The five teams with the most points in Europe in 2023-24: Girona extraordinary…
The likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG are all missing when it comes to European football’s top-performing sides of 2023-24.
There’s no shortage of intrigue across Europe’s five major leagues – Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and La Liga – this season, with some surprise challengers taking it to the usual suspects.
We’ve taken a closer look at the five teams that have yielded the highest points tallies across Europe this season.
5. Bayer Leverkusen – 49 points
It’s an achievement for a Bundesliga side to make it to the upper echelons of this list, just by virtue of fewer games played.
It’s no wonder that Xabi Alonso is being linked with some of Europe’s top clubs, given that he’s led Leverkusen to 49 points from just 19 games this season. They’re the only unbeaten side remaining in Europe’s major leagues in 2023-24 – and better yet they’re yet to taste defeat in any competition.
Leverkusen actually boast the highest points-per-game average of any side in Europe’s major leagues at 2.58. That leaves them on track to end the campaign on 87 points – 16 more than Bundesliga champions Bayern managed last term.
READ: Nine quotes to explain Xabi Alonso’s philosophy as a manager: Pep, Carra…
4. Juventus – 53 points
Massimiliano Allegri has shown that he still has what it takes to build a title-challenging side. The lack of European distraction undoubtedly helps narrow their focus, but Juventus have proven themselves masters of winning games by hook or by crook.
The Old Lady have won 16, drawn five and lost just one of their 22 Serie A outings this season.
3. Real Madrid – 54 points
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have built up a healthy lead over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, yet another La Liga title would be looking like a formality right now were it not for their surprise challengers. That’s some going given that they’ve had to contend with ligament injuries suffered by key players like Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba.
Los Blancos are second in La Liga, but they’re only one point behind the league leaders with a game in hand. When Madrid have their destiny in their own hands, write them off at your peril.
READ: 2024 Ballon d’Or contenders assessed: What Kane, Bellingham, Mbappe & Messi need to do to win
2. Inter – 54 points
Having finished runners-up in the Champions League last season, there’s an argument that Simone Inzaghi’s Inter look galvanised and ready to go one better this year. By any measure, the Nerazurri have to be considered among the very best sides in Europe right now.
Only Girona and Bayern Munich have scored more goals and no side has conceded fewer. And in Lautaro Martinez, they boast a genuine Ballon d’Or contender – the Argentine has been on fire, with 19 goals in 19 Serie A appearances in 2023-24.
1. Girona – 55 points
If someone had told you six months ago that Girona would be top of La Liga, you’d have assumed that the big three in Spain had dropped off a cliff.
Barca and Atletico may be enduring underwhelming campaigns, but Girona’s 55 points from 22 games would see them competing with the all-time great sides of Spanish football. Extrapolate their 2.5 points per game over the course of an entire season and they’re on course for 95 points – a tally only bettered between the years of 2009 and 2013, when Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho’s teams were unstoppable.
There are 16 games to go and Girona have already beaten their best-ever points tally in the Spanish top flight. Outrageously good and undoubtedly the story of European football.
READ NEXT: Every club in Europe ranked by their 2023-24 wage bill: Man Utd fifth…
TRY A QUIZ:Â Can you name every winner of the European Golden Shoe since 2000?