{"id":14100,"date":"2024-10-22T11:03:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T11:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=14100"},"modified":"2024-10-22T11:03:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T11:03:56","slug":"fewest-goals-conceded-in-a-season-europes-top-five-leagues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/fewest-goals-conceded-in-a-season-europes-top-five-leagues\/","title":{"rendered":"Surprise Team Holds the Record For the Fewest Goals Conceded in a Single Season Across Europe’s Top Five Leagues"},"content":{"rendered":"

When flicking through the catalogue of elite strike-forces that have graced Europe’s top five leagues over the years, this list of teams with the fewest goals conceded in a season is made all the more impressive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.”<\/p>\n

Those are the words of 13-time Premier League winner Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a>, whose title-winning mantra has held true for those with aspirations of silverware.<\/p>\n

However, the teams featured in the list made defending an art form, registering remarkably low goals conceded tallies and preventing bucket loads of potential lost points.<\/p>\n

Fewest Goals Conceded in a Season Across Europe’s Top Five Leagues<\/h2>\n

=4. Deportivo La Coru\u00f1a (1993\/94) & Atletico Madrid (2015-16) – 18 Goals Conceded<\/h4>\n

Sneaking in at joint-fourth are two entries from La Liga, with Deportivo La Coru\u00f1a and Atletico Madrid sharing the mantle.<\/p>\n

The former are perhaps the prime example of Spain’s continuing trend of historic heavyweights falling by the wayside. A team who were lifting La Liga titles and reaching Champions League<\/a> semi-finals around the turn of the century now find themselves wallowing near the foot of the Seguna Division.<\/p>\n

While Deportivo are perhaps best remembered for their European escapades in the early naughties, Os brancoazuis<\/i> loyalists will have fond memories of the 1993\/94 campaign.<\/p>\n

\"Fewest<\/p>\n

Although they would agonisingly lose out to Barcelona due an inferior head-to-head record, they conceded just 18 times in 38 games. In doing so, they also set the league record for clean sheets, with Zamora trophy-winning goalkeeper Francisco Lia\u00f1o registering 26 shutouts.<\/p>\n

A record that stood alone for over two decades was then matched in 2015\/16 by Atletico Madrid, who finished three points adrift of eventual champions Barcelona.<\/p>\n

The formidable partnership of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez – flanked by Filipe Luis and a young Lucas Hernandez – had speed, aggression and discipline in abundance.<\/p>\n

It was a season of oh-so-nearly’s for Atleti, who also finished Champions League runners-up.<\/p>\n

3. Bayern Munich (2015\/16) – 17 Goals Conceded<\/h4>\n

2015\/16 was seemingly a season for goals – or lack thereof – as some 1200 miles north east of Madrid another European heavyweight were frustrating opponents on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n

Pep Guardiola’s final season in Bavaria saw them run away with the Bundesliga title by a margin of 10 points. Although runners-up Borussia Dortmund actually netted more goals than Bayern, finding a way to strip them of the ball was an impossible task.<\/p>\n

Contrary to belief, Guardiola’s Bayern side may well be his strongest example of total control, averaging 66% possession across his three year spell.<\/p>\n

A Spanish-heavy midfield boasting the mastery of Thiago, Xabi Alonso<\/a> and Phillip Lahm kept the ball ticking over with metronomic precision, as they dropped just 14 points all season.<\/p>\n

A defence marshalled by Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Rafinha and Javi Martinez formed a colossal collective, and one that acted as Guardiola’s first wave of attack in possession.<\/p>\n

=2. Chelsea (2004\/05) & AC Milan (1993\/94) – 15 Goals Conceded<\/h4>\n

Entering legendary territory now, with two of Europe’s most renowned defences sharing the number two spot.<\/p>\n

Starting with what many believe to be the greatest defensive partnership of all-time, AC Milan’s 1993\/94 team were gatekeeped by Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi – both rare one-club breeds in their own right who would each don the armband at the San Siro.<\/p>\n

Astonishingly, I Rossoneri<\/em> scored a mere 36 goals in 34 games on their way to winning a third-straight Serie A title, but conceded a head-scratching 15 goals in the process.<\/p>\n

Tassotti, Baresi, Costacurta, and Maldini – a quartet brimming with tactical nous, class and elegance. Far from the crunching tackles and brusing beatdowns of years gone by, this Milan defence was like watching a carefully choreographed ballet in perfect synchronism.<\/p>\n

Individually and collectively they were immense, winning the Scudetto and trouncing Barcelona with an uncharacteristically big score of 4-0 in the Champions League that year. Milan’s back four would also line-up together for Italy in the World Cup in ’94, helping them reach the final.<\/p>\n

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AC Milan, 1993\/94. pic.twitter.com\/Dx89OkKLnS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 90s Football (@90sfootball) December 17, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n