10 most underachieving teams by xG from Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues

Not every team can match Liverpool, Manchester City or Bayern for scoring efficiency. The ten teams on this list make up the most underachieving teams in Europe's 'Big Five' league's according to xG.

Scoring goals is the only way you're going to win a football game. But some teams are better at putting the ball in the back of the net than others.

This list is displaying the others. Here are the 10 most underachieving teams by xG from Europe's 'Big Five' leagues.

Lyon

Scored: 40

xG: 50.4

Difference: -10.4 

 

Lyon has seemingly struggled this season with getting anything substantial going. They had a seven game unbeaten streak at the end of 2021/ start of 2022. But it was four consecutive draws then three consecutive wins before losing again. Decent, but could have been a lot better.

They have the second in the league for expected goals, but with their inefficient scoring efficiency, they rank in eighth for actual number of goals scored.

One positive for them is that they are one of only two teams on this list that still have a positive goal difference at +3. Although that is still rather down on their +11.3 expected goal difference.

 

Real Sociedad

Scored: 29

xG: 37.6

Difference: -8.6

 

Real Sociedad have the distinction of being the only team on this list who somehow currently still find themselves in a European competition, sitting in sixth place.

Sociedad find themselves higher than the likes of Valencia - who featured on the most overachieving list. They have a 0 goal difference on the year, scoring and conceding 29 goals. Those numbers rank them towards the bottom of the table for goals scored, but towards the top for least goals conceded.

But it makes you think, where would they be in the table if they were matching their xG?

 

Lorient

Scored: 24

xG: 32.6

Difference: -8.6

 

Scoring goals has been a struggle for Lorient this season. Down in 16th place, they have scored the least number of goals in Ligue 1 this season.

There’s not really much to look on the bright side for them, to be honest. Their joint top scorers on the team have four goals, which is joint lowest in the league for a team's top scorer.

I guess the only solace for them is that at least they aren’t in a relegation spot.

 

Wolfsburg

Scored: 29

xG: 37.5

Difference: -8.5

 

Last season, Wolfsburg had their most successful season since they finished second in the 2014/15 season, finishing fourth and getting a Champions League spot for this season.

In fact, the last three seasons have been quite successful for them, seeing them finish in a European Competition spot in each of them.

This year, though, is more like the two seasons prior to that nice three season run, where they finished 16th and only survived the drop by winning their relegation playoff game.

While they are unlikely to be getting relegated or be playing that relegation playoff game again this season, they are definitely not going to be in a European competition next season.

 

Borussia Monchengladbach

Scored: 36

xG: 43.7

Difference: -7.7

Monchengladbach fare only slightly better than Wolfsburg, but unlike Wolfsburg, midtable isn’t a disappointment on last season, where they finished eighth. Sure, they’d probably like to have improved on that year, but get what you’re given.

Their goal difference is a bit of a worry, though. As it stands, they have a -13-goal difference. If they were to end the season with it still at -13, it would be the worst scoring season for them since the 2010/11 season, where they finished on -17.

 

Norwich

Scored: 18

xG: 24.8

Difference: -6.8

 

It's not surprising to see Norwich on this list. The English side are in a really weird place with their team, where they seem to be too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premier League.

As such, they reside at the bottom of the Premier League table with the worst goal difference in the league, at -45, which is also the second worst goal difference out of everyone in Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues.

 

Alaves

Scored: 23

xG: 29

Difference: -6

 

Alaves’ tenure in La Liga seems like it will be coming to an end after six seasons as they are currently down second bottom of the table.

However, things could have been different if they were matching their xG. While not a huge improvement, 29 goals on the season would be joint-15th in the league for total number of goals this season, and might have seen them just outside the bottom three.

 

Athletic Club

Scored: 33

xG: 38.9

Difference: -5.9

 

Two of the three Spanish clubs on this list seem like they don’t belong here considering how successful they are in the league. Athletic Club are a place in the Europa Conference league as they sit in eighth place and just four points off of Villareal in seventh.

Despite underachieving by their xG, they still find themselves with a positive goal difference of +5.

 

Genoa

Scored: 23

xG: 28.9

Difference: -5.9

 

Genoa is the only team representing the Italian Serie A on this list, which I guess you decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. It’s probably more bad though.

Genoa have been a mainstay in the Italian top flight since 2008, but have predominantly seen themselves finish in the bottom half.

This season could possibly be the end of their Serie A tenure, as they sit in 18th place. They are only three points away from safety, but getting those without the other team getting some valuable points of their own is a tall order considering Genoa have only won two games all season, the least number of wins for any team in Europe’s ‘Big Five’.

 

Leeds

Scored: 34

xG: 39.3

Difference: -5.3

 

Leeds had a fantastic first season back in the Premier League last season, putting on instant classics against the then reigning champions Liverpool and Manchester City.

This season, though, has not seen them anywhere near those heights. Their longest run of points from games lasted just three matches, and they’ve only achieved that once.

They find themselves perilously close to the relegation zone, and are looking to be very much involved in that fight for survival as we creep closer towards the end of the season.