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They say attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles. In an age where the beautiful game has evolved into a scathingly attacking version, a good defence does not always get the appreciation that is due.
Everyone wants to see goals galore in each game, as the strikers and attacking midfielders are the people who take away most of the accolades, yet one cannot deny that the base of every champion team is built on a solid defence.
This season too, it has been raining goals in all the top leagues of Europe. In the Ligue 1, there has been an average of 2.61 goals scored per match, whereas in the Premier League, the average is even higher - 2.75 goals per game!
In La Liga, the average is 2.53 goals per game, while in the Serie A, it is 2.72 goals per game. However, none of them matches the Bundesliga, where an average of 3.22 goals has been scored per game this season!
While it has been a tough season for defences so far, there are a few clubs who have held their own when it comes to shutting out oppositions. Some of them have redefined defending, but all have managed to set up their teams in such a way that it has been very hard to break them down. Today, we take a look at the top 5 clubs in Europe, with the strongest defence this season.
#5 Valencia
The La Liga side is the surprise inclusion in this list, especially since they are 10th in the league. But Marcelino Garcia Toral's side has the best defensive record in Spain, having conceded just 14 goals from 18 games in all competitions. In La Liga, they have conceded just 9 goals from 13 games, the same as Atletico Madrid, whereas in UEFA Champions League, the Spanish side has conceded just 4 goals from 4 games. In the Copa del Rey, CD Ebro scored a goal against them.
Valencia has lost just 2 games in La Liga this season, however, too many draws have cost them so far. Juventus, Espanyol and Levante are the only three sides to have scored more than one goal against Valencia this season. For the La Liga side, Gabriel Paulista has been quite good in the centre of the defence and has started in 16 of those 18 games. The Brazilian has been partnered with either of Ezequiel Garay or Mouctar Diakhaby, who have complimented him well.
Last season, Valencia conceded 38 goals from 38 games in La Liga and finished 4th in the league. This season, they have a better defensive record so far but have already drawn 8 games, 1 more than their tally for the whole of last season. While Marcelino's defence has been performing well, he needs to show his strikers the way to the goal, if he wants to better or even replicate last season's standings.
#4 Paris Saint-Germain
The Ligue 1 side are the only team in the top European league to win all their league games so far this season. PSG have won all 14 games played in the Ligue 1 so far this season, which has seen them stay at the top of the table with an astonishing 42 points.
While their brilliant strike force will be taking all the credit, one should not forget that PSG have conceded just 7 goals in those 14 games and as such, their success is built on a stellar defence.
In the Champions League, though, the defence has let in the same amount of goals in 4 games, as they have not managed a clean sheet yet in the tournament. Altogether, PSG has conceded 14 goals in 19 games in all competitions, which sees them edge out Valencia by a thin margin to become the 4th best defence in Europe right now.
The arrival of Buffon has helped the Ligue 1 Champions and the centre-back pairing of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva has been rock solid for most parts. PSG conceded just 29 goals from 38 games in Ligue 1 last season. By the look of things, the French side could even better that tally this season.
#3 Liverpool
The resurgence at Anfield has taken the Premier League by storm. Liverpool has been bulldozing aside competition this season and is still unbeaten in the league, sitting second after 13 games, a period where they have won 10 and drawn the remaining 3 games! A lot of the credit has to go to the fantastic defence, which has been impregnable at times.
Liverpool has conceded just 5 goals in 13 games so far in the Premier League. In the Champions League though, the defence has already conceded the same number of goals in 4 games in the group stages. While also taking into consideration the 2 goals Chelsea scored against them in the EFL Cup, Liverpool has conceded just 12 goals in 18 games in all competitions so far.
The answer to all of Liverpool's problems from last season has been Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, who has started in every game in the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
Credit, of course, is also due to Brazilian custodian Allison, who has strengthened Liverpool's weakest link and has already picked up 8 clean sheets in the Premier League! If the defence continues to stay this compact till the end of the season, Liverpool will be serious contenders for the crown.
#2 Juventus
The addition of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Juventus set up was supposed to open the floodgate of goals this season for the Serie A side. While Juventus has been fabulous in the final third as usual, the defence has been quietly shutting out the opposition on a regular basis.
Juventus have scored 28 goals in 13 games in Serie A, but have conceded just 8. In the Champions League, the Italian side was about to register the 4th clean sheet of the tournament, before a late onslaught from Manchester United ruined their party. Those were the only two goals they have conceded in the Champions League.
In the Serie A, they have 6 clean sheets and it has been the combination of the two magnificent Italian defenders Chiellini and Bonucci, that has helped Juventus stand out as the club with the second meanest defence in Europe right now.
They have been ably supported by Wojciech Szczesny in between the bars, who is having a strong season himself. Juventus have let in just 10 goals in 17 games in all competitions this season, which is a fantastic feat, however, there is one club who have been even better than them in Europe so far.
#1 Manchester City
Manchester City is scoring more than 3 goals per game in the Premier League and on the other hand have conceded just 5 goals so far. They are currently unbeaten at the top of the league, winning 11 of the 13 games played. Even in the Champions League, their defensive record is quite good, as they have conceded just 3 goals in the 4 league games. Altogether, Manchester City has conceded just 8 goals in 20 games in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola's tactics have transformed City to one of the best sides in Europe and they are as effective going forward as they are at the back. The ability of Guardiola's side to play their way out of trouble, along with the collection of players with some fantastic abilities on the ball means that City has the strongest defence in Europe so far.
At the heart of the City defence is John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, two of the best defenders in the league right now and along with Ederson in goal, they have made City virtually unstoppable this season.
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