Top 5 teams with the best possession in Europe this season

Everyone knows that winning in football can only be achieved by getting a superior result in terms of the difference between goals scored and conceded against an opponent during any given match.

While there is no argument to the fact that goals are the determining factor in the sport, it is also important to note that the game is not only about scoring goals. As a matter of fact, besides putting the ball into the back of the net, there are also other battles that take place on a soccer pitch and one of them is the battle for ball possession.

The act of retaining possession and controlling gameplay has become a popular system in modern football, with a number of elite tacticians including the likes Pep Guardiola, Maurizio Sarri and Quique Setién all rising and making for themselves with this method.

In fact, many clubs have adopted this system and apart from winning games, the battle for ball possession has also become a popular trend among football clubs.

Therefore, we decided to take a look these possession-loving teams, ranking them in respect to the percentage of ball possession they have enjoyed so far during the campaign.

[Please note that this list has been developed using stats from whoscored.com]

#5. Real Betis

Real Betis have impressed at controlling possession this season

There are many fantastic ball-possession loving clubs in the football world at the moment but La Liga outfit Real Betis have been able to find their way into the top 5, thanks to the incredible efforts of their manager, Quique Setién.

The Verdiblancos shocked the world recently when they earned a popular 4-3 victory against FC Barcelona at the Nou Camp, producing an electrifying performance and beating the Catalan giants in their own game.

Ever since then, they have been going from strength to strength, upsetting the odds against big teams in La Liga and moving forward with their attractive brand of football. The Verdiblancos are currently one of the most efficient teams in the world right now when it comes to ball possession, with an average of 60.9 % possession per game across all competitions.

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#4. Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri has transformed Chelsea into a possession-loving team following his appointment this term

The recent defeat at the hands of Manchester City might have introduced some negative feelings but it has been an impressive campaign for London outfit Chelsea so far during the season, with The Blues taking their game to another dimension following the sacking of Italian tactician and the appointment of former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri.

Sarri has wasted no time in getting work done at Stamford Bridge, quickly discarding the counter-attacking system that long survived at the club and replacing it with his free-flowing and possession-based system

The manager has only spent just half a season at Stamford Bridge but he has been able to transform Chelsea into one of the finest possession-loving clubs on the continent right now, with The Blues standing at an average of 61.2 % possession across all competitions so far this season.

#3. FC Barcelona

The Catalan giants maintain their stand as one of the best teams in Europe in terms of ball possession

The real progenitors of possession-based football, Catalan giants, FC Barcelona ruled the football world with their famous tiki-taka system, revolutionizing the game and winning an unbelievable 14 trophies under the guidance of Pep Guardiola between 2008 and 2012.

Although many changes have taken place at the club following the departure of the current Manchester City boss, with some of his successors adopting a more direct style at the Nou Camp, the Catalans still remain one of the best possession-dictating clubs on the continent at the moment.

With an average of 61.9 % ball possession per game across all competitions so far during the term, the La Liga champions currently rank third among the most efficient possession-loving clubs on the continent so far as they continue their push for the treble this term.

#2. Bayern Munich

The Bavarians continue to shine with their possession-keeping system in the German top flight

It hasn't been the best of seasons for German champions Bayern Munich so far this term, at least domestically, where they currently play catch-up to their bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund on the Bundesliga table.

But despite that, the Bavarians have held on to their philosophy to win in style and that has reflected in the quality of their play so far during the term as they remain one of the most efficient teams in Europe at the moment in terms of keeping possession of the ball.

Niko Kovac's men have averaged a whopping 62.3% of ball possession across all competitions so far this season and with their form having improved steadily during the past few weeks, they will be looking forward to overtaking Borussia Dortmund in the race for the Bundesliga title come the end of the campaign.

#1. Manchester City

Pep Guardiola's men remain the most efficient team in Europe when it comes to keeping ball possession

It has been another exciting campaign for Etihad giants, Manchester City following their record-breaking Premier League triumph last season. While the Citizens have faced intense competition from title rivals Liverpool so far during the term, Pep Guardiola's men continue to win in style.

With their tiki-taka system, Manchester City have been dominating games with ease and getting a lot of impressive results. They currently sit second on top of the Premier League table, edging Liverpool via goal difference, albeit with a game up front while a Round of 16 Champions League encounter against Schalke 04 also lies ahead.

The Citizens are currently the team that has enjoyed most of the ball possession in Europe at the moment, topping the list by averaging a massive 63.4% across all competitions so far during the campaign.