Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson very famously once said, “attack wins you games, defense wins you titles.” The saying held true then, is holding true now, and will hold true for the foreseeable future. For a team to succeed, it is imperative for them to have a solid defense, as without it, it is impossible to win consistently.
In the list below, we will take a look at five teams from the top 10 European leagues that need to pay special attention to their defense. Here are the top five teams that have conceded the most goals since November:
#5 Estrela Amadora: 13 Goals
Primeira Liga outfit Estrela Amadora kicks off the rankings, having conceded 13 times in only four games since November. Between November 2 and November 30, Estrela Amadora lost three games and won one.
Amadora kicked off November with a thumping 5-1 defeat to Sporting CP, but surprisingly, it was not their worst loss of the month. Their biggest setback came against Benfica in Taca de Portugal, with them succumbing to a 7-0 defeat. Angel Di Maria scored a first-half hat-trick (2′, 5′, 18′), Arthur Cabral netted a brace (86′, 90′), and Kerem Akturkoglu (60′) and Zeki Amdouni (81′) chipped in with one goal each to ensure the routing.
#4 Heidenheim: 15 Goals
In fourth place, we have Bundesliga outfit FC Heidenheim, with the team conceding 15 goals in six games across competitions since the start of November. Heidenheim have lost five of their last six games, winning the other.
Heidenheim conceded the most goals in the Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen on November 23. After Niklas Dorsch (10′) and Mathias Honsak (21′) put Heidenheim 2-0 up, Exequiel Palacios (30′) started the turnaround for Leverkusen. Then a Patrick Schick hat-trick (32′, 52′, 71′) and a Granit Xhaka strike (82′) sealed a 5-2 win for Leverkusen.
#3 RB Leipzig: 15 Goals
Bundesliga powerhouse RB Leipzig is in a rut. Marco Rose’s men have been absolutely abysmal at the back since November, conceding a whopping 15 goals in just five matches in all competitions. Due to their poor defensive performance, Leipzig lost five games and drew one between November 2 and November 30.
Leipzig suffered their heaviest defeat against Bundesliga opponents Wolfsburg on November 30. Wolfsburg ran circles around Leipzig in the Red Bull Arena, coming away with a 5-1 victory. Mohamed Amoura (4′, 16′), Tiago Tomas (5′), Joakim Maehle (64′), and Kevin Behrens (90+1′) scored for the visitors while Willi Orban (82′) found netted Leipzig’s consolation goal.
#2 Sparta Prague: 16 Goals
Czech First League outfit Sparta Prague had a November to forget, with them conceding 16 goals in seven games since last month. Since November 2, Sparta Prague has won one game, lost three, and drawn two.
Sparta Prague suffered their most embarrassing defeat against UEFA Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid on November 25. Los Rojiblancos taught the hosts a lesson at the epet ARENA, coming away with a 6-0 victory. Julian Alvarez (15′, 59′), Marcos Llorente (43′), Antoine Griezmann (70′), and Angel Correa (85′, 89′) scored for the Spaniards.
#1 Manchester City: 17 Goals
Shockingly at the top of the list sits Manchester City, having conceded a disappointing 17 goals in six games since the start of November. The reigning English champions lost five of those matches, drawing the other.
Manchester City’s worst defeat of the lot came against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. The Cityzens fell to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, with James Maddison (13′, 20′), Pedro Porro (52′), and Brennan Johnson (90+3′) scoring for the visitors. Their poor run of results has seen them drop to fifth place in the Premier League rankings.
