"is_current_season": true,
"current_round_id": null,
"current_stage_id": 77457731,
"stats": {
"data": {
"id": 5739,
"season_id": 19699,
"league_id": 2,
"number_of_clubs": 32,
"number_of_matches": 112,
"number_of_matches_played": 104,
"number_of_goals": 321,
"matches_both_teams_scored": 50,
"number_of_yellowcards": 419,
"number_of_yellowredcards": 10,
"number_of_redcards": 8,
"avg_goals_per_match": 3.09,
"avg_yellowcards_per_match": 4.03,
"avg_yellowredcards_per_match": 0.1,
"avg_redcards_per_match": 0.08,
"team_with_most_goals_id": 597,
"team_with_most_goals_number": 22,
"team_with_most_conceded_goals_id": 3545,
"team_with_most_conceded_goals_number": 24,
"team_with_most_goals_per_match_id": 597,
"team_with_most_goals_per_match_number": 3.14,
"season_topscorer_id": 4125,
"season_topscorer_number": 8,
"season_assist_topscorer_id": 160956,
"season_assist_topscorer_number": 4,
"team_most_cleansheets_id": 340,
"team_most_cleansheets_number": 5,
"goals_scored_minutes": {
"0-15": "11.84%",
"15-30": "15.58%",
"30-45": "16.2%",
"45-60": "19%",
"60-75": "14.33%",
"75-90": "23.05%"You might need more data to complete your fantasy game. However, these are very important to get you started.
3. Player and Team Profiles
Users love to learn more about their favourite players and teams, and Champions League data can provide a wealth of information for player and team profiles. By collecting data on player and team performance, users can see how they have performed in the tournament, how many goals they have scored, and much more. You can display this data in various ways, such as in player and team detailed profiles.
How to retrieve this data
To create a player profile you need to decide which information you want to show. Most of the player data can be found by using the GET Player by ID endpoint.
For example, what do you want to show about, Kylian Mbappé (player ID: 96611)?
He is from France, is 178 cm and weighs 73 kg. Maybe you want to show his position, place of birth, picture, previous transfers or his trophies?
The base request can be found below. You can enrich the response by using includes. More about the options can be found on our Player by ID endpoint.
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/players/{ID}
The second endpoint you will need is the GET Team Squads by Team ID and Season ID endpoint. We are looking at the 2022/2023 season of the Champions League with Season ID: 19699. Mbappé played for Paris Saint Germain (Team ID: 591).
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/squads/seasons/{seasonID}/teams/{teamID}?api_token=Your_Token&include=player
{
"id": 66344108,
"player_id": 96611,
"team_id": 591,
"season_id": 19699,
"position_id": 27,
"jersey_number": 7,
"player": {
"id": 96611,
"sport_id": 1,
"country_id": 17,
"nationality_id": 17,
"city_id": null,
"position_id": 27,
"detailed_position_id": 151,
"type_id": 27,
"common_name": "K. Mbappé Lottin",By using includes you can even enrich the response to get more information about the players, teams, seasons, positions and more.
4. Predictive Analytics
Predictive analytics is a growing field in football, and Champions League data can be used to create predictive models that can help users make informed decisions on which team is likely to win a match. By analysing historical data on team and player performance, our machine learning algorithms can be used to predict the outcome of a game, the likelihood of a team scoring a goal or the number of goals they are likely to score. This is a great way to add a new dimension to your app and keep users engaged.
How to retrieve this data
“Predicting a match based on machine learning algorithms sounds cool and all, but how do you get the data to create an algorithm that works?” Don’t worry about that, our Prediction API is learning every day and has been learning for over 3-4 years now.
The Prediction API is an add-on to our Football Plans. This means that you need to get access to the Football API to gain access to the Prediction API.
Our Prediction API has three models, the Prediction model, the Value Bet model and the Player Contribution model. More about that can be found in our prediction blog: Profitable Predictions. For now, lets take a look at how we can retrieve data from the Prediction API.
The Prediction API uses multiple endpoints:
- GET Probabilities
- GET Performance by League ID
- GET Probabilities by Fixture ID
For these endpoints, this is the base URL.
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/predictions
We will look further into the third option for this example. You will have the following URL:
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/predictions/probabilities/fixtures/{fixture_id}
At the time of writing FC Bayern München still has to play Paris Saint Germain 8-03-2023 in the Champions League. The fixture ID of this match is (and will always be: 18723738).
The URL will look as follows:
https://api.sportmonks.com/v3/football/predictions/probabilities/fixtures/18723738?api_token={your_token}. Keep in mind that the Champions League needs to be in your Football Plan to have access to the data of this league.
{
"id": 4669520,
"fixture_id": 18723738,
"predictions": {
"home": 55.39,
"away": 24.56,
"draw": 20.03
},
"type_id": 237,
"type": {
"id": 237,
"name": "Fulltime Result Probability",
"code": "fulltime-result-probability",
"developer_name": "FULLTIME_RESULT_PROBABILITY",
"model_type": "prediction",
"stat_group": null
}
},
{
"id": 4669523,
"fixture_id": 18723738,
"predictions": {
"draw_home": 75.42,
"draw_away": 44.59,
"home_away": 79.95
},
"type_id": 239,
"type": {
"id": 239,
"name": "Double Chance Probability",
"code": "double_chance-probability",
"developer_name": "DOUBLE_CHANCE_PROBABILITY",
"model_type": "prediction",
"stat_group": null
5. Fan Engagement
Finally, you can use Champions League data to enhance fan engagement in your app. By providing users with interactive experiences, such as polls, quizzes, and predictions, they can feel more involved in the tournament and connected to their favourite players and teams. You can even use the data to create personalised experiences for users, such as recommending matches they might be interested in or providing them with statistics and insights tailored to their preferences.
You can use all previously shown responses to build an interactive experience for your users. You can show them the matchups and stats to let them predict the outcome or build a quiz around the player profiles. This is a perfect way to illustrate that data is fun!
Conclusion
So, how do you get this data and the knowledge to implement it? Well, that’s where Sportmonks comes in. Our Football API has been developed to meet the requirements of our clients. Being football lovers, we understand the significance of prompt live scores and precise statistical information. In addition to the outstanding features integrated into our data solutions, we take great pride in offering unparalleled customer service to our clients. Please take a look at our guide on how to implement our data to fit your needs. There you will find how to subscribe and join our Football API which is used by over 20,000 customers.
