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Following the sixth Matchday of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League and the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League, European club football action for the year 2019 drew to a close.
There were a slew of fine performances from several teams during the year. Having slayed European giants Real Madrid and Juventus in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively, Ajax were seconds away from reaching their first Champions League final in over 23 years, till Lucas Moura's strike 6 minutes into injury time ended their fairy tale run from the second qualifying round.
Also Read: Top-5 European club teams in 2019
Bayern Munich became only the sixth team in the history of the Champions League to win all their 6 group-stage games, as the Bavarian giants also recorded the best goal-difference of 19 by a group winner in the competition.
On that note, let us have a look at the teams with the fewest losses in European club football in 2019. Note: Only teams who have played at least 10 European games(excluding qualifiers) during the year have been considered.
6. Juventus - 2 losses in 10 games
Both of Juventus' defeats came in the knockout rounds of the 2018-19 Champions League. The Bianconeri lost 2-0 at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16 before a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick in the return leg helped secure a 3-2 aggregate win.
In the quarterfinals, Juventus drew 1-1 at Ajax in the first leg. Ronaldo scored his second goal of the tie in the return leg at home to give the hosts a 2-1 aggregate lead, before two unanswered goals by the visitors dealt the Bianconeri a second European defeat of the season and eliminated them from the Champions League.
Juventus started their 2019-20 Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid, before winning their next five group games to qualify for the knockout round of the competition as one of 6 unbeaten teams.
5. Sevilla - 2 losses in 10 games
Champions in each of their three previous appearances in the UEFA Europa League, Sevilla scored three unanswered goals past Lazio in the two legs of their Round of 32 clash, before being eliminated by Slavia Prague following a 3-4 extra time defeat in the second leg of the Round of 16.
One of 16 teams to have lost just once in the 2019-20 Europa League, Sevilla's 5 wins were the most by any of the 32 teams in this season's competition. The Andalusian club's three conceded goals in six games was only behind Manchester United's tally of two.
4. Liverpool - 2 losses in 14 games
Having eliminated Bayern Munich and FC Porto respectively to reach back-to-back semifinals in the competition, Liverpool's hopes of reaching consecutive finals, let alone a first Champions League title in 14 years, looked all but over following a chastening 3-0 defeat at Barcelona in the first leg of the semifinals.
Despite missing a host of first team regulars due to injuries or suspensions, the Reds produced a miraculous recovery in the second leg, scoring four unanswered goals to reach the final where they beat fellow Premier League Tottenham Hotspur to win their 6th title in the competition.
After beating side Chelsea in a penalty shootout to lift the UEFA Super Cup, Liverpool suffered their second European defeat of the year, when they lost at Napoli in their first game of the 2019-20 season. Following four wins and a draw in their next 5 group-stage games, Liverpool qualified for the knockout round of the Champions League.
3. Manchester City - 1 loss in 10 games
Defending English champions Manchester City's sole European defeat of the year came in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Despite a 4-3 win at home in the second leg, City were eliminated on away goals as Spurs went on to reach their first Champions League final where they lost to Liverpool.
In the 2019-20 edition of the Champions League, City topped a group comprising of Atalanta, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Dinamo Zagreb, to progress to the knockout round of the competition as one of 6 unbeaten teams.
Amongst teams to have played over 10 European club football games (excluding qualifiers) during the year, City's win % (70%, 7/10) and goals per game (3, 30 goals in 10 games) are the highest.
2. Barcelona - 1 loss in 12 games
Defending Spanish champions Barcelona looked on course to return to the Champions League final for the first time in 4 years, after beating English side Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of the semifinals. However, the Catalan challenge unravelled in the return leg, as four unanswered goals by the hosts eliminated Barcelona from European contention for the season.
Barcelona started their 2019-20 Champions League campaign on an underwhelming note, drawing goalless away at Borussia Dortmund after the hosts missed a penalty. Either side of another goalless draw, at home to Slavia Prague, Barca racked up four wins to reach the knockout round of the competition as one of 6 unbeaten teams.
The Catalan team's 8 European match wins is the most by any club to have played over 10 games this year, excluding qualifiers, behind only Chelsea and Liverpool's respective tallies of 10 and 9.
1. Chelsea - 1 loss in 15 games
Europa League winners Chelsea suffered their lone European defat this year in their first group-stage game of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League at home to Valencia. The Blues racked up six consecutive wins in the Round of 32, Round of 16, and quarterfinals of the 2018-19 Europa League, before a penalty shootout win over Eintracht Frankfurt following two 1-1 draws in each leg of the semifinals booked an all-London final over Arsenal, which they won 4-1.
The Blues started their 2019-20 European season with a UEFA Super Cup outing against fellow-Premier League team Liverpool where they went down in a penalty shootout after ninety minutes of action produced a 2-2 stalemate.
Chelsea launched a remarkable fightback from three goals down in their group-stage game against Ajax, scoring three goals in the last half an hour to salvage a thrilling 4-4 draw. Qualification for the knockout round was assured following a 2-1 home win over Lille on Matchday 6, coupled with Ajax losing 1-0 at home to Valencia.
Chelsea's 10 wins (from 15 European games), and 7 clean sheets (also Barcelona) in 2019 are the most by any team to have played over 10 European club football games, excluding qualifiers, during the year.
