The statistics this season show that Spain’s top tier is the lowest scoring of Europe’s top five leagues. Across Serie A, the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, seeing scores of 5-2, 3-3 or 4-2 isn’t uncommon, whereas Spain is seeing more 1-0s and 0-0s.
It’s a sad time in LaLiga Santander as Spanish football is no longer a goalscorer’s paradise. The statistics this season show that Spain’s top tier is the lowest scoring of Europe’s top five leagues. Across Serie A, the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, seeing scores of 5-2, 3-3 or 4-2 isn’t uncommon, whereas Spain is seeing more 1-0s and 0-0s.
The recent change has been dramatic. Italy’s Serie A, formerly renowned for its incredible defending, is now the home of goals. Italy’s top flight is averaging 3.41 goals per game at the beginning of this 2020/21 season. Next in line is Germany’s Bundesliga, averaging 3.21 goals per game.
The Premier League is the third best for goals at 3.14 goals per game, ahead of France’s Ligue 1 with 2.82 goals per game. Trailing some way behind is LaLiga Santander, averaging 2.41 goals per game, a whole goal a game less than Serie A.
Spain’s current average is their worst since the 2008/09 campaign, but the trend has been visible for a while now. In 2017/18, there were 2.69 gpg, in 2018/19 it went down slightly to 2.59 gpg. Last season’s pandemic-interrupted season saw an average of 2.48 goals.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” Paco Jemez said of the trend. “It gives you an idea of what’s being played. Defending is valued more than attack and it’s bad for the spectacle.” Continue reading