The 2016/17 season has been a veritable goal-fest, with multiple scoring records tumbling. The Premier League has witnessed the most goals, with 571 scored after 20 rounds, while the Serie A has had 500 goals scored before the winter break. Ligue 1’s 478 goals are closely followed by La Liga’s 468 goals, with the Bundesliga’s 391 goals resulting in 2408 goals scored across Europe’s Top 5 leagues.
Here are the 5 best attacks in Europe at the midway point, statistically.
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Stats accurate up to January 6th, 2016
#5 Bayern Munich – Bundesliga – GPG = 2.37
RB Leipzig have occupied top spot in the Bundesliga for much of the season, but Bayern Munich have resumed normal service right before the winter break. The Bavarians overwhelmed their closest rivals with a 3-0 hammering of Leipzig, throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the league.
Bayern have scored the most goals in the Bundesliga this season, and also have the best defence in all the Top 5 European Leagues. It’s no wonder, given that they have scored 38 goals in 16 games at a rate of 2.37 goals per game. Dortmund are the closest challengers, with 35 goals in as many games.
The German champions have been a supremely creative side under Carlo Ancelotti, as they have created a stunning 235 chances in the league this year, with 45% shot accuracy. Robert Lewandowski leads the way with 12 goals for Bayern, while Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller lead the assists chart with 5 each.
#4 Liverpool – Premier League – GPG = 2.4
Liverpool are certifiably the 2nd most exciting team in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues, as the games involving the Premier League high-flyers have resulted in a staggering 71 goals. 20 games in and the Reds have plundered in 48 goals at a rate of 2.4 goals per game.
Jurgen Klopp has overseen a side that has been absolutely gung-ho going forward, creating a superb 284 chances in 20 games, which has meant that Liverpool have climbed to 2nd place in the table – they are also 2nd in terms of goals scored in all of Europe’s Top 5 leagues.
Sadio Mane tops the scoring charts for Liverpool with 9 goals so far, and he will be a big miss as he travels for the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Liverpool do have the prowess of Adam Lallana to call upon, as he has been involved in most goals this year, scoring 7 goals and topping the assists chart with 7.
#3 Barcelona – La Liga – GPG = 2.56
It’s no surprise that Barcelona in the Top 5 attacks in all of Europe, but it is a bit surprising to see the Catalan giants in third place. Luis Enrique’s side haven’t had the best of seasons by their lofty standards, although the reason for them being 2nd place in the table is more down to their defence than their attack.
Barcelona have scored 41 times in 16 games, at a rate of 2.56 goals per game. What’s been surprising is that the Blaugrana have scored 10 goals from set-pieces, which works out to almost a quarter of their goals. Continuing the surprising theme, Barcelona have created only 193 chances in 16 games this year, lower than Bayern who have created 235 chances in the same timeframe.
Luis Suarez and Leo Messi are joint top of the goalscoring charts for Barcelona, with 12 goals each. Suarez has been involved in more goals though, having assisted 4 times to Messi’s 3. The final piece of the MSN jigsaw, Neymar, leads Barcelona’s assists charts, with 6.
#2 Real Madrid – La Liga – GPG = 2.67
You would think that a side that has gone 38 games unbeaten would do so on the back of a solid defence, but Real Madrid do not even make the top 5 defences of Europe, but are the 2nd best attacking side. Zinedine Zidane has exchanged the fluency of Real Madrid’s previous sides for a ruthless efficiency in front of goal, and it show.
Los Blancos have scored 40 goals in 15 games, at a rate of 2.67 goals per game. They have managed averaged almost 15 chances created in 15 games, ending the first half of the season with 223 opportunities created with a rather impressive shot accuracy of 50%.
Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the scoring charts for Real Madrid with 10 goals, followed by Alvaro Morata and Gareth Bale on 5 goals each. Toni Kroos is far and awar Madrid’s best creator, with 7 assists, way ahead of Isco and Lucas Vazquez with three assists each.
#1 AS Monaco – Ligue 1 – GPG = 2.94
The Ligue 1 side may not be top of their league, but AS Monaco have undoubtedly raised eyebrows with their goalscoring feats this season. The Principality club is the most exciting side this season, as games involving the Monegasques have yielded a stunning 76 goals – which averages to an jaw-dropping 4 goals every game.
Of those four, Monaco ensure that they get atleast 3, with the French side scoring an incredible 56 goals in 19 games this season, at an average of 2.94 goals per game – far away the best in Europe. Stunningly, despite scoring 56, Monaco have created only 169 chances in 19 games, way lower than any of the other clubs in this list. It points to them putting their chances away for sure, with a shot accuracy of 57%
Falcao has been one of those super accurate scorers for Monaco, topping their scoring charts with 11 goals, followed by Guido Carrillo on 7 goals. Kylian Mbappe leads the assists with 5, which has seen him become a target for some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
