The ten teams in Europe’s top five leagues that have conceded the fewest goals per game.
10. PSG – 0.83 Goals against per game
The Ligue 1 leaders are best know their awesome front two of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani but imperious centre half Thiago Silva has arguably been just as impressive as the strikers, marshalling the back four alongside compatriots Alex and Maxwell and the forward-thinking Gregory van der Wiel. Despite scoring 52 goals in the league alone, PSG have only conceded 27 in 33 games in all competitions.
9. Real Madrid – 0.81 GA/game
Like PSG, the Spaniards are renowned for their worldly attacking options but Real have also kept it tight at the back this season – hardly surprising with an Italian in charge. While Ronaldo, Isco and Gareth Bale have stolen the headlines, Pepe and co. are ably protected by the likes of Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira, leading to Los Blancos shipping just 26 goals in 33 games so far.
8. Arsenal – 0.79 GA/game
After shipping three goals at home in their opening match of the Premier League season, it looked unlikely that Arsenal would build their success on defensive solidarity. But that’s exactly what has happened, with the brilliant Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny helping the Gunners to ten clean sheets in the league and just 27 goals conceded in 34 matches.
7. Chelsea – 0.79 GA/game
With identical stats to the Gunners are their fierce London rivals Chelsea. Jose Mourinho has always based built successful teams based on a mean defence and the Portuguese demanded all his creative players contribute defensively, as Juan Mata discovered to his peril. The Blues fine form at the back has been down in part to their skipper John Terry, who has marshalled the back four using all the experience of his 33 years.
6. AS Monaco – 0.68 GA/game
Fuelled by Dmitry Rybolovlev petrodollars, AS Monaco are hot on the tails of PSG in Ligue 1. Head-coach Claudio Ranieri has a wealth of attacking options but the Italian is sensibly building from the back, with veteran centre-halves Ricardo Carvalho, formerly of Real Madrid, and Eric Abidal, formerly of Barcelona, enjoying a renaissance that has seen the club concede just 17 goals in 25 games in all competition this season. (But unlike most of the other clubs on this list, Monaco do not compete in the Champions League). With star striker Radamel Falcao ruled out for the rest of the season, Monaco’s mean defence may now be key to their Ligue 1 title hopes.
5. Bayern Munich – 0.67 GA/game
It’s no surprise to see the best team in Europe on this list. New boss Pep Guardiola has continued his predecessor’s policy of building from the back and the Spaniard’s decision to use captain Philip Lahm as a defensive midfielder has been a masterstroke. Bayern, who are running away with the Bundesliga and have a great chance of being the first club club to retain the Champions League, have conceded just 20 goals in 30 matches so far.
4. FC Barcelona – 0.62 GA/game
Lionel Messi remains the star but there’s more of a ‘team’ feel about Barcelona under Tata Martino and this is reflected in their defensive solidarity. With youngsters Marc Bartra and Martin Montoya impressing, the Catalans have conceded just 21 times in 34 games this season. Their policy of ‘attack is the best form of defence’ remains a good one.
3. Lille – 0.60 GA/game
Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list sees Rene Girard’s Lille in the top three. The Ligue 1 outfit have been dreadfully dull this season, scoring just 24 goals in 22 games, but it’s working; they current sit third in the table behind behemoths PSG and Monaco. That is largely down to a defence, led by centre halves Marko Basa and Simon Kjaer and able protected by Idrissa Gueye, that has conceded just 15 goals in all competition and only 11 in the league.
2. Atletico Madrid – 0.59 GA/game
For the first time in what feels like a lifetime, Real Madrid and Barcelona have genuine competition for the La Liga crown, with Diego Simeone’s expertly drilled Atletico running the pair close. Diego Costa and Koke have grabbed the headlines but defensive midfielder Gabi and centre-halves Diego Godin and Miranda have been the stars, seeing Atletico concede just 11 goals in 23 games so far.
1. AS Roma – 0.48 GA/game
Europe’s undisputed kings of the mean defence are Rudi Garcia’s Roma, who rarely allow their opponents on shot on target let alone a clear-cut chance. The Gallirossi have conceded just 11 goals this season but are by no means boring; they average more than two goals a game in the Serie A. Mehdi Benatia, Kevin Strootman, Daniel De Rossi and Leandro Castan have been the rocks for Roma, providing a platform for the likes of Totti and the rejuvenated Gervinho to do their stuff.
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